Robinson lands top juco safety

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003 | 9:30 a.m.

UNLV continues to bolster its roster with some top-notch junior college talent as free safety Willie Tagoai of Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., has picked the Rebels over Hawaii and Colorado.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Tagoai was a JC Grid-Wire preseason All-American and was the Mission Conference Central Co-Defensive Player of the Year after intercepting six passes, including one for 76 yards and a touchdown.

"That would be a good pickup (for UNLV)," said Dick Lascola of Fallbrook, Calif.-based Scouting Evaluation Association. "He breaks on the ball well and as the season progressed he continued to improve. He plays the run well. He'll smack you pretty good. It's just a matter of how quickly he can adjust to Division I football."

Tagoai prepped at northern San Diego County prep powerhouse Vista High School, where he was a teammate of current Rebel wide receiver Michael Johnson.

Tagoai is expected to battle for starting time at Connie Brown's vacated free safety spot. He was originally recruited by USC, Michigan, Oregon and Kentucky during the fall, but those schools backed off when it was determined he would not graduate in January. He will sign a letter of intent with UNLV on Feb. 5 and enroll in school in the fall.

Seven mid-year signees began classes at UNLV on Tuesday and will take part in spring practice. They are Tagoai's Palomar College teammate, defensive lineman Brian Nicholson (6-5, 280), Compton (Calif.) College running back Alvin Marshall (5-10, 190) and linebacker John Andrews (6-0, 225), Moorpark (Calif.) College tight end Greg Estandia (6-7, 230), offensive tackle Tyler Crandal (6-7, 295) of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., offensive lineman Joe Critchfield (6-4, 305) of Scottsdale (Ariz.) College and running back Ja Ja Riley (6-2, 205), a transfer from Ohio State who must sit out the 2003 season per NCAA transfer rules.