Feb. 7, 2001
LAS VEGAS - UNLV's third recruiting class under Head Coach John Robinson was announced as 20 student-athletes signed national letters of intent to play for the Rebels.
"It is as good a class as we've had here," Robinson said. "We are getting more people who are not down-the-road players, but guys that will compete for playing time in their first season."
The list features 13 freshmen, four junior-college players and two transfers from Div. I-A schools. Two of the JC players - DL Garrett Brassington and OL Matt Williams -- are currently enrolled at UNLV and will take part in spring practice, March 22-April 14.
The class consists of student-athletes whose hometowns are spread among only five states: 11 from California, five from Nevada, two from Washington and one each from Florida and Indiana.
Four-year institution transfers Deon Burnett (Washington State) and Tyrone Tucker (Iowa State) will not become eligible to play until the 2002 season.
This year's group is made up of 12 offensive players, including four running backs, and five defensive players. Three players are listed as athletes. A list of UNLV's 2001 football signees is below:
NAME POS HT/WT CL-EXP HOMETOWN PREVIOUS SCHOOLBrian Adams ATH 5-11/185 FR-HS Moapa Valley, NV Moapa Valley HSTyler Arciaga QB 6-3/230 FR-HS Bonita, CA Bonita Vista HSGarrett Brassington*DL 6-2/285 JR-TR La Mesa, CA Grossmont CollegeDeon Burnett# RB 5-11/210 JR-TR Upland, CA Washington StateGerrin Clark ATH 5-10/175 FR-HS West Covina, CA West Covina HSJustin Cooper WR 6-0/195 FR-HS Carson, CA Carson HSDominique DorseyRB 5-8/165 FR-HS Tulare, CA Tulare-Union HSAndrew Faga FB 6-0/240 SO-TR Indian Springs, NV Idaho StateMichael Freund ATH 6-2/215 FR-HS Tumwater, WA Black Hills HSZach Gorham OL 6-5/280 FR-HS Lakeside, CA El Capitan HSEarvin Johnson WR 6-3/195 FR-HS Los Angeles, CA Cathedral HSMarcus Maxwell WR 6-4/190 FR-HS Pinole Valley, CA Pinole Valley HSJoe Miklos LB 6-1/195 FR-HS Concord, CA De La Salle HSSheddrick Mitchell OL 6-7/325 JR-TR Fort Wayne, IN Butte CollegeLeon Moore DE 6-5/240 FR-HS Las Vegas, NV Rancho HSDyante Perkins RB 6-1/220 FR-HS Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman HSJason Rogers WR 5-11/185 FR-HS Las Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman HSChameion Sutton DB 5-11/195 JR-TR Seattle, WA Butte CollegeTyrone Tucker# LB 6-2/240 SR-TR Miami, FL Iowa StateMatt Williams* OL 6-6/300 JR-TR Pasadena, CA Pasadena City College
*JC early signee already enrolled at UNLV
#Four-year transfer who must sit out 2001 season
BRIAN ADAMSATH 5-11 185 FR-HS Moapa Valley, NV/Moapa Valley HS
A speedy athlete from nearby Moapa Valley, NV ... The Silver State's Class AAA MVP as a running back for the Pirates ... Lettered three years under coach Jeff Knutson ... Helped squad to state championship last fall after a runner-up finish in 1999 ... Ran for 3,420 yards and 58 touchdowns during his career ... Totaled 970 yards and 17 scores as a senior despite missing nearly half the season because of injury ... A two-time first-team all-state and three-time first-team all-league selection ...Conference's offensive MVP as a junior ... Also a top trackster who won state titles in the 100 and 200 meters and one relay event as a junior ... Holds four school track records ... Twice lettered on the basketball team ... Brian Adams was born on Nov. 4, 1982 in Henderson, NV.
