RANDY BLACK
Strong Safety
6-0, 210, SR-3L
Las Vegas/Clark HS
UNLV: A veteran leader that returns to the secondary after playing some linebacker a year ago ... Listed as the starter at strong safety and boasts four career interceptions ... A hard hitter and tough player, both mentally and physically ... Ranks 11th among UNLV's career tacklers with 233 and second among active players ... Named 2000 preseason second team All-MWC at safety by The Sporting News ... 1999: Started all 11 games at either strong safety (4) or linebacker (7) ... Finished third on team with 87 total tackles and led squad in sacks with three ... Intercepted one pass vs. Utah ... Broke up seven passes to finish third on team ... 1998: Played in nine games, starting six at nickel spot ... Missed Wyoming and SMU games with right shoulder sprain ... Still finished with 7.3 tackles-per-game average, good for fourth on team ... Also tied for second on squad with five pass breakups ... 1997: Had best year among Rebel DBs ... Led team with three interceptions, the most picks for a Rebel since 1992 ... Started all 11 games at nickel ... Scored first career touchdown with 29-yard interception return vs. Colorado State ... Led UNLV and was 16th in conference in pass breakups with eight ... Was involved in college football's award-winning Compaq Hit of the Year play when he snagged a ball popped loose by a stunning hit by teammate Mark Hays. Black returned the interception 29 yards ... Finished fourth on team with 80 total tackles (7.3 per game) ... 1996: Redshirted ... Had hand surgery early in season ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1996 graduate of Clark HS ... Very athletic, Black also played quarterback for the Chargers ... Rated Nevada's top prospect before season by one publication but missed four games senior year because of injuries ... Amassed long list of honors as a senior including Sunset Division All-Star team member, first team all-conference, team MVP, team captain and was one of two winners of Wendy's HS Heisman Award for Nevada ... Also selected to participate in Down Under Bowl played in Australia ... A four-year letterman for coach Mike Gutsowksi, he played both ways entire career ... Recorded six interceptions as junior and had two picks in senior campaign ... Totaled more than 500 yards rushing and passed for two TDs as QB in `95 ... Returned kickoff 93 yards for a score vs. Bishop Gorman at Sam Boyd Stadium ... Member of 1993 state champion squad that defeated McQueen HS, 7-3, in title game ... A four-sport letterman who played baseball, basketball and ran track when not on gridiron ... Served as sportswriter for school paper and yearbook ... PERSONAL: Randy Black was born on Jan. 5, 1978, in Richmond, KY ... The son of Randall and Deana Black ... Father played at Eastern Kentucky for one season ... Cousin, Shawn Mundy, played baseball at Florida State ... Fan of hard-hitting DB Ronnie Lott, whom he met during `99 spring practice when the former John Robinson student addressed the team.
BLACK'S DEFENSIVE STATSYEAR UT AT TOT PBU INT1999 63 24 87 7 11998 57 9 66 5 01997 59 21 80 8 3TOTAL 179 54 233 20 4
RAY CHEETANY
Punter/Kicker
5-11, 180, SR-1L
Cedar Rapids, IA/Iowa Central CC
2000 ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE
UNLV: An All-America candidate who was nation's fourth-leading punter a year ago ... Named one of college football's Top 10 Special Teams Players by Sports Illustrated in 1999 ... Tabbed 2000 preseason first team All-Mountain West Conference punter by The Sporting News ... The Rebels' kick-off man for the second straight season, he will also boot all extra points and field goals in 2000 ... 1999: Took over team's punting duties in third game against Iowa State ... Kicked a 67-yard punt against BYU, his career long and longest by a Rebel since 1995 ... Of his 65 punts, 25 (39 percent) traveled at least 50 yards and six (nine percent) went more than 60, while 18 of his kicks (28 percent) pinned the Rebels' opponent inside the 20-yard line ... Completed his only pass attempt on a fake punt, connecting with Coury Hankins for a 24-yard gain and a first down ... Also made two touchdown-saving tackles against Colorado State ... AT IOWA CENTRAL: Attended school located in Fort Dodge from 1996-98 ... Lettered two seasons for the Tritons as a kicker/punter under coach Kevin Twait ... 1997 season saw team go 9-2 and earn top-20 ranking ... Earned 1997 second team JC Gridwire All-America honors ... Also named special teams player of the year ... Owns school record for longest field goal with a 52-yarder ... Nailed 41 of 42 PAT attempts ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1996 graduate of Linn-Mar Marion HS ... Lettered twice in football ... Named second team all-state by Des Moines Register in 1995 as well as earning all-city and all-conference honors ... Set conference records for most field goals in a season and longest in Mississippi Valley Conference at 41 yards ... Also a talented soccer player who led Lions in scoring for three seasons ... PERSONAL: Ray Cheetany was born on Dec. 12, 1977 ... The son of Nazih and Malak Cheetany ... Brother, Nader, plays semi-pro soccer for the Las Vegas Generals ... Is interested in becoming a coach.
