Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003 | 9:56 a.m.
Unlike most of the newcomers who reported for the start of fall football camp at UNLV on Monday afternoon, Nate Wederquist didn't need a map to find his way around.
A 6-foot-2, 185-pound freshman wide receiver from Foothill High School, Wederquist is very familiar with the Lied Athletic Complex and the Rebel Park practice facility. That's because his father, Craig, is beginning his fourth year with UNLV as defensive line coach.
During Tuesday's media day gathering at the Lied Athletic Complex, father and son were literally passing each other in the hallways en route to their respective meetings.
"It's kind of strange," Craig Wederquist, a former Division I-AA All-American at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, said. "I feel old."
He paused and smiled.
"Nah, it's really exciting to have Nate here. The funny thing is him being a receiver. I see him around here which is nice. But since he's on offense, I don't get to interact with him as much."
Nate Wederquist was a three-year letterman at Foothill where he played both wide receiver and safety. And he played both ways in the Lions All-Star Game in May and was named the game's defensive MVP for the victorious Sunrise Division squad.
But he also exceled on offense for the Falcons and was a first team all-state pick in 2002 after catching 53 passes for 738 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing 77 more times for 441 yards and eight more scores. He finished his prep career with more than 2,000 receiving yards.
UNLV head coach John Robinson was so impressed with Wederquist's performance in the school's annual summer camp --- several coaches thought he was clearly the best prospect there --- that he offered him a scholarship before the start of his senior year. That's something rare for Robinson who normally waits until the end of a prospect's senior season before making any scholarship commitments.
"I really didn't have any doubt in my mind where I was going to go to college," Nate said. "I like the atmosphere here and I like the coaching staff. And then there's the chance to play for a coach like John Robinson. I consider that an honor."
Although he got some early attention from Division I schools like Colorado State, most backed off recruiting Nate when it became apparent he was a lock to become a Rebel.
"I was open, but no one really recruited me," he said.
And even though his dad is on the UNLV staff, the Rebels recruited him as though he were any other prospect. Robinson was even prepared to make a home visit to close the deal before dad stepped in.
"That was kind of strange," Craig Wederquist said with a smile. "But Nate cut his own path. I never said he had to play football or anything like that when he was growing up. He did it on his own."
And nobody is happier about that fact than his dad.
"I remember that I used to kiss the kids goodbye and not see them for about a month at the start of fall camp," Craig said. "So it's nice to have him here and to be able to see him some."
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