TYLER ARCIAGAQB 6-3 230 FR-HS Bonita, CA/Bonita Vista HS
A good-sized passer who is the only quarterback in the Rebels' 2001 class ... A three-time letterman at Bonita Vista HS outside of San Diego ... Helped Barrons to 9-1 record and league title as a senior ... Threw for 2,000 yards, 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions last year for coach Carl Parrick ... Finished prep career as all-time leader in passing yards, attempts and completions at the school ...Tabbed the Mesa Conference Offensive MVP ... Earned All-CIF honors ... A preseason All-American by Prep Star magazine ... Also lettered three times in baseball as a first baseman ... A top student who considered attending an Ivy League institution ... Tyler Robert Arciaga was born on Dec. 14, 1982 in San Diego ... Father played as an OL at Point Loma Nazarene, which was called Cal Western.
GARRETT BRASSINGTONDL 6-2 285 JR-TR La Mesa, CA/Grossmont HS/Grossmont College
A top junior-college defensive lineman who was one of two players who signed with UNLV during the early period in December ... Enrolled at the school this semester and will take part in the Rebels' spring practice ... Played two seasons at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA ... Helped coach Dave Jordan's team to a 9-1 record last fall as the Griffins won the Foothill league title ... Named honorable mention All-America as an end ... A 1999 graduate of Grossmont HS ... Lettered on both sides of the line for coach Pat Roberts ... Tabbed first team all-league as both OL and DL as well as team MVP for the Foothillers ... Garrett Norris Brassington was born on Oct. 15, 1980.
DEON BURNETTRB 5-11 210 JR-TR Upland, CA/Claremont HS/Washington State
The second Washington State running back to transfer to UNLV during John Robinson's three years, joining former tailback Kevin Brown, who rushed for 798 yards for the Rebels in 2000 after leaving Pullman ... Burnett becomes the sixth Rebel since 1999 that once played at a Pac-10 school ... Played two seasons with the Cougars before leaving the team last fall ... Will sit out 2001 per NCAA transfer rules and have two seasons of eligibility remaining ... Rushed for 345 yards one touchdown as a sophomore last year after turning in record-breaking freshman campaign in 1999 ... Started final 10 games of rookie season and earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors ... Finished second nationally among freshman backs ... Finished just 95 yards short of Darrin Nelson's league record for yards in a season by freshman ... Set school freshman records with 136 yards at Arizona State, 974 for the year to shatter Rueben Mayes' single-season mark of 425 and most TDs in a season with 12, and in a game with four ... A 1999 graduate of Claremont HS where he set every school rushing and receiving record after totaling more than 5,000 yards on the ground during career ... Led California in rushing with 2,616 yards and 27 TDs for 9-3 Claremont as a senior ... Received five votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West poll ... Picked by the Tacoma News Tribune to its Western 100 team ... Named to Super Prep magazine's All-America (No. 36 RB) and All-Far West teams ... Tabbed Cal-Hi Sports First-Team All-American ... Rushed for 2,010 yards and 29 TDs as a junior as he earned first-team All-CIF honors ... Rushed for 610 yards in just three games as a sophomore for coach Mike Collins ... Deon A. Burnett was born on May 15, 1981, in Los Angeles.
BURNETT'S WASHINGTON STATE STATISTICSYEAR G ATT YDS AVG TD LG REC YDS TD LG2000 9 94 345 3.67 1 34 12 204 1 681999 12 209 974 4.66 12 73 23 220 0 48TOTAL 21 303 1,319 4.35 13 73 35 424 1 68
GERRIN CLARK
ATH 5-10 175 FR-HS West Covina, CA/West Covina HS
A speedy, two-way standout from West Covina HS ... A three-year starter as a running back who rushed for more than 1,500 yards as a senior for the Bulldogs ... Also played in the defensive backfield for coach Mike Maggoire ... Can play both safety and cornerback.