CHEETANY'S PUNTING STATSYEAR PUNTS YDS AVG 50+ 60+1999 65 2950 45.4 25 6
JOHN GREER
Offensive Right Tackle
6-5, 295, SR-3L
Apple Valley, CA/Apple Valley HS
UNLV: A former walk-on who has developed into the team's leading blocker ... The anchor of the 2000 line, he is listed as starting right tackle heading into fall for third consecutive season ... Tabbed second team All-Mountain West Conference at tackle by The Sporting News ... A top student who has earned Academic All-WAC honors, Academic All-MWC honors and first team academic all-district ... Twice has been named to Rebel Academic Top 30 ... 1999: Started all 11 games at right or left tackle ... Selected first team GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII ... 1998: Started in 10 of 11 games at LT ... Missed Wyoming game with a lower back strain ... 1997: Started all 11 games, playing 10 at right tackle and one at right guard ... 1996: Redshirted after walking on squad ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1996 graduate of Apple Valley HS ... Was all-county, All-Citrus Belt League and second team All-CIF ... Played right tackle his final three years for the Sundevils under coaches Warren Hull and Steve Morgan ... Made deans list with a 4.0 GPA ... PERSONAL: John A. Greer was born on Feb. 1, 1978, in Washington state ... The son of Homer and Karen Greer ... Has one brother ... Majoring in finance.
DUANE "TOY TRAIN" JAMES
Wide Receiver/Kick Returner
5-9, 180, JR-2L
San Diego/Mira Mesa HS
UNLV: The Mountain West Conference's top return man in 2000 after being only player to finish among top five in both kickoff and punt return average a year ago ... A dynamic offensive weapon who is nicknamed Toy Train for his powerful and speedy performance despite his diminutive stature ... Expected to start at receiver spot opposite Nate Turner ... Has returned a punt for TD in both years of his career ... 1999: Listed as preseason first team All-Mountain West Conference as a kick returner by Athlon ... Played in all 11 games and ranked third in league and 32nd nationally in kickoff (23.5) returns ... Also was fifth in MWC in punt return (7.7) average ... Finished fourth on squad in receiving with 12 catches for 145 yards and two scores ... Was the Rebels' second-leading player in all-purpose yardage, tallying 661 yards ... Finished fourth on team in scoring with 18 points ... Tabbed MWC Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 11 after he returned two punts for 55 yards, including a 43-yard return for a touchdown in second half at Wyoming ... Also caught one pass for a 13-yard touchdown vs. Pokes ... 1998: Completed impressive rookie campaign by leading team in all-purpose yards with 1,077, a total that ranked 15th in WAC ... Played in all 11 games and started last four contests at receiver ... Finished tied for third on team with 18 catches and was fourth with 122 yards receiving ... Earned first career touchdown with a body-twisting 17-yard catch from Kevin Crook at CSU ... Was WAC's third-leading and nation's 22nd-leading kickoff returner with a 25.0 yard average on 30 attempts ... Had a long of 49 ... Also led squad in punt returns with a 12-yard average on 11 attempts ... Average would have ranked in nation's top-20 if he had more attempts to qualify ... His stirring 78-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. UNR was UNLV's first for a score since Henry Bailey did it in 1992 ... 1997: Redshirted after suffering injury in preseason training camp ... Kept out of action as true freshman with a foot fracture ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1997 graduate of Mira Mesa HS ... Lettered three times in football and once in track for Marauders ... Named All-Eastern League three times, all-county twice and team MVP his final two seasons ... Gained 1,199 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on 225 carries as a senior ... PERSONAL: Duane James was born on May 3, 1979, in Mission Hills, CA ... The son of Duane Sr. and Adele Lynn James ... Distant cousin of former L.A. Rams RB Wendell Tyler.
