UNLV: An impressive two-way player in high school who now looks to make a big impact on the defensive side of the ball as a sophomore ... Moved to DE after spending his redshirt season as a tight end ... Listed No. 1 along with Sonny Sanitoa and James Boyd at one end spot heading into the fall ... Earned a spot on the UNLV Dean's Honor List for the spring 2012 semester.

2011: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by playing in all 12 games ... Finished with five total tackles playing on defense and special teams.

2010: Redshirted season ... Named UNLV Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2010 graduate of Point Loma HS in San Diego ... Was ranked as the No. 67 TE prospect in the nation by Scout.com ... A two-year varsity letterwinner, playing on both sides of the line for coach Mike Hastings, whose team finished 9-4 in 2009 ... Earned first team All-Western League as a senior tight end ... Finished with 17 receptions for 291 yards (17.1 YPC) and five touchdowns for the Pointers ... Also posted 28 tackles, including 24 solo, to go along with a QB sack and two forced fumbles as a defensive end ... Also lettered one season in basketball.

PERSONAL: Jordan Keanu Sparkman was born on Aug. 31, 1991, in San Diego ... The son of Ramona Sparkman ... Has an older brother, Josh ... Uncle, Jerome Sparkman, who lettered as a running back for Purdue in the late 1980s, is a resident of Las Vegas ... Majoring in business.

--Courtesy of UNLVRebels.com