Mojave product Greer catches on at Colorado State

While growing up in North Las Vegas, playing football at UNLV was Rashaun Greer's dream.

He went to games at Sam Boyd Stadium, wondering what it would be like to suit up for the Rebels.

But that feeling began to fade as he got older, even after the Rebels made a strong recruiting pitch in 2004 and 2005 when Greer was at Mojave High School.

His choice of college would come down to lifestyle as much as gridiron. Having lived his entire life in the dry desert heat and the brown landscape that surrounds Las Vegas, Greer wanted to try someplace different.

Someplace like Fort Collins and Colorado State, which he chose over UNLV and UNR. "I like the green grass, lots of trees and snow, four seasons," Greer said.

And now Greer comes home. The senior wide receiver will start for the Rams (3-6, 0-5 Mountain West Conference) when they play UNLV (3-6, 1-4) at 7 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

If this game is anything like last season's meeting, it could be a tough night for the Rebels' secondary. Greer played the best game of his college career, catching eight passes for 211 yards and a touchdown to help the Rams to a 41-28 win that came down to the final minute.

"The thing that's so fresh in our mind is what he did to us last year," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "We've got to defend him. He's a threat."

Greer finished last season with 63 receptions for 1,114 yards and three touchdowns. His statistics this season are solid -- 31 catches for 580 yards -- but off last year's pace. He has not scored this year.

Not that the drop in production is entirely his fault. Colorado State had to replace quarterback Billy Farris (2,934 yards, 19 TDs) and tailback Gartrell Johnson (1,476 yards, 12 TDs), players who helped the Rams to a 7-6 record.

Quarterback Grant Stucker (1,719 yards, 12 interceptions) will start Saturday, but his grip on the job is far from secure. At tailback, Leonard Mason (606 yards, 4.8 average) shows promise but hasn't taken over games like Johnson did.

Greer had his own problems, dropping two passes that turned into Brigham Young interceptions. Both set up TDs, and Greer was benched the rest of the Sept. 26 game.

Instead of sulking, however, Greer came back the next week at Idaho and caught seven passes for 125 yards.

"I think he understood he wasn't playing well," Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild said. "He came back and worked hard in practice and for the most part has played pretty well."

And now Greer hopes to finish this season strong. Another strong performance against UNLV will help. Greer said he didn't know how many friends and family will be at the game but knows he will have a strong rooting section.

"Growing up and going to UNLV games, and now to be on the opposite sideline," Greer said, "it's going to be real fun."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Read the latest UNLV football updates at lvrj.com/blogs/unlv_sports.