Sanford finds playmaker for spread option offense

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, April 14, 2005 | 9:45 a.m.

Mike Sanford said he didn't know very much about wide receiver Donell Wheaton when he took the UNLV head coaching job last December.

"The one thing I did know about him is that he caught a big post route against Utah last season," said a smiling Sanford, who was the Utes' offensive coordinator at the time. "But other than that, I didn't know a whole lot about him."

And for good reason. Besides that 46-yard pass he caught in the first quarter of UNLV's 63-28 loss at Utah, Wheaton has caught only three other passes totaling 26 yards in his Rebel career.

But if spring practice is any indication, the 6-foot, 185-pound junior from Narbonne High School in Harbor City, Calif., could be one of the top weapons in Sanford's spread option offense.

Wheaton, UNLV's fastest offensive player after clocking a 4.42 40 this spring, has been dazzling at times during the spring, especially on long routes. He has more than held his own in matchups against the team's top cornerback, John Guice, a first-team J.C. All-American a year ago.

"He's a guy I would say is one of the top players in camp so far," Sanford said.

"He's a baller," quarterback Shane Steichen added. "I mean he's incredible, man. He's making plays like he's a big-time player in the conference. I think people are definitely going to be surprised."

Sanford said he's been impressed by Wheaton's work ethic since he took over for retiring John Robinson.

"He did a great job in the offseason program," Sanford said. "He showed a great attitude, hustled and worked hard all the time. He was one of the most outstanding people in the program."

That effort didn't go unnnoticed by Wheaton's peers, who voted him to join five other players on the team's first Leadership Committee. That group will act as a liaison between players and the coaching staff and, also rule on some disciplinary matters involving the squad.

"That was a real honor because it was voted on by my fellow teammates and coaches," Wheaton said. "I'm very excited about that."

Wide receivers coach Kris Cinkovich says he's noticed a change in Wheaton's attitude over the past two seasons.

"He's always had the physical talent," Cinkovich said. "I think he's really matured, though. He's taking the game more seriously. He studies the game more. I think it's important to him now to be a 'go-to' guy. I think he's done a great job that way. He's had a good camp and he continues to improve every day."

"I'm just competing, basically," Wheaton said. "We feel more like a team. Everybody is making everybody take their game up a notch. There's no time to slack off and the coaches are pushing us hard."

As for his strong spring showing, Wheaton knows it won't matter if he doesn't continue to work hard during the summer and into fall camp.

"We've still got a lot to learn to get it right," he said of the new spread option attack. "We still need to learn a lot of stuff, get out timing down, and things like that. This is only the beginning."