JUSTIN COOPER
WR 6-0 195 FR-HS Carson, CA/Carson HS
A versatile athlete who is expected to play receiver for the Rebels ... Lettered four years at Carson HS ... Played QB for three seasons, spending his sophomore campaign as a WR ... Helped the Colts to a 10-4 record and Marine League title under coach John Aguirre last fall ... Threw for 816 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 484 yards and six scores ... Also played DB and returned an interception 84 yards for a TD ... Also was the squad's punter, averaging 38 yards per kick as a senior ... A first-team member of the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team last fall ... Also tabbed a member of the preseason Elite 11 by the same publication and received three votes in the LB P-T Best in the West poll ... Led Carson to the L.A. City title by passing for 1,350 yards and 16 TDs, also rushing for 570 yards ... A four-time first-team all-league and two-time all-city selection ... Ran track for first three years as a prepster ... Justin Nicholas Cooper was born on Feb. 2, 1983, in Bellflower, CA ... Brother, Jermain, plays DB for San Jose State, while brother, Isaac, plays WR at Lincoln University of Missouri.
DOMINIQUE DORSEY
RB 5-8 165 FR-HS Tulare, CA/Tulare-Union HS
A small back with stunning statistics who will look to break into the Rebels' rushing rotation ... California's all-time high school rushing leader with 7,761 yards and 118 touchdowns ... Hails from same school as Rebel fullback Steven Costa ... Rushed for 3,045 yards and 50 scores as a senior in 2000 ... Led team to Central Section Yosemite Small School Division title in both junior and senior seasons ... Finished with 325 yards and six TDs on 36 carries vs. Edison HS in championship game last fall ... Rushed for 43 TDs as a junior as Redskins went 11-2 ... Named First-Team All-State by Cal-Hi Sports ... Listed as All-Western Region by Prep Star magazine ... Received three votes in Long Beach Press-Telegram's 2000 Best in the West poll ... A two-time conference MVP.
ANDREW FAGA
FB 6-0 240 SO-TR Indian Springs, NV/Indian Springs HS/Idaho State
A former all-state quarterback who coaches see as a fullback at UNLV ... A 1999 graduate of Indian Springs HS outside of Las Vegas ...The former teammate of current Rebel DB Derek Olsen at the school, which features eight-man football ... Played both ways for the Thunderbirds ... Started as a QB as well as playing LB for the two-time state champions who went 32-1 during his career ... Considered to be the state's top player in Class 1A football in 1998 as he played for his father, coach Sope Fuga ... Also lettered in basketball, track and baseball ... Signed with Idaho State out of high school but redshirted his only season with the I-AA Bengals in 1999 ... Attended UNLV in 2000 but did not play football and will have three years of eligibility remaining ... Andrew James Faga was born on June 19, 1981, in San Jose, CA.
MICHAEL FREUND
ATH 6-2 215 FR-HS Tumwater, WA/Black Hills HS
An offensive machine as a prepster ... Looks to replace former Rebel James Wofford at H-Back and has requested Wofford's jersey number 33 ... A three-year letterman for coach Jack Zilla ... The first D-I football signee in the three-year history of Black Hills HS ... Played tight end for most of career and was tabbed a unanimous all-league honoree at that position as a junior ... During senior year, caught 38 balls for 613 yards and six touchdowns in first four games before injuries to teammates necessitated his move to other positions ... Rushed for 893 yards and nine scores at tailback and passed for 161 yards and two TDs in limited action at QB for the Wolves ... Will play in state's East-West All-Star Game in June ... Named to South Sound All-Star Team by The Olympian newspaper ... Also a three-year starter on the basketball team ... Michael Lee Freund was born on Dec. 30, 1982 in Vancouver, WA.
ZACH GORHAM
OL 6-5 280 FR-HS Lakeside, CA/El Capitan HS
A big offensive lineman who is the only freshman blocker in this year's class ... A two-year letterman at El Capitan HS near San Diego ... Helped the Vaqueros to a Grossmont League title as a senior ... A team captain for coach Dave Waasted ... Named All-CIF and honorable mention all-state last season ... Tabbed first-team All-Grossmont Conference the last two seasons ... Also a top wrestler who was twice named all league ... Will be inducted into the National Football Foundation High School Hall of Fame in March ... Zach Michael Gorham was born on New Year's Eve 1982.