TOY TRAIN'S STATSRECEIVINGYEAR REC YDS AVG TD LG1999 12 145 12.1 2 211998 18 194 10.8 1 35TOTAL 30 339 11.3 3 35
KICKOFF RETURNSYEAR NO YDS AVG TD LG1999 17 400 23.5 0 571998 30 749 25.0 0 49TOTAL 47 1149 24.4 0 57
PUNT RETURNSYEAR NO YDS AVG TD LG1999 15 116 7.7 1 43(TD)1998 11 132 12.0 1 78(TD)TOTAL 26 248 9.5 2 78
JEREMI RUDOLPH
Running Back
5-9, 175, SR-1L
Apopka, FL/SW Mississippi CC
UNLV: A highly touted and sometimes spectacular playmaker who was the Rebels' top offensive threat last season ... Named 2000 preseason first team All-Mountain West Conference at running back by The Sporting News ... Will lead a talented backfield this fall ... One of the nation's top-five running backs coming out of high school in 1995 ... Originally signed with Florida State but played professional baseball instead ... Was drafted in seventh round by Toronto Blue Jays in 1995 and then played two years in the organization ... 1999: Tabbed the league's 1999 preseason offensive newcomer of the year by The Sporting News ... The Rebels' rushing leader, gaining 693 yards rushing on 155 attempts ... His 69.3 rushing yards per game ranked him sixth in league ... Played in only 10 games after a groin injury in BYU game on Oct. 23 sidelined him for a week ... Saw only limited time throughout the rest of season ... Still finished second on team in scoring (five TDs) and tied for fourth in receptions, hauling in 12 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield ... Was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 11 after leading UNLV to a 35-32 win at 27th-ranked Wyoming, rushing for 149 yards on 32 carries ... Was instrumental in UNLV's 26-3 win in its season opener at North Texas, carrying the ball for 97 yards on 20 carries ... AT SWMCC: Lettered in 1997-98 and rushed for more than 800 yards both seasons ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1995 graduate of Apopka HS ... Finished second in career TDs in the state of Florida behind Emmitt Smith ... Runner-up for Florida's Mr. Football Award behind QB Daunte Culpepper ... Played in the Florida-Georgia All-Star Game ... Became 14th player in state history to rush for more than 5,000 yards during his prep career despite playing quarterback until a senior-year injury necessitated move to RB ... Led Apopka to 13-1 record and district title as a senior ... Named first team all-state ... Also visited Florida, Tennessee and Oklahoma out of high school ... PERSONAL: Jeremi Donnell Rudolph was born on Jan. 27, 1976 ... The son of Joann Rudolph.
