Recruiting weekend boasts 4 players on all-state team

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 | 10 a.m.

Four of the top prospects in Southern Nevada, including three first-team members of the Sun's All-State Football Team, are among 19 players who will take official recruiting visits to UNLV this weekend.

Jarrell Harrison (6-foot-2, 205 pounds), who quarterbacked Palo Verde High School to the state 4A title, massive Las Vegas High School offensive lineman A.J. Rodriguez (6-5, 300) and Cheyenne High School two-way lineman Perry Eppenger (6-3, 317), who already has given a nonbinding verbal commitment to the Rebels, are all first-team all-state picks who will visit UNLV, as well second-team all-state running back Torrie Coleman (6-2, 210).

Harrison, projected by some scouts as a safety or wide receiver in college, is expected to pick between the Rebels and Oregon State while Rodriguez, reported earlier to have committed to New Mexico, will pick between the Lobos, Rebels and Oregon State.

Coleman, who has a rare combination of size and speed in the mold of Steven Jackson, is also being recruited by Oregon State, Fresno State and UCLA.

Three players from Immokalee (Fla.) High School, alma mater of the Indianapolis Colts' Edgerrin James, are also scheduled to visit UNLV: WR/DB Renan Saintpreux (6-2, 190), TE/OLB Rodlin Anthony (6-6, 210) and DB/RB Wiselet Rouzard (5-foot-10, 185).

Two quarterback prospects also among this weekend's recruits are Travis Dixon (6-foot, 180) of Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton and Mike McDonald (6-1, 205) of Burbank (Calif.) High School. McDonald, who is also being recruited by Boise State and Fresno State, is the son of former USC offensive lineman and longtime NFL long snapper Mike McDonald.

One of the top junior college running backs in the nation, Dartangan Johnson (6-foot, 215) of Santa Ana (Calif.) College, also will visit.

Other players who are scheduled to visit over the weekend are running back Chris Brogden (5-8, 205) from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix; tight end Chris Butler (6-3, 246) of College of the Canyons in Newhall, Calif.; wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (6-1, 180) of Newhall (Calif.) Hart High School; defensive lineman Malo Taumua (6-3, 290) of Honolulu Alea High School; outside linebacker Jason Beauchaup of Steel Canyon High School in Jamul, Calif.; defensive back Lamont Long of Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne High School; offensive lineman Laupepa Leatuli (6-4, 280) from North Torrance (Calif.) High School; offensive lineman Ned Tavale (6-3, 305) from Cretin-Durham-Hall High School in St. Paul, Minn.; and defensive tackle Jonathan Soto (6-3, 260) of Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, Calif.

The national letter of intent signing period begins on Wednesday, Feb. 2.