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.

An early 8:30 start and at times very windy conditions didn’t seem to bother UNLV’s football team much during their second major spring scrimmage on Friday morning.

Some of the highlights:

* Senior wide receiver Rodelin Anthony (6-5, 230) continues to pick up where he left off after a strong finish to the 2008 season and should be an impact player next fall. Anthony caught a 12-yard touchdown pass on a quick slant from backup quarterback Mike Clauson, broke two tackles on another 23-yard reception down the middle, and had three catches for 63 yards.

“He’s got a lot of good things going for him,” UNLV head coach Mike Sanford said. “Six-five, 230 (pounds) … and can run. He is capitalizing on and carrying over what he did in the fall. That’s something he needs to continue to do because I really think that he can be a weapon for us.”

* Sophomore tailback C.J. Cox showed some surprising speed around the corner on a 16-yard sweep around left tackle for another score.

* Sophomore WR Phillip Payne had his usual highlight-reel grab, going high between defensive backs David Biggs and Calvin Randleman to grab a long pass down the sidelines. He also went 50-yards for a touchdown on a slant.

* Junior tailback Channing Trotter had the offensive play of the day. The 5-foot-8, 200-pounder from Mesa, Ariz., seemingly plowed through the entire defense on one 17-yard carry, losing his helmet on a hit near the end of the run and yet still dragged a pair of defenders about three more yards. The sidelines erupted after the play.

“A tremendous run,” Sanford said.

* Former starting QB Travis Dixon, who moved to safety last season, showed he can play a little defense too with one of the day’s top plays. Dixon forced a fumble when he came up into the gap to nail running Imari Thompson and then also recovered the ball.

* Junior defensive tackle Malo Tuamua and junior defensive end Isaako Aaitui combined to sack backup quarterback Les Obie on one play in what one observer called a “Samoan Sandwich.” Both starred up front for the first team defense as did linebacker Nate Carter.

* And freshman walk-on kick Allen Hartison, a soccer player from Corona del Mar, Calif., who asked the coaches for a chance to try out for the football team, could be a factor in the kicking game sooner than later. He nailed a 52-yard field goal that cleared the crossbar easily and just came up short on a 60-yarder. He appeared to out-kick returning kickers Kyle Watson and Ben Jaekle in the scrimmage.

“We’ve got three kickers now,” Sanford said. “He a soccer player who wanted to come out for football. He’s kind of had a low profile so far. He’s shown up well so we let him kick with our regular PAT/field goal today and he did a very good job. He’s got a strong leg. … He’s got a chance to contribute. We’ll see.”

Overall, the Rebels, who will now take a week off for spring break before returning for their final three spring practices, looked much sharper and deeper on both sides of the ball than any UNLV team since early in the John Robinson Era.

“The big difference is just our maturity this year,” senior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe said. “We know everything we need to do offensively. We’re not inventing anything new or putting anything completely different in but instead we are working on just the little things that we didn’t get done last year.”

The Rebels appear particularly deep at wide receiver. Even senior Renan Saint Preaux, who played mainly on the second and third units, drew praise from head coach Mike Sanford for his play in the scrimmage.

“It’s exciting,” Wolfe said. “The twos and threes are pushing the ones. It makes for some healthy competition and brings out the best in the entire group.”

“I thought out No. 1 defense played very well today,” Sanford said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do with our No. 2 defense. As we know from last year, there’s times when guys go down and we’ve got to have guys that step in and step up for them. That’s something that we have to improve.”

SCRIMMAGE NOTES: The only player who had to leave the scrimmage was Dixon with what Sanford called “a very bad cramp.” He walking fine afterward. … Top quarterback recruit Caleb Herring of Citrus Hill High School in Perris