California receiver commits to UNLV

John Robinson didn't waste any time restocking UNLV's quarterback supply, picking up commitments from a trio of signal-callers in just two weeks' time.

Wednesday night, the new Rebels' head football coach landed one of California's top wide receiver prospects for them to throw to.

Michael Johnson (5-11, 185), a two-way star for CIF San Diego Section Division I champion Vista, told Robinson and assistant Joe Barry during a home visit that he would become a Rebel.

Johnson, who received heavy interest from Pac-10 schools like UCLA, Oregon and Arizona during the fall, ultmately picked UNLV over San Diego State and Hawaii, which he said he still plans to visit this weekend.

"I committed to UNLV tonight," Johnson said. "Coach Robinson gave me my choice of which side of the ball I wanted to play. I want to play wide receiver."

Johnson caught 40 passes for more than 800 yards in helping lead Vista to its third straight CIF title. He also had 13 interceptions in two years as a defensive back, earned first team all-Palomar League honors on both offense and defense, and earned first team all-San Diego County honors from the San Diego Union-Tribune. He also returned two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns as a senior.

"I thought he was a big-time prospect," Dick Lascola of the Fallbrook (Calif.)-based Scouting Evaluation Association said. "We filmed his games twice this year and he was all over the field. If UNLV gets him, they're getting a major college prospect."

Johnson's coach, Steve Silberman, believed the Pac-10 schools decided to back off Johnson recently because he still hadn't passed the SAT entrance exam. Johnson said he is still about 10 points shy of garnering a qualifying mark by NCAA eligibility standards.

Johnson visited San Diego State and UNLV on back-to-back weekends and said he enjoyed his trip to Las Vegas last weekend much more.

"That trip was way better," he said. "The whole setup was great. The coaches were great. Plus I liked the idea of getting away from home. I lived all my life here (in Vista, about 45 minutes north of San Diego). Going to Las Vegas will allow me to get away, but not too far away."

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