Almost all you need to know about quarterback Jason Thomas is John Robinson, the former USC boss who tutored Heisman Trophy winners Charles White and Marcus Allen, says the UNLV junior is as gifted a player as he has ever coached. ESPN's Mel Kiper agrees and has Thomas listed in his top 15 Heisman candidates and rates him as the best QB in the nation this season.

The junior from Compton, Calif. is a 2001 All-America and Unitas and O'Brien candidate. Last season he threw at least one touchdown in all but one game on his way to throwing 14 touchdowns and 1,925 yards. He also ran for 599 yards and another 11 touchdowns. Thomas led the Rebels to the Las Vegas Bowl where he earned MVP honors, throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns.

Thomas chatted with fans on Monday, Aug. 27. Here is a complete transcript.

Jason Thomas: I am here. What is on your minds?

little rock: having beaten the razorbacks to end the season last year, do you worry that that thrashing has the hogs fired up to return the favor? Go Hogs

Jason Thomas:I don't think it was a thrashing, it was tied at halftime. It was a close game. But I expect them to be fired up and we will be fired up as well. I don't foresee any pay back.

DFWCOUG: I was a lot of fun seeing you compete last year. How do the Rebels look this year to start the season?

Jason Thomas: I think we look real good. We have lots of depth at receiver. Last year we had just one receiver so our depth with really help. Plus we have a lot more experience so that should help.

New Orleans: What changes do you expect to see from the Arkansas defense this time around?

Jason Thomas: I expect them to play real fast and stunt a lot. They will move their front seven around a lot. They will play man-to-man on the corners and that is a dream come true. The best man will win.

Craig, Kansas City: Do you feel like the MWC has been overlooked nationally? Can the tops teams in this conference compete with the best in the nation? Did you see the offensive performance that BYU put up?

Jason Thomas: Yes, but with games like this against Arkansas and our games against the Pac-10, I think we will get more exposure. If we play well against those school and against other conferences, we will get the recognition.

Derfla Nocab: Hey Jason, If all goes well for you this season, do you have any plans to take your game to the NFL or will you remain at UNLV for a senior campaign?

Jason Thomas: Right now, I plan to be here for my senior year. I have discussed it with Coach Robinson and we will sit down and discuss it after the year. If he thinks I am ready I will sit down with my family and make that decision. But right now, I plan to be back.

Jeff (Birmingham): What will be your toughest game this year and why? How about the most important game of the year and why?

Jason Thomas: Arkansas will be one of the toughest because of the hostile environment we will be going into. I will be hot and humid and that is hard to simulate in practice. Plus it will be our first game so there will be some mistakes. So I think it will be our toughest game.

CJG(Las Vegas): JT, Being a UNLV student and fan. Everywhere on campus they're talking about Northwestern and Heisman candidate Damien Anderson coming to Vegas on the 7th of September, does such a big game like that interfere with focusing on Arkansas in week one of the season? -CJG (UNLVFAN)

Jason Thomas: No, it has no effect on us. We are just preparing for the game at hand. The Arkansas is a big task and we don't have time to worry about Northwestern. Once this game is done, then we will think about NW.

RebSince74 (Las Vegas): What do you think about Cedric Cobb's (AR RB) opinion that the reason they lost last year was because they had a lot of injuries and they didn't take us seriously. He says UNLV didn't win that bowl game, Arkansas just lost it.

Jason Thomas: That is just an opinion and everyone has one. We can't worry about it. He will have a chance to play on Thursday and we'll see. I have heard all the talk, so we will get out there and play and see what happens.

KC: Can UNLV compete with the big boys in conference like BYU and CSU?

Jason Thomas: We lost to CSU by one and BYU by three last year, so we don't think there are any "big boys" in the conference. It is wide open and we feel we can be there in the hunt for the title.

L. Edwards: what defenses in conference will be the toughest to play against? Who is the toughest individual defender in conference?

Jason Thomas: Overall defensive I would have to say Colorado State because they are big up front and have a nice scheme. But the toughest scheme to prepare for is New Mexico. It is a lot of mental work because they blitz a lot and send guys off the corners. If you have mental mistakes, you will pay the price.

J.D. (NJ): Hi Jason...do you anticipate running the ball more often this year with the loss of so many RBs? Is the option or freeze option part of your package?

Jason Thomas: I think we will throw the ball more because we won't have the two great backs we had last year. So for a quarterback that is great. The more passes the better for me.

Ben: How is your health? Are your ankle and shoulder healed from last year?

Jason Thomas: I am as healthy as I have been since early last year. I am looking forward to getting out there and having a full and healthy season.

CHALL(Little Rock): Jason, Do you think the spitting incident will make you a marked man on Thursday?

Jason Thomas: I think every quarterback is a marked man no matter which game it is. I made a mistake last year and I apologized to the guy after the game. I was just caught up in the heat of the game and I realize it was a mistake. I just want to put it behind me.

George Best: JT, how have you been handling all the Heisman hype? Are all of the interviews getting to you?

Jason Thomas: I don't even worry about it. I know it is part of having success and hopefully we will have even more because it will mean the team is playing well. Personally, I don't take myself to seriously but just try and be a leader because I am the quarterback of this team.

little rock: have you meshed with your new receiving core and do you think that you will be able to take advantage of the razorbacks secondary, given the hogs may start two players who have never played in a college game before

Jason Thomas: I have definitely meshed with my receivers because I was able to work with them over the summer and get some of the timing down. I don't expect Arkansas to be any less prepared at the corner then we will be. It will be both team's first game and there will be some mistakes and hopefully I can take advantage of them.

Hoggfather-Fayetteville: How hard do you think it will be for your defense to contain the three headed monster(Cobbs-Talley-Holmes) at tailback for Arkansas?

Jason Thomas: I think we will be fine. Our coaches have put together a great scheme for these guys. We did a great job of stopping them last year by getting a lot of helmets to the ball and playing gap defense. If they can do that again this year, we will be fine.

NLR: How do you feel Thursday's game will impact your Heisman hopes?

Jason Thomas: That is the last thing I am worried about. I am not playing for Heisman voters. I just want to win. The great thing about being a quarterback is that winning games is the most important thing but playing well will only help us succeed. But it is the last thing on my mind.

Jason Thomas: I have to run now. Thanks for all the questions and I hope everyone will tune in Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). It should be a great game and hopefully we can put on a good show and get a win.

Take care everyone.