Johnson showing promise at receiver

Michael Johnson saw quarterback Mike Clausen scrambling, so instead of running to the flat, Johnson dashed downfield on a wheel route.

Clausen saw the wide receiver, then threw an 18-yard touchdown pass that Johnson caught between two defenders during UNLV's football practice Monday morning.

No wonder Johnson is one of two incoming freshmen -- Western High School graduate Phillip Payne is the other -- with an excellent chance to crack UNLV's third, fourth or fifth receiver spot before the Aug. 30 opener against Utah State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Johnson (5 feet 8 inches, 170 pounds) was a quarterback at Rodriguez High School in Fairfield, Calif. He passed for 1,257 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 775 yards and three TDs in 2007 to lead Rodriguez to an 11-2 record and a sectional championship.

He said he didn't have any problem switching to receiver, especially since he was determined to play immediately.

"It would've been nice to play quarterback in college, but I really had no intentions on playing quarterback in college because I don't have the size for it," Johnson said. "Receiver is what I wanted to do. The body style I have is built for speed, and that's what I can do."

Johnson didn't know his 40-yard dash time, saying he never had been timed.

"If I'm in the open field, I don't think I'm going to get caught," he said. "That's the kind of speed I think I have."

UNLV coach Mike Sanford prefers an eyeball assessment to measurable statistics when recruiting players, and he got one receiver in Johnson who was deemed not big enough and another in Payne who was considered not fast enough.

But both receivers have shined in preseason camp, and both are in the hunt for those valuable slots in the rotation.

"It's one of those deals where the tape doesn't lie," Sanford said. "Neither guy was highly recruited, but they are really good players. We saw it on tape. We loved them both on tape."

• BEFORE AND AFTER -- Perhaps senior guard Sifa Moala should create his own diet.

He lost 40 pounds in six to seven weeks to get down to 325 on his 6-1 frame. Moala, who played at 370 pounds last year, said in addition to a demanding offseason workout program, he ate more meals each day but in smaller portions. He also avoided carbohydrates and opted for foods such as chicken breasts and green vegetables.

"I'd see my teammates and I'd know what they'd need of me," Moala said. "I also knew that I could be a better player by losing a lot of weight. I'd be much faster and quicker on the field."

The work paid off. Moala now is working with the first team at left guard.

• BACK AT WORK -- Sophomore defensive end Preston Brooks (ribs) and incoming freshman tailback C.J. Cox (shoulder) practiced.

Cox was injured Sunday, and Brooks sat out drills that day.

• PRACTICE STANDOUTS -- Offensive left tackle Matt Murphy and defensive tackle Malo Taumua, both sophomores, wore black jerseys Monday, meaning they were the best players on their respective sides of the ball the previous day.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.