UNLV 2012 Recruiting

UNLV Rebels 2012 ... Head Coach: Bobby Hauck

UNLV Rebels

2011 Record: 2-8

Sep. 3 at Wisconsin L 51-17
Sep. 10 at Washington St L 59-7
Sep. 17 Hawaii W 40-20
Sep. 24 Southern Utah L 41-16
Oct. 1 OPEN DATE
Oct. 8 at Nevada L 37-0
Oct. 15 at Wyoming L 41-14
Oct. 22 OPEN DATE
Oct. 29 Colorado State W 38-35
Nov. 5 Boise State L 48-21
Nov. 12 at New Mexico L 21-14
Nov. 19 at Air Force L 45-17
Nov. 26 San Diego State
Dec. 3 at TCU

2010 CFN Prediction: 5-8
2010 Record: 2-11

Sept. 4 Wisconsin L 41-21
Sept. 11 at Utah L 38-10
Sept. 18 at Idaho L 30-7
Sept. 25 New Mexico W 45-10
Oct. 2 Nevada L 44-26
Oct. 9 at West Virginia L 49-10
Oct. 16 at Colorado St L 43-10
Oct. 23 OPEN DATE
Oct. 30 TCU L 48-6
Nov. 6 at BYU L 55-7
Nov. 13 Wyoming W 42-16
Nov. 18 Air Force L 35-20
Nov. 27 at SDSU L 48-14
Dec. 4 at Hawaii L 59-21
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The Entire 2012 Recruiting Class

Top 5 UNLV Recruits To Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. QB James Boyd
Former USC prospect, Scout.com three-star JUCO transfer.

2. WR Michael Thomas Jr.
6-5, 170, Scout.com 157th ranked, three-star receiver.

3. DT Parker Holloway
6-5, 245, Scout.com two-star JUCO transfer.

4. LB Xavier Stephens
6-2, 220, Scout.com 84th ranked, two-star middle linebacker.

5. TE Andrew Price
6-5, 220, Scout.com 70th ranked, two-star tight end.

The 2012 Class Was Heavy On... Head coach Bobby Hauck has done a good job on the recruiting trail over his first few seasons, but it hasn’t shown on the field. He wants his team to be far more physical on both sides, but he’s not doing too much for the offensive line with the defense expected to get more talent coming off a few deep classes of defenders.

Team Concerns For 2012: Receiver. Young in several areas last year, this will be a more experienced team of veterans on both sides of the ball. However, Phillip Payne and Michael Johnson leave gaping holes in the receiving corps. After going hard after defensive backs for a few years, the efforts have to pay off for the program with three starters and two good reserves done in the secondary.

Looking Ahead To The 2012 Season: Will things ever start to turn around for the Rebels? It’s head coach Bobby Hauck’s third year, and he needs to find an identity for an offense that didn’t go anywhere and a D that couldn’t stop anyone but Hawaii. The running game should be fine with Tim Cornett and Dionza Bradford good enough to work around. Finding a steady quarterback is a must between Sean Reilly and Caleb Herring, but the nation’s 118th-ranked passing game will struggle even more with Michael Johnson and Phillip Payne done. Six starters are gone from a defense that finished 118th in points allowed.

The 2011 Class Was Heavy On … Cornerback. The last two classes focused on the defense, with the 2009 haul loading up on defensive back. This class is trying to get more pop for the offense with a few decent quarterback prospects, led by JUCO transfer Sean Reilly, and the star of the entire class is JUCO linebacker Princeton Jackson, but the best position is corner. Fred Wilson and safety-sized Brandon Baker promising for down the line, while JUCO transfer Kenneth Spigner has to make a splash right away.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 100. That Class Was Heavy On ... Key defensive linemen. Bobby Hauck didn't have much time to put together the recruiting class he might have wanted, but he did a good job of sprinkling in some star prospects with the bulk. Only two defensive linemen were brought in, but tackle Desmond Tautofi could be a cornerstone tackle while Ian Bobak should be a pass rushing terror with a little bit of time. Overall, Houck wants a more physical team, and this class should be a good start. 

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 81. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive backs. While this is a class full of variety, there isn’t a lot of star power. JUCO defensive end B.J. Bell will be asked to shine right away, Jordan Barrett is a top-shelf outside linebacker prospect, and the defensive backs should be solid. JUCO transfers Mike Grant and Warren Ziegler will provide instant depth at corner, while Courtney Bridget is a tall, promising corner for the other side. Chase Childers is a fast safety.

Nov. 19 at Air Force 45 … UNLV 17

Nov. 12 at New Mexico 21 … UNLV 14

Nov. 5 Boise State 48 … at UNLV 21

Oct. 29 at UNLV 38 … Colorado State 35  

Oct. 15 at Wyoming 41 … UNLV 14
CFN Analysis: The coaching staff is trying to find something that works, and wasn’t quite it. After Caleb Herring’s disastrous performance against Nevada, Reilly got his shot and he completed 7-of-16 passes for 79 yards and a pick, but he was indecisive and took too many sacks. Dionza Bradford has become the focal point of the offense running for 104 yards, and when he gets into the open he’s great at coming up with yards in chunks. It would be nice if he could get help from the anemic passing game. Phillip Payne and Michael Johnson are good enough receivers to make things happen if they can get the ball on the move.

Oct. 8 at Nevada 37 … UNLV 0
CFN Analysis: Really, UNLV? 1-of-14 for 8 yards with a pick? That’s the passing game? The offense tried to keep running Caleb Herring since the passing attack didn’t work a lick, and Dionza Bradford ran for 79 yards on 18 carries, but this was a total meltdown on offense against a good defense, but not a great one. With two straight miserable performances against Southern Utah and Nevada, the O is getting worse as the season goes on with a trip to Wyoming up next. The team needs an identity, and right now it doesn’t have anything positive happening outside of the punting game. Chase Lansford has been terrific, but that’s because he’s getting plenty of practice. 

