Three who really impressed in spring practice

UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford held his end of spring practice press gathering on Tuesday afternoon in his Lied Athletic Complex office before departing to watch spring football practice at Yale of all places.

UNLV the Yale of the West? Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it … except when it comes to football.

Relax, Rebel fans. Sanford is going to observe Yale’s practice because his son, Mike Jr., a former Rebel grad assistant, is now tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator for the Bulldogs. And he’s using a frequent flyer ticket to do it. He also plans to visit with the New York Giants and Jets while he’s back east.

Sanford called this year’s spring practice his best as head coach of the Rebels. I asked him to name three players who stepped it up and enjoyed the best springs for his team.

“(Junior defensive tackle) Malo Taumua, Rodelin Anthony and Michael Johnson,” Sanford replied.

“He’s so fast,” Sanford said of Taumua. “He’s lighter now at 268 pounds. He’s very, very quick and hard to block.”

Both Anthony and Johnson wound up No. 1 at their wide receiving spots after strong springs joining All-American candidate Ryan Wolfe and sophomore Phillip “Mr. Touchdown” Payne.

“(Johnson) became a receiver,” Sanford said. “Last year he was more of an athlete playing receiver. But he has really competed and worked hard and become a good receiver. We needed to find a way to put him on the field.”

Johnson backed up Wolfe last year but finished the spring No. 1 at the “Z” receiving spot.

Sanford said he expects several true freshman receivers, including Marcus Sullivan of Cheyenne High, to compete for spots on the two-deep in fall camp.