LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Signing Day CentralUNLV head coach Tony Sanchez announced one of the top-ranked classes in school history during Wednesday's initial day of the national signing period.

Sanchez's second class of Rebels, which is made up of 23 players, set a program record with 10 three-star recruits according to Rivals.com. That total trailed only Boise State's 12 three-stars in the Mountain West Conference. The previous high-mark for UNLV was eight set in 2008.

"We are so excited," Sanchez said. "Last year we were limited in the time we had to recruit after being hired in December. This year we had a full calendar to go through the process. Last year was a good class but today we feel like we are adding a really special group of players that is going to immediately add a lot of talent, especially with seven guys already enrolled."

The Scarlet & Gray list is made up of 15 high school players and eight junior-college transfers, including seven midyear JC signees who enrolled at UNLV last month and will compete in spring practice (March 7 through April 9).

"I'm really proud of the staff - both the on-field and off-field staff - for how hard they worked and how well they all did recruiting. We spent as many days as possible out on the road, got into a lot of high schools, developed a lot of relationships - and it paid off. We didn't settle for anybody. There is no one here by default, which is exciting.

"The bottom line is that we are selling our university, our city, our opportunities, and I think our guys did an outstanding job on showing all of the benefits of coming to UNLV, being a Rebel and living in Las Vegas."

The class is tilted toward offense this time around with 14 players on that side of the ball. The full breakdown is as follows: 5 OL, 3 WR, 3 TE, 3 DB, 3 DL, 2 QB, 2 LB, 1 RB and 1 P/K.

"We needed an infusion of a lot of players at a few position groups," Sanchez said. "But the numbers are starting to balance out now at all of the areas."

While dominated by signees from the Golden State, the group consists of student-athletes whose hometowns are spread among six states: 16 are from California, three are out of Nevada, one each hail from Arizona, Georgia and Texas and one player is from Florida but played at a California JC.

"We have to recruit to be champions and feel like we are doing that," Sanchez said. "We feel good about the battles that we won and think that before they leave UNLV, these kids will be able to hang a Mountain West championship banner. It's not going to be easy, but that's the goal."