UNLV football scores another recruit, lands commitment from JC wide receiver

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, July 17, 2015 | 4 p.m.

The UNLV football program continues to lock up verbal commitments for its 2016 recruiting class. This time, the Rebels got a playmaker.

Marquis Wimberly, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound wide receiver from Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., verbally committed today during an unofficial visit.

The sophomore Wimberly, who runs a 4.49 40-yard dash, caught 49 passes for 659 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. At UNLV, he's excited about playing opposite Devonte Boyd, who had a breakout freshman season in 2014 with 65 catches for 980 yards and four touchdowns.

"Me and Devonte can complement each other," Wimberly said. "(The defense) can't key in on both of us."

First-year UNLV coach Tony Sanchez is securing commitments early in the recruiting process, a common practice among most college programs — just not at UNLV until Sanchez took over. He is the sixth prospect and second wide receiver for 2016 to commit to the Rebels. The other four recruits are linemen.

“I believe in coach Sanchez,” Wimberly said. “He’s a legendary high school coach who knows nothing other than winning.”

Wimberly, who has scholarship offers from North Texas, Idaho, South Alabama and others, is also being recruited by heavyweights such as Boise State and Arizona State. He had interest from Utah, Utah State and UNR in 2014 out of high school, but was a nonqualifier.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding until a letter-of-intent is signed, meaning UNLV will have to fend off others until Wimberly signs in December. He expects to finish his courses at Chaffey in time for spring practice in Las Vegas.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21