No quick fix: UNLV football recruits high school players

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008 | 3:13 p.m.

Well, so much for copying Kansas State.

K-State's success in turning around its once-moribund college football program by recruiting junior college players apparently went unnoticed at UNLV as 21 of the 22 players the Rebels announced on national signing day were high school players. It was the highest percentage of prep players that UNLV has ever recruited.

A UNLV press release called that "stunning."

I'm not sure if that's "stunning" as in "astounding" or "stunning" as in "stupefying" considering the Rebels are coming off three consecutive two-win seasons.

Within minutes after it was announced, Rivals.com dropped UNLV's recruiting class from 104 to 112 in its national rankings. Rivals.com ranked the Rebels' recruits last among Mountain West teams.

Here's the list of the fourth class recruited by UNLV coach Mike Sanford and his assistants:

Heivaha Mafi, DE, 6-2, 235, transfer from Laney College, Oakland, Calif.

Jesse Backerman, DE, 6-3, 230, Tucson, Ariz.

David Blair, LB, 6-2, 220, Tempe, Ariz.

Beau Brence, DE, 6-4, 235, Plano, Texas

Gordy Cooper, WR, 6-5, 215, San Jacinto, Calif.

C.J. Cox, RB, 5-11, 190, Garland, Texas

Jason Heath, OL, 6-4, 265, Penryn, Calif.

Michael Johnson, 5-8, 170, Suisun, Calif.

Chris Jones, QB, 6-3, 190, Shadow Ridge High School, Las Vegas

Daniel Kaanana, OL, 6-5, 270, Pearl City, Hawaii

Jason Koontz, OL, 6-2, 295, Corona, Calif.

Litani Moimoi, DT, 6-3, 270, Menlo Park, Calif.

Beau Orth, S, 6-1, 200, Bishop Gorman High School, Las Vegas

Phillip Payne, WR, 6-3, 185, Western High School, Las Vegas

Robert Rowe, 6-2, 195, Tucson, Ariz.

Bennielee Shelby, DL, 6-3, 260, Greenville, Texas

Gerome Surrell, WR, 5-11, 200, Lathrop, Calif.

Sean Tesoro, OL, 6-2, 290, Kahului, Hawaii

Imari Thompson, RB, 5-9, 195, DeSoto, Texas

Travis Trickey, LB, 6-3, 225, Springerville, Ariz.

Shane Watterson, OL, 6-5, 280, Saugus, Calif.

Alex Young, TE, 6-4, 235, Hughson, Calif.