Rebels set to suit up for the spring

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 5, 2004 | 10:57 a.m.

John Robinson begins what could be his last spring practice at UNLV on Sunday afternoon at Rebel Park.

The future Hall of Famer, who turns 69 in July, still has two years remaining on his contract. But just one year removed from a heart attack and with a wife still battling to overcome breast cancer surgery, he plans to evaluate his coaching future at the end of each season from here on out.

"I don't know," Robinson said Thursday when asked if this could be his final year as a head coach. "Well go one at a time."

With 14 starters, including All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer, back from a 6-6 squad and a deep stable of running backs led by Ohio State transfer JaJa Riley, former J.C. All-American Alvin Marshall, talented senior Dominique Dorsey and former Bishop Gorman star Dyante Perkins, Robinson appears to have his deepest squad yet since taking over a UNLV team in December 1998 that had lost 16 consecutive games.

And despite the fact the Rebels have a daunting schedule that opens with back-to-back road trips to two of the nation's toughest venues, Tennessee and Wisconsin, and just five home games, Robinson seems upbeat about the 2004 campaign.

"I'm optimistic about the atmosphere that we have around here," Robinson said. "It's a veteran team that has a tremendous challenge with the schedule. But there's kind of a quiet confidence growing of, 'Hey, we've got some players here.' "

Like just about every team in the nation that isn't named USC or LSU, the Rebels have some key positions up for grabs this spring. Some of the areas of particular interest this include:

"We feel like we have a lot of speed there in those players," Robinson said. "If they can mature we will have a solid group there."

"Cornerback is a huge key for us," Robinson said. "Charles Ealy is the most physical corner that we've had here and that I've had in a while. He's a 200-pounder who plays with some physicalness. Dodd-Masters had grown into a very good player. He started back there as a sophomore and freshman and got exposed. But I think he's a pretty solid player now.

"This group is a lot like the wide receiver position. There's some talent. It just has to show up."

New offensive line coach Jonathan Himebauch, a former starting center at USC, will work with senior Marcus Johnson, who has started the last two seasons at guard, as he makes the switch to center.

The newcomer creating the most buzz here is mid-year transfer Chris Bowser (6-6, 300) of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., who turned down scholarship offers from Colorado and Washington to join ex-Gaucho teammate Tyler Crandal on the Rebel line. And sophomore Marco Guerra (6-5, 330), who saw some action at guard last year, moves outside to battle Bowser and Crandal for a starting tackle spot.

Senior Joe Critchfield returns at one starting guard position but the other will spot will feature a battle between sophomore Brandon Gray (6-4, 310) and junior Zach Gorham (6-5, 310), who started several games at right tackle last season before being slowed by an ankle injury.

Three highly-touted junior college transfers are already enrolled and expected to battle for starting time. They are ends Isaac Watts of San Francisco City College, who originally attended the University of Arizona out of high school, and Mario Hill of Pasadena City College and tackle Isaiah Tafua of Dixie State College.

"Tafua, Watts and Hill have all been impressive in winter workouts," Robinson said. "All seem to be football players. Leon Moore should begin to realize the potential everybody sees in him. Howie was just a novice a year ago but is still a formidable guy. We have more players now at that position."

It's also a key spring for sophomore Tyler Arciaga and junior Scott Turner.

"This is the spring for one or both of them to make a move and become established at the position," Robinson said.

"They're all very good backs," Robinson said. "And we're also very excited about Chad Henley (6-0, 240), who is the kind of fullback we've been looking for."

Henley, a transfer from Moorpark (Calif.) College, is regarded as an excellent lead blocker.