RUDOLPH'S OFFENSIVE STATSRUSHINGYEAR ATT YDS AVG TD LG1999 155 693 4.5 4 28
RECEIVINGYEAR REC YDS TD LG1999 12 74 1 40(TD)
RUDOLPH'S TOP RUSHING PERFORMANCESYEAR OPPONENT ATT YDS AVG TD1999 at Wyoming 32 149 4.7 01999 at UNR 20 120 6.0 01999 at North Texas 20 97 4.9 21999 at Baylor 18 91 5.1 11999 at Air Force 8 75 9.4 0
JAMES SUNIA
Linebacker
5-10, 240, JR-2L
Waianae, HI/St. Louis HS
UNLV: The Mountain West Conference's top returning tackler (119) after finishing third in league a year ago ... A rock at middle linebacker who has led Rebels in tackles both of his first two seasons ... On target to shatter school record for career takedowns by 2000 midseason ... Already ranks 10th on all-time UNLV chart through just two years with 234 (10.6 per game) ... Named 2000 preseason second team All-Mountain West Conference at LB by The Sporting News ... 1999: Led Rebels in tackles for second straight season with 119 (78 solo) ... Was third on squad in tackles for loss with four ... Also recorded two sacks, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery ... 1998: The WAC Mountain Division Freshman of the Year became first freshman in school history voted team captain and went on to start all 11 games at MLB ... Turned in stunningly productive rookie campaign that saw the sparkplug lead team with 115 total tackles (51 solo) ... Named first team Freshman All-American by Football News ... Tabbed by The Sporting News as preseason second team All-Mountain West Conference ... Tied for second with tackles for loss with six for 12 yards ... Also recovered one fumble ... 1997: Redshirted ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1997 graduate of national football power St. Louis HS ... Was a three-year letterwinner for coach Cal Lees program ... Played OLB and helped Crusaders to 38-1 record over his prep career ... Recorded 25 QB sacks, including 13 as a senior ... Named first team IHL All-Star in 1996 and second team as a junior ... Tabbed first team all-state in final year ... Also played four years of basketball ... PERSONAL: James Sunia was born on March 30, 1979, in Centralia, WA ... The son of Sheryl Sunia, a police detective ... Lists one of hobbies as body surfing.
SUNIA'S DEFENSIVE STATSYEAR UT AT TOT TFL SACKS FR1999 78 41 119 4/11 2/9 11998 51 64 115 6/12 2/2 1TOTAL 129 105 234 10/23 4/11 2
JASON THOMAS
Quarterback
6-4, 240, SO-TR
Compton, CA/Dominguez HS/USC
UNLV: Will compete with veterans Jason Vaughan and Matt Ray for the starting quarterback job this fall ... Described by many as the most important recruit in school history ... Chose UNLV over such power programs as Nebraska, Miami, Syracuse and Kansas State ... Transferred to UNLV before the 1999 season after redshirting for one year at Southern California while recovering from injury sustained as a prepster ... ... Has yet to play a down of collegiate football, but still remains one of the most highly touted prospects in the country ... Brings pro-like size and strength to the quarterback position, yet is very nimble and scrambles with the ball well ... Has been known to throw a football 70 yards in the air ... Also an accomplished basketball player who may someday play for the Runnin' Rebels as well ... 1999: Sat out season per NCAA transfer rules, but dazzled all onlookers while running the Rebel scout team ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1998 graduate of Dominguez High School in Compton, CA ... Named a 1997 Parade All-American, Super Prep National 50, The Sporting News Top 100, Super Prep All-American, Prep Star Dream Team, Prep Star All-American, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-Western Region Super 30 and first team Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West as a senior quarterback despite missing most of the season with a dislocated ankle ... Threw for 1,431 yards and 10 TDs and rushed for 694 yards and 22 TDs as a junior in 1996 ... Honored that season as USA Today All-USA honorable mention, Student Sports Junior All-American, Cal-HI Sports All-State first team and All-CIF Division II Offensive MVP ... Also lettered in basketball at Dominguez, leading his team to back-to-back California state Division II titles ... Among other hoops honors, was named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West, becoming only the fourth player ever to earn the honor in both football and basketball ... Also tabbed a first team Student Sports Grid-Hoops All-American in 1997 and `98 ... Named the 1997 Student Sports California Junior Athlete of the Year and the 1996 Student Sports California Sophomore Athlete of the Year ... His sister, Nicole, was a hurdler on Arizona's track team ... Also, second cousin Daylon McCutheon played cornerback at USC from 1995-98.
