Tony award: to be picked on Sunday

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, April 23, 2003 | 9:32 a.m.

As a youngster growing up in Hawthorne, Calif., Tony Terrell says he never dreamed of hearing his name called at the NFL Draft.

"I honestly didn't think I'd be in it," said Terrell, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound offensive guard. "I just prayed that maybe one day I'd be able to play college football."

Terrell not only played college football, he excelled at it. He started for four years at UNLV and earned first team all-Mountain West Conference honors as a senior.

"I am as proud of him as any player I have ever coached," UNLV coach John Robinson said.

This weekend, Terrell more than likely will be the first UNLV player chosen in the NFL Draft in New York.

"My agent has been telling me I'm a solid second day (rounds 4-7) guy," Terrell said. "I just want to hurry up and get it over with and get a new identity. I'll always be a UNLV Rebel, but now it's time to get a new identity in the NFL."

Terrell is rated as high as the ninth-best offensive guard in the draft by some scouting services. Sports Illustrated lists him as a probable sixth-round pick.

That puts him ahead of teammates such as quarterback Jason Thomas, tight end DeJhown Mandley, linebacker Tyrone Tucker, fullback Steven Costa, safety Connie Brown and cornerback Jamal Wynn.

"I think Tony Terrell, Tyrone Tucker and DeJhown Mandley all have a chance to go," Robinson said. "They may be seventh rounders. I think they're all on that bubble. I think the NFL would have been very interested in Jason if he had been willing to switch to another position. I don't know what his position is on that now. We'll just have to wait and see."

For Terrell, to even be a second-day pick seemed like a real long shot when he graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1998.

He wasn't cleared academically until August, just hours before the start of fall practice.

"I remember (former Rebels assistant) Buzz Preston called on a Thursday and told my mom that I had to get here as soon as possible, that I had just been cleared," Terrell said. "My mom was crying. I got out here that night and the next day we were on our way to Camp Mesquite (for fall practice)."

Terrell said he was grateful that former UNLV coach Jeff Horton, now the quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin, was willing to hold a scholarship for him until his academic situation was cleared up by the NCAA.

"When we played Wisconsin this year, I went over and shook his hand and told him thank you," Terrell said. "If he hadn't been patient and saved me that scholarship, I wouldn't be in the situation I am in today."

Terrell began to think he had a chance to play professional football after last year's NFL draft when a school-record tying four Rebels were selected, including defensive end Anton Palepoi in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks and close friend Sam Brandon in the fourth round by Denver.

"That was inspirational to know that four guys you had played with were noticed and drafted," Terrell said. "Sometimes you think that if you aren't at a big name school you might not get noticed. I think a big reason we had so many guys drafted was because of Coach Robinson being here. When he says something, people in the NFL listen, because he's been there and knows what it takes."

Before the start of his senior season, Terrell, who graduated in December with his degree in social science, sat down with Robinson to discuss the future.

"I wanted to know if he thought I should start looking for another job," Terrell said. "He said, 'No, you're going to get a chance to play in the NFL.'

"I just thank God for him. It's been such a great experience for me here at UNLV. But now I'm ready to make that next step."

More than likely the first player from the state chosen in this weekend's draft will be from Nevada-Reno.

Wide receiver Nate Burleson, a Biletnikoff Award finalist after leading the NCAA with 138 receptions, is rated a mid-round pick by most scouting services. Despite his impressive statistics, Burleson has been hurt by a subpar 40-yard dash time (4.54) and lacks the size (6-foot, 190 pounds) that NFL teams look for in a possession receiver.