Sept. 24 Southern Utah 41 … at UNLV 16
CFN Analysis: What the heck was that?! A week after destroying Hawaii, the Rebels couldn’t have been worse with Caleb Herring getting picked off three times for scores, eight penalties, and with a second half collapse of epic proportions. The one positive was Phillip Payne, who caught 13 passes for 175 yards and a score, but this was a major setback for a team that now is in huge trouble with road trips to Nevada and Wyoming ahead and Boise State coming up soon. The defense wasn’t bad against the Thunderbirds, but the offense couldn’t stop screwing up. Is Herring the main man going forward? Sean Reilly completed 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards and Mike Clausen completed his only throw for a 23-yard score.
 
Sept. 17 at UNLV 40 ... Hawaii 20
CFN Analysis: UNLV did absolutely nothing over the first few games to suggest it had 40 points in it, but four takeaways and an 80-yard touchdown run from Tim Cornett changed that. Caleb Herring wasn’t bad throwing the ball short to start the season, and he was stronger against the Warriors with 178 yards and two scores on an effective day. The call went out to get more physical on both sides of the ball, and in the home opener, it all worked out. With Southern Utah up next, 2-2 is likely before going to Nevada, and while forcing more takeaways would be nice, getting more pop from the offense will be a must to make any noise in Mountain West play.  

Sept. 10 at Washington State 59 … UNLV 7
CFN Analysis: The Rebels haven’t had any luck over the first two games with a secondary that hasn’t been close. The offense couldn’t get any time to work behind a porous line, and there weren’t any big plays on defense to change things around. The coaching staff wants the O to get physical at times, and it’s not even close, while Caleb Herring and the passing game only went for 60 yards. The pass defense is already among the worst in America, and next up is Hawaii … uh oh. The pass rush has to show up to give the beleaguered secondary any hope. 

Sept. 1 at Wisconsin 51 … UNLV 17
CFN Analysis: UNLV didn’t have a prayer against the Wisconsin buzzsaw, but there were some positives in the blowout. Caleb Herring moved well and threw better, and he would’ve had a much better stat-line than 18-of-27 for 146 yards and two scores if the receivers could hold on to their passes. UNLV was able to move a bit with 146 yards rushing and receiving, but the O couldn’t close when the game was still in question. 51-17 is never pretty, but the Rebels really did look stronger than they were last season. 

The 2011 Recruiting Class Is Heavy On … Cornerback. The last two classes focused on the defense, with the 2009 haul loading up on defensive back. This class is trying to get more pop for the offense with a few decent quarterback prospects, led by JUCO transfer Sean Reilly, and the star of the entire class is JUCO linebacker Princeton Jackson, but the best position is corner. Fred Wilson and safety-sized Brandon Baker promising for down the line, while JUCO transfer Kenneth Spigner has to make a splash right away.

Five UNLV Recruits You Should Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. LB Princeton Jackson
The heart and soul of the Blinn JUCO defense. He is quick off the snap and has the speed to track down the swiftest running backs sideline to sideline. It is hard to say that being too aggressive is a bad quality for a linebacker, but this guy goes after it so hard that he sometimes over pursues a play, but when things are clicking he is almost unstoppable. He is a run stuffing specialist and will make plays in the backfield.

2. CB Fred Wilson
5-11, 165, Scout.com’s 106th ranked quarterback.

3. WR Devante Davis
Great size, he has soft hands and can make the catch. Once he catches the ball he is tough to bring down because of his size. Does not have great speed, but he knows how to get open.

4. QB Nick Sherry
6-5, 210, Scout.com’s 102nd ranked quarterback

5. QB Sean Reilly
6-4, 210, Two-star JUCO transfer

2011 Entire Recruiting Class

Connor Afoa LB 6-0 215 Henderson, Nev./Foothill HS
Brandon Baker DB 6-2 180 Lancaster, Texas/Lancaster HS
Tyler Bergsten TE 6-4 230 Phoenix, Ariz./Greenway HS
Allen Carroll OL 6-4 300 Oakland, Calif./College of the Sequoias
Patrick Carroll OL 6-5 275 La Canada, Calif./St. Francis HS
Devante Davis WR 6-3 195 Galena Park, Texas/North Shore HS
David Green DL 6-4 245 Wasilla, Alaska/Wasilla HS
Louvan Green DL 6-2 295 Fresno, Calif./College of the Sequoias
Nick Gstrein TE 6-3 260 Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS
Princeton Jackson LB 6-0 230 Houston, Texas/Blinn College
Eric Johnson RB/KR 5-8 175 Green Cove Springs, Fla./College of the Sequoias
Kenny Keys DB 6-4 190 San Diego, Calif./Helix HS
Chase Lansford P/PK 6-2 190 Yorba Linda, Calif./Santa Ana College
Andrew Oberg OL 6-7 260 Islip, N.Y./Islip HS
Elijhaa Penny RB 6-2 245 Norwalk, Calif./Norwalk HS
Jake Phillips TE 6-6 240 Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood HS
Sean Reilly QB 6-4 210 Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Saddleback College
Sonny Sanitoa DL 6-4 235 Pago Pago, A. Samoa/Samoana HS
Nick Sherry QB 6-5 220 Petaluma, Calif./Casa Grande HS
Ken Spigner DB 5-11 190 Miami, Fla./College of the Sequoias
Nick White OL 6-6 265 Chandler, Ariz./Gilbert HS
Fred Wilson DB 5-11 165 Bakersfield, Calif./West HS
Trent Allmang-Wilder DL 6-7 280 Palm Springs, Calif./College of the Desert