EARVIN JOHNSON
WR 6-3 195 FR-HS Los Angeles, CA/Cathedral HS
The most highly publicized member of the 2001 Rebel class ... A big receiving target who will look to make an immediate impact with the departure of big-body receiver Nate Turner ... Listed as the nation's No. 93 recruit overall by Bobby Burton's Rivals100.com and the country's No. 94 recruit by Student Sports magazine ... Orginally committed to Georgia Tech in May 2000 but decided to remain on the West Coast instead ... Listed as the No. 14 receiver prospect in the nation by Rivals.com and the No. 19 wideout overall by Student Sports ... Received four votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West poll ... Honorable Mention member of the Las Vegas Sun's Super 11 football squad ... A Prep Star All-American who is listed as the No. 5 receiver in the West by the magazine ... Totaled 36 receptions for 550 yards and 13 TDs as a senior for Cathedral HS ... Grabbed 70 balls for 1,620 yards and 29 scores as a junior for the Phantoms ... Finished career with 169 catches for 3,000 yards and a state-record 66 TD receptions.
MARCUS MAXWELL
WR 6-4 190 FR-HS Pinole Valley, CA/Pinole Valley HS
A two-way player as a prepster who will look to be a receiver for the Rebels ... Hails from Pinole Valley HS - the same school that produced UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson ... Lined up as both a DB and WR for coach Jim Erickson ... Helped his team to a 10-2 record and Alameda Contra Costa League co-title as a senior ... Caught 46 balls for 878 yards and 10 TDs last fall as well as grabbing two interceptions on defense ... Member of the Contra Costa Times Cream of the Crop and a first-team all-league selection by the newspaper ... A two-year letterman in baseball and three-year letterman in basketball for the Spartans ... Marcus Maxwell was born on July 8, 1983 in Berkeley, CA.
JOE MIKLOS
LB 6-1 195 FR-HS Concord, CA/De La Salle HS
A two-way standout from the high school national championship squad at De La Salle HS ... Expected to play linebacker for the Rebels ... Two-year letterman for the Spartans, who went undefeated during that span (25-0 in 1999-00) in the Bay Valley Athletic League and won the state title in 1999 as well ... Played both linebacker and tight end for coach Bob Ladaceur ... Grabbed 10 balls for 200 yards and five touchdowns as a senior ... Totaled 92 tackles and seven sacks as well ... Named to East Bay's Cream of the Crop and first-team all-league in 2000 ... Joe Michael Miklos was born on June 8, 1983, in Mesa, AZ.
SHEDDRICK MITCHELL
OL 6-7 325 JR-TR Fort Wayne, IN
Paul Harding HS/Rutgers/Butte College
A huge student-athlete who started one year at Butte College in Oroville, CA ... Helped the Roadrunners earn a 9-2 record last fall ... He joins Butte teammate Chameion Sutton in signing with UNLV and is one of two JC offensive line recruits and three overall to join the Rebels this year ... Originally attended Rutgers and spent two seasons at the New Jersey school ... Lettered in 1998 as a freshman but redshirted in 1999 with a shoulder injury ... Already 23 years old, he will use his experience to vie for a job this season.
LEON MOORE
DE 6-5 240 FR-HS Las Vegas, NV/Rancho HS
A tackling machine from Las Vegas ... A three-sport standout at Rancho HS ... Lettered thrice at both DE and TE for coach John Engle ... Finished second on the school's career tackles list ... Finished with 130 tackles, 17 sacks and seven pass breakups as a senior ... Named All-Sunrise Division and second-team all-state ... Also serves as the starting center on the Rams basketball team and was a trackster, competing in shot put, discus, high jump and 110-meter hurdles ... Leon Rayvell Moore was born on Oct. 23, 1982 in Chicago.