KEVIN THOMAS
Cornerback
5-11, 180, JR-2L
Sacramento, CA/Foothill HS
2000 ALL-AMERICA CANDIDATE
UNLV: Described by head coach John Robinson as one of the best college football players in the United States, the Mountain West Conference's top cornerback returns as a junior ... Named 2000 preseason MWC Defensive Player of the Year as well as league's most underrated player by The Sporting News ... A candidate for annual Thorpe Award ... Is super quick and reads receivers well ... Has knack for being in right place at right time ... 1999: Named first team All-MWC by Football News ... Led team and finished fourth in conference and 20th in nation with five interceptions ... Also led league in passes defended with 29 (5 INT, 24 PBU) ... His 24 pass breakups eclipsed a 16-year-old record of 18 set by Anthony Blue in 1984 ... Turned in college football's most shocking play of 2000 when he returned a fumble 100 yards against Baylor with no time remaining to hand UNLV a 27-24 upset road win ... Also scored on his first career interception when he returned a pick 49 yards for a touchdown to seal victory at North Texas ... Finished with 52 total tackles, good for seventh on the squad ... Tabbed by The Sporting News as preseason second team all-league ... 1998: Started all 11 games at right corner as a redshirt freshman ... Finished 12th on team with 41 tackles ... Led Rebels with seven pass breakups, which tied for 18th in the WAC ... Also tied for squad lead with two fumble recoveries ... 1997: Redshirted ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1997 graduate of Foothill HS ... A two-year letterwinner for coach Frank Negri as both a DB and Wide Receiver ... Recorded five interceptions as senior and three as junior ... Named first team all-conference as senior as well as being the team's defensive MVP ... Tabbed second team All-Metro as a DB ... A top return man who had four punt returns for scores in 1996 ... Helped Mustangs to a 12-1 record ... Also a two-time all-league small forward on basketball team ... PERSONAL: Marvin Kevin Thomas was born on July 28, 1978, in Phoenix ... The son of Marvin and Yolando Thomas ... Nickname is K.T.
THOMAS' DEFENSIVE STATSYEAR UT AT TOT PBU INT FR1999 43 9 52 24 5 11998 33 8 41 7 0 2TOTAL 76 17 93 31 5 3
NATE TURNER
Wide Receiver
6-3, 200, SR-1L
Compton, CA/Compton CC
UNLV: An NFL prospect who will be the Rebels' unquestioned leader at receiver in 2000 ... Tabbed 2000 preseason second team All-Mountain West Conference by The Sporting News ... A 1998 junior-college athletic and academic All-American who immediately stepped into an active role in offense last year and may benefit most from a new, wide-open Rebel attack ... Has been compared to another receiver who played under John Robinson -- former USC All-American Keyshawn Johnson ... Listed as starter at one WR spot heading into fall ... 1999: Led UNLV in receiving with 45 catches for 627 yards and six touchdowns ... His six TDs (36 points) led team in scoring as well ... Caught two TD passes in UNLV's win at Baylor ... Picked up a season-best 94 yards receiving and scored one TD in the win at Wyoming ... Caught at least two passes in every game ... AT COMPTON: One of eight student-athletes from California junior colleges to earn 3C4A Scholar-Athlete Award for being an All-American on the field and maintaining a 3.5 GPA ... Hauled in 62 receptions for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore in 1998 ... AT MT. SAC: Converted from a defensive back to a wideout as a freshman in 1997 ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1997 graduate of Jordan HS ... Played on defense under NFL Hall of Fame player Willie Brown ... Recorded 120 solo tackles as a senior for the Bulldogs ... Named a Blue Chip All-American after twice earning All-L.A. City Section honors ... PERSONAL: Nathaniel J. Turner was born on May 26, 1978, in Gardena, CA ... The son of Deborah Sills and grandson of Roy Sills.
