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March 29, 2024

Recruiting weekend nets tight end, center and others for UNLV football

UNLV Defeats Wyoming Football

L.E. Baskow

UNLV’s Dalton Sneed (18) and Tau Lotulelei (55) celebrate a late score in overtime versus Wyoming during their game at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.

Updated Monday, Dec. 12, 2016 | 11:11 a.m.

UPDATE: Rebels get JC center, defensive end

The Rebels continued to net verbal commitments late Sunday and early Monday from players who visited this past weekend. Monday, center Sid Acosta of Riverside City College announced his pledge to UNLV, picking the Rebels over Texas Southern and Florida Atlantic. The 6-foot-1, 295-pound Acosta, who played high school at Los Angeles area powerhouse Centennial Corona, could be the replacement for Will Kreitler at center.

Late Sunday, two-star defensive end Nate Neal from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., took to Twitter to announce his commitment. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound defensive end — he'll need to add muscle — had 47 tackles and seven sacks as a season. His other scholarship offer was from Montana State.

Here's our original story from last night:

The UNLV football program added a tight end to its 2017 recruiting class today.

Noah Bean from Simi Valley, Calif., verbally committed to the Rebels after a weekend recruiting visit. Bean caught 40 passes for 840 yards and 16 touchdowns this fall to help Grace Brethren High finish with a 9-1 record. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has the frame to easily add bulk once he gets into a college weight-training program.

Bean, a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, also had scholarship offers from Montana State and Northern Colorado, according to his Twitter.

The recruiting weekend included three others who are verbally committed: local quarterback Marckell Grayson, running back Tariq Hollandsworth of Sacramento and defensive back Johnny Balderas of Bakersfield, Calif.

Balderas had five interceptions and 42 tackles — a strong number for a defensive back — this fall. He also had 569 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Hollandsworth rushed for 1,569 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding until national signing day in early February. Until then, players will be recruited — such as Balderas, who was offered a scholarship by Fresno State this week.

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

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