UNLV gains ground on MWC’s football elite in recruiting
When it comes to football recruiting, Brigham Young, Texas Christian and Utah own the top three spots in the Mountain West Conference. That leaves the other six teams in the league to fight for No. 4.
UNLV will secure that spot when classes are announced today during national signing day, according to Scout.com and Rivals.com.
"I think finishing fourth is almost as good as finishing first because those are three pretty established programs, said Brandon Huffman, Scout.com's West analyst. The Rebels "got some really good players that had Pac-10 interest and Pac-10 offers."
UNLV coach Mike Sanford will announce his class this afternoon. NCAA rules prohibit him from commenting until then. The public is invited to the Rebels' signing-day party at 5:30 p.m. in the Thomas & Mack Center Board Room.
Sanford already has announced the early signings of three defensive backs, and UNLV also carries over four grayshirts from last year.
Huffman singled out some players expected to sign today as being impressive pickups for the Rebels:
• Linebacker Jordan Barrett (6 feet 2 inches, 225 pounds) of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Barrett is rated a three-star prospect by Scout and Rivals. Scout ranks him as the nation's No. 12 strong-side linebacker, and Rivals lists him as the No. 47 inside linebacker.
Huffman said: "He's a guy I think could come in and play relatively early. I think he's a guy that will play with a chip on his shoulders because there was a lot of early attention and teams for whatever reason didn't have a lot of interest late."
• Running back Bradley Randle (5-10, 190) of Vista Murrieta (Calif.) High. Randle is rated a three-star prospect and the nation's No. 50 back by both services.
"He plays a lot bigger than his size. He initiates contact. He goes head-on," said Huffman, who called Randle "a poor man's version" of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
• Quarterback Caleb Herring (6-4, 180) of Citrus Hill High in Perris, Calif. Rated a three-star recruit by both services, Herring is Scout's No. 64 quarterback nationally and Rivals' No. 34 pro-style QB.
Huffman said: "Another guy I think for UNLV is an absolute steal. There are guys going to the Pac-10 he is better than and is ranked above.
"He's a guy Oregon was in on at the end, and he would be perfect for that Oregon offense. UNLV showed the love early on."
• Safety Charles Childers (6-0, 180) of Bishop Gorman High. He is rated a two-star prospect by both services.
Huffman said: "We had a combine in Phoenix, and he was the best defensive player there."
Huffman also noted defensive tackle Nate Holloway (6-3, 290) of Spring Valley High, wide receiver Mark Barefield (6-2, 180) of North Mesquite (Texas) High and defensive end B.J. Bell (6-3, 250) of Santa Ana (Calif.) College, the brother of former UNLV linebackers Zach and Beau Bell.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.
SIGNED EARLY
DB Kenny Brown (6-0, 180), College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, Calif.; S Alex Degiacomo (6-1, 190), El Camino College, Torrance, Calif.; DB Warren Ziegler (6-1, 180), College of San Mateo (Calif.).
EXPECTED TO SIGN TODAY
WR Brandon Babineaux (6-4, 190), Folsom (Calif.) HS; WR Mark Barefield (6-2, 180), North Mesquite (Texas) HS; LB Jordan Barrett (6-2, 225), Notre Dame HS, Sherman Oaks, Calif.; DE B.J. Bell (6-3, 250), Santa Ana (Calif.) College; CB Courtney Bridget (6-3, 180), Dunbar HS, Baltimore; S Charles Childers (6-0, 180), Bishop Gorman HS; CB Mike Grant (5-10, 180), Sierra HS, Rocklin, Calif.; QB Caleb Herring (6-4, 180), Citrus Hill HS, Perris, Calif.; DB Sidney Hodge (5-8, 160), Palo Verde HS; DT Nate Holloway (6-3, 290), Spring Valley HS; OT Thomas Kilgore (6-5, 305), San Joaquin Memorial HS, Fresno, Calif.; OG Andrew Mack (6-2, 290), Plano (Texas) West Senior HS; RB Bradley Randle (5-10, 190), Vista Murrieta (Calif.) HS; WR Irshad Stolden (5-10, 165), Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) HS; WR Marcus Sullivan (5-9, 160), Cheyenne HS; S John Therrell (6-1, 170), Bishop Gorman HS; LB Reggie Umuolo (5-10, 190), Centennial HS, Peoria, Ariz.; OL Robert Waterman (6-4, 275), West Ranch HS, Stevenson Ranch, Calif.; C Doug Zismann (6-2, 265), Shadow Mountain HS, Phoenix.
GRAYSHIRTS FROM 2008
DE Jesse Backerman (6-3, 230), Marana HS, Tucson, Ariz.; OL Daniel Kaanana (6-5, 270), Kamehameha HS, Pearl City, Hawaii; OL Jason Koontz (6-2, 295), Santiago HS, Corona, Calif.; OL Shane Watterson (6-5, 280), Saugus (Calif.) HS.
