Pundit rates Rebels' recruiting class tops in Mountain West

John Robinson's first recruiting class at UNLV was the best one in the new Mountain West Conference.

At least that's the opinion of respected national talent evaluator Tom Lemming of Schaumberg, Ill.

Lemming, a recruiting analyst for ESPN whose Prep Football Report magazine is considered by many college coaches to be the most accurate in the business, said he is going to rate UNLV's class No. 1 in the Mountain West in his final 1998 recruiting analysis, which will be mailed to subscribers early next week.

"They had more recognizable names nationally than the other (Mountain West) schools," Lemming said. "I thought overall they had the best class in that conference."

Lemming said he rated Colorado State second behind the Rebels followed by BYU, Utah and San Diego State.

"For the short time they had to recruit, they did a very good job," Lemming said. "With a full year now to work on recruiting, they should do even better next year."

Lemming was especially impressed UNLV could land running back Jeremi Rudolph (5-10, 185) of Southwest Mississippi JC.

"He was one of the top five high school running backs in the country four years ago," Lemming said. "He signed with Florida State. That should tell you how good he is."

Lemming said he believes that with the hiring of Robinson, UNLV will be a force to be reckoned with in recruiting in upcoming years.

"I think they really could be a sleeping giant," he said. "I think it's just a matter of proving to people how important football can be in that city."

* REBEL NOTES: Vista (Calif.) WR/DB Michael Johnson (5-11, 185), one of the Rebels' top prep recruits, is one of 36 players in California to be selected to play in the prestigious CalTex Shrine All-Star Game June 26 at Cerritos (Calif.) College. All nine Californians who made the Las Vegas Sun's Super 11 first team who were eligible to play (Venice quarterback J.P. Losman has already enrolled at UCLA) were picked for the California squad. The Texas team is highlighted by Notre Dame signees Cedric Hilliard (6-3, 295) and defensive back Gerome Sapp (6-2, 185). The contest will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net. ... UNLV could still be in the running for Alhambra, Calif., TE/DE Van Brown (6-3, 240), the younger brother of Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown, after all. Brown faxed letters of intent to both Oregon and Utah on national letter of intent signing day, a big no-no. He could be ruled ineligible to attend either. During a recent chat session on Rivalnet, an Internet recruiting service, Brown hinted he may attend UNLV if the NCAA rules he can't attend Oregon.

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