Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

football:

Gorman’s Therrell headed to UNLV

Bishop Gorman wins over Spring Valley

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Home News

Bishop Gorman’s John Therrell looks on between plays during a Sept. 26 game against Spring Valley. Therrell recently committed to play safety for UNLV.

Therrell

Therrell

Plenty of athletes are coached by their fathers as youngsters, but John Therrell will get the chance to play for his dad as a Division I football player.

The Bishop Gorman senior committed to play safety for UNLV following an official visit to the school Dec. 12-14. Therrell's father, Dennis Therrell, is the Rebels defensive coordinator.

"It's going to be an experience," Therrell said of playing for his dad. "I know I will have to work a bit harder — most coaches' kids have to. But from what I've heard, just from his players, all I have to do is learn my stuff and I'll be just fine."

Therrell had one other official offer from Army. He also had been recruited by Air Force, Stanford and Washington State.

The Rebels told Therrell he would get a chance to play immediately as safety is a position of need for them. Therrell said he hoped to follow in the footsteps of 2008 Gorman graduate Beau Orth, who played as a true freshman for the Rebels this fall and was Therrell's official host during his recruiting visit.

"Just knowing a school needs me is another reason that made me want to commit," Therrell said. "Plus the players at UNLV are all good guys — I already knew a lot of them through my dad. And I really like the scheme they run. I'm pretty sure it suits me better than most of the other schools that were recruiting me."

Therrell played just one season at Gorman, tallying 37 tackles and a team-leading eight interceptions. He also saw some time under center, completing 10-of-22 passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns.

His family moved to Las Vegas from Kentucky after Dennis Therrell was promoted to the Rebels' defensive coordinator in his second season at UNLV. Dennis Therrell served as the team's linebackers coach in 2007.

Christopher Drexel can be reached at 990-8929 or [email protected].

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