Staggs tries to follow his mentor’s lead

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005 | 9:25 a.m.

UNLV must replace several key players from a scoring defense that ranked dead last in the Mountain West Conference a year ago.

Linebacker Adam Seward led the MWC in tackles with 121 and left the school with the conference career tackles record with 433.

Linebacker Ryan Claridge, like Seward a fifth round pick in the NFL Draft, led the MWC in both sacks and tackles for loss despite playing the final month of the season with an injured shoulder.

But perhaps the biggest void to fill will be the one left by strong safety Jamaal Brimmer.

The two-time All-American and Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year in both 2002 and 2003 had 280 tackles, 10 sacks and seven interceptions in his storied career. He was also honored as a first-team all-MWC pick for the third year in a row as a senior despite playing for a Rebels squad that finished a disappointing 2-9.

No one was a bigger fan of Brimmer than the man who is expected to try to replace him this fall, junior Jay Staggs.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Staggs was originally recruited to UNLV to play wide receiver after catching 82 passes for 1,468 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, Calif. But when asked to switch to safety by former Rebels coach John Robinson two years ago, Staggs didn't hesitate.

"Jamaal Brimmer was kind of the main reason I moved to defense," Staggs said. "When they asked me to move over, I told them I'd do anything to help the team. But the main reason I did it was because Jamaal said he thought he could really work with me.

"That guy was such a great player," Staggs continued. "Being able to play underneath him for two years and seeing how he handled all the preparation and being in the public spotlight ... he was just a really great mentor to me."

Staggs, who tied for the team high with two interceptions last season as Brimmer's backup, got to spend a lot of time working with the first-team defensive unit each of the last two seasons while Brimmer nursed knee and rib injuries.

"That helped me a lot," Staggs said. "I prepared every week like I was going to play in the game that week."

Staggs finally made his first -- and only -- start in last year's season finale at San Diego State. He finished the contest with four tackles and a quarterback sack.

"He has big shoes to fill," UNLV head coach Mike Sanford said. "I think the thing he has been doing is that he's been a leader. He's worked very hard. He's gotten himself into great shape. And he has a great attitude out here in practice. He does things the right way."

The biggest change for Staggs is switching to a defense that features five defensive backs instead of four as was the case under Robinson. He is expected to play right safety for the Rebels.

"It's a different defense now," said Staggs, who has a 39-inch vertical leap. "I just try and take all the knowledge that Jamaal gave me and try and mesh it with the stuff I learn each day from (defensive coordinator) Vic Shealy. The main thing is I have to worry about is being Jay Staggs and not Jamaal Brimmer."

The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Rodriguez, who was also recruited by Oregon State, New Mexico and Colorado State, was considered one of the crown jewels of Sanford's first recruiting class and was considered a strong candidate to make the team's two-deep heading into fall camp.

Rodriguez was a no-show for the team picture on Saturday night.

"He's struggling but it's not over yet," Sanford said.

Claridge was placed on the injured reserve by the New England Patriots on Monday with a shoulder injury that will require season-ending surgery later this week.