Dec. 20, 2006

LAS VEGAS - UNLV head coach Mike Sanford announced on Wednesday the signings of two junior-college players on the first day of the early signing period.

Signing letters of intent to play for the Rebels next season were running back Frank Summers of Laney College in Oakland, Calif., and cornerback Geoffery Howard of Grossmont College, which is located in the San Diego area. Both will enroll full-time at UNLV next month and be eligible to take part in spring practice.

Summers, at 5-10, 235 pounds, originally signed with the University of California out of Skyline High School in 2004 and redshirted that season with the Golden Bears. After moving to Laney, Summers set school records for carries in a game (48) and season (254) for the Eagles in 2005. The All-American also established school marks for yards in a game (280) and a season (1,515). This past fall he ran for 772 yards and five touchdowns despite being limited by an ankle injury.

"One of our big needs in our recruiting this year was a big, powerful back and we got that in Frank Summers," Sanford said. "He will be here in the spring and be in a serious competition to play at tailback for us in 2007."

Summers was also being recruited by Utah and Washington State as well as USC as a fullback.

Howard, a 5-11, 185-pound sophomore is a graduate of Horizon Christian High School, and was also being recruited by Utah. This past season he had three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, for the powerful Griffins, who finished the season 10-2.

"Another big need for us is at cornerback and in Geoffery Howard we got an athletic guy with great ball skills who we think will fit right in," Sanford said. "He will also have the great advantage of being in the off-season conditioning program and then spring practice with us."