DYANTE PERKINS
RB 6-1 220 FR-HS Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman HS
UNLV's most decorated local recruit under coach John Robinson ... An all-state singal-caller at Bishop Gorman HS in Las Vegas but was recruited as a tailback for the Rebels' offense ... A versatile performer with good size and speed who also started at defensive back and punted for the Gaels ... Also played running back, linebacker and kicked during his prep career for coach Roger Whalen's program ... Rushed for 1,528 yards and 20 touchdowns on 231 carries as a QB and passed for 669 yards and eight scores as a senior ... Despite battling injuries, rushed for 757 yards and seven TDs on 141 yards in 1999 ... Also passed for 718 yards and eight scores and averaged 39.9 yards per punt as a junior ... A Prep Star All-American who is listed as the No. 9 running back prospect in the West by the magazine ... Named first-team all-state QB by the Las Vegas Sun in 2000 ... Also a top prep basketball player.
JASON ROGERS
WR 5-11 185 FR-HS Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman HS
One of two local products from Bishop Gorman HS to sign with the Rebels this spring ... A four-year letterman who started both ways for the Gaels ... Lined up at RB and DB as a prepster but will look for time as a WR for the Rebels ... Helped team to 8-3 record and a Sunset Conference title as a senior ... Ran for 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns and totaled more than 400 yards and four more scores through the air in 2000 ... Racked up five interceptions on defense ...Posted more than 500 all-purpose yards and five scores in school's homecoming victory over Rancho HS last fall as he earned Las Vegas Sun Athlete of the Week honors ...Returned a punt 70 yards for his first TD as a freshman ... First-team All-Sunset as a WR during junior campaign ... Tabbed honorable mention all-state by the Las Vegas Sun ... Also a three-year letterman in basketball ... Was starting guard for Gaels' state-championship squad as a junior ... Also competes in track and field for the private school ... Jason Jeffrey Rogers was born on Nov. 5, 1982.
CHAMEION SUTTON
DB 5-11 195 JR-TR Seattle, WA/Franklin HS/Butte College
The class' only junior-college defensive back ... Will look for time at a safety spot this fall ... A two-year standout safety at Butte College in Oroville, CA ... Twice earned first-team all-conference and All-North Cal honors ... Picked off four passes as a freshman under coach Craig Rigsbee ... Also a 2000 J.C. Gridwire First-Team Academic All-American ... A 1998 graduate of Franklin HS in Seattle, WA ... Lettered three times in both football and basketball for the Quakers ... Played both ways as a prepster, including running the option as quarterback ... Chameion D'Metrius Sutton was born on Sept. 12, 1980.
TYRONE TUCKER
LB 6-2 240 SR-TR Miami, FL/S. Miami HS/San Francisco CC/Iowa State
One of two transfers from four-year schools for the Rebels who will sit out the 2001 season per NCAA rules ... Will be a senior in 2002 ... Played last season at Iowa State and totaled seven tackles vs. the Rebels on Sept. 9 in Ames ... Finished the year with 29 tackles at linebacker for the Cyclones ... Spent two seasons starring at San Francisco (CA) City College ... Selected to J.C. Gridwire All-America team as a sophomore ...Also a first-team all-conference and all-state selection that year ... MVP of the California championship game, recording 15 tackles and two sacks ... Led the Rams to the national championship under coach George Rush ... Attended South Miami HS ... Tyrone Tucker was born on Aug. 14, 1979.
MATT WILLIAMS
OL 6-6 300 JR-TR Pasadena, CA/Woodrow Wilson HS/Pasadena City College
A hulking offensive lineman who was one of two junior-college players to sign with UNLV during the early period ... Enrolled at the school this semester and will compete during the Rebels' spring practice ... Expected to compete to replace former all-conference OT John Greer next fall ... Two-year starter at tackle for Pasadena City College under coach Tom Maher ... Named All-Mission Valley Conference for the Lancers ... A 1999 graduate of Woodrow Wilson HS in Los Angeles ... Three-year letterman in football for the Mules ... Played both OT and DE for coach Eddie Martinez ... Also played center on the basketball team as a senior ... Matthew Philip Williams was born on Dec. 18, 1980, in Bellflower, CA ... Brother, Jeremiah, plays football at the University of Massachusetts.
