Sanford’s first recruit: Big hit in small package

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 | 10:07 a.m.

UNLV was rewarded in a big way this past season for taking a chance on a 5-foot-7 tailback from California named Dominique Dorsey.

Dorsey won the 2004 Mountain West Conference rushing title this and was a first-team all-conference pick. He has been selected to play in the Hula Bowl all-star game next month.

Now new head coach Mike Sanford is hoping for similar results from 5-foot-7 running back Lafayette Fletcher of Morningside High School in Inglewood, Calif.

Fletcher became the first player to commit to Sanford on Wednesday night during a home visit with Sanford and linebackers coach Kurt Barber.

"I'm the first one of the class of 2005 to come aboard," Fletcher said. "I'm coming to UNLV. It's a chance to help lay a new foundation for UNLV football."

Fletcher rushed for 2,044 yards on 276 carries (7.4 avg.) and scored 24 touchdowns in just 10 games this past season for the Monarchs. He has been timed at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 10.97 in the 100.

"Most schools, because of my size, wanted me to play at corner," said Fletcher, who also had trips lined up to Cal and Fresno State. "But coach Sanford said he'd give me a shot at running back."

"He's got great speed," Dick Lascola of the Fallbrook-based Scouting Evaluation Association said. "He's not going to carry the ball 30 times a game for you because of his size. But he's very quick."

This is the final recruiting weekend before a three-week dead period. The Rebels, who have 19 scholarships available, including at least three mid-year grants, will bring in five players on official visits including junior college quarterback Jarrod Jackson (6-0, 205) of Grossmont College in El Cajon, Calif.

Jackson passed for 1,887 yards and 12 touchdowns in nine games.

"He's not a dropback passer," Lascola said. "He's more of a rollout guy with quick feet."

Also scheduled to visit are Culver City (Calif.) High School defensive back Daryl Forte (5-11, 175), Loomis (Calif.) Del Oro linebacker Ryne Gonzalez (6-0, 215), Victor Valley Junior College cornerback Edward Whitley (5-9, 170) and Las Vegas High School defensive end Jacob Hales (6-5, 270).

Whitley has already taken a recruiting trip to North Carolina while Hales, who recently returned from a two-year LDS Church mission, is also considering BYU.

UNLV remains in the running for two of the top junior college players in California. Cornerback John Guice, a first-team J.C. All-American, visited last weekend and is taking a trip to Boise State this weekend. Wide receiver Jerard Rabb (6-3, 200) of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., also visited last weekend and is taking a trip to Hawaii this week.