TURNER'S RECEIVING STATSYEAR REC YDS AVG TD LG1999 45 627 13.9 6 46
JAMES WOFFORD
Fullback
6-0, 195, SR-3L
Bakersfield, CA/Bakersfield HS
UNLV: A durable, tough runner, who will show up all over the field in 2000 ... Expected to fill in at fullback, tailback and H-back in new, wide-open Rebel offense ... Played in all 11 games a year ago after converting from tailback to fullback ... Finished third on team in rushing, gaining 232 yards on 45 carries ... Ranks 10th on UNLV's all-time rushing list with 1,672 yards ... Needs just 27 yards to pass Tony Lewis for ninth-place on the list and is just under 1,500 yards behind UNLV's all-time leader, Mike Thomas ... 1999: Started six games at fullback ... Carried ball only 14 times through first seven games, but picked up some of the load following Jeremi Rudolph's injury with 31 rushing attempts over final four games ... Led team in rushing at New Mexico, gaining 57 yards on nine carries, including a season long of 33 ... Also caught 10 passes out of backfield for 86 yards, including one for a 10-yard touchdown in season finale against Colorado State ... 1998: Started all 11 games in one-back system ... Led team with 816 yards on 173 carries, which was 11th-best single-season total in school history ... Ranked 10th in WAC with 74.2 YPG average ... Led team in scoring with 30 points coming on five rushing TDs ... Also pulled in four receptions for 33 yards ... Finished second on squad with 849 all-purpose yards ... Added two more 100-yard rushing games to resume ... Burned Wyoming for a career-high 184 yards on 28 carries, which was 18th-best single game in UNLV history ... Also earned 114 yards on 22 carries at Rice ... Broke through for a career-long 55-yard score vs. UNR that was team's longest run of the year ... 1997: Started final five games after starter Rodrick Johnson went down with season-ending injury ... Finished second on team with 624 yards and led squad with four rushing touchdowns ... Closed out season with 170-yard effort on 28 carries ... Also finished second on squad with 78 total offensive yards per game ... Turned in team's play of the year with a scintillating 68-yard run that ended on San Diego State one-yard line before he popped it into the end zone on very next play ... 1996: Redshirted after leg injury suffered in fall camp ... HIGH SCHOOL: A 1996 graduate of Bakersfield HS ... Gained more than 1,500 yards on the ground and 200 yards receiving as a senior ... A teammate of Rebel LB Jerrad Pierucci at Bakersfield HS ... Named all-league and all-area as a senior as well as being chosen the Southeast Yosemite League's Offensive MVP ... Lettered two years under coach Pat Preston ... Also played one year of basketball for the Drillers ... PERSONAL: James Wofford was born on June 6, 1978 ... The son of Steve and Dametia Wofford ... Younger brother of former Southern University star runner Steve Wofford.
WOFFORD'S OFFENSIVE STATSRUSHINGYEAR ATT YDS YL NET AVG TD LG1999 45 236 4 232 5.2 1 331998 173 845 29 816 4.7 5 551997 124 654 30 624 5.0 4 21TOTAL 342 1,735 63 1,672 4.9 10 55(TD)
RECEIVINGYEAR REC YDS AVG TD LG1999 10 86 8.6 1 191998 4 33 8.3 0 181997 13 158 12.2 1 68TOTAL 27 277 10.3 2 68
WOFFORD'S TOP RUSHING PERFORMANCESYEAR OPPONENT ATT YDS AVG TD1998 WYOMING 28 184 6.6 11997 SJSU 28 170 6.1 11998 at Rice 22 114 5.2 11997 at Fresno State 19 96 5.1 01998 TULSA 21 96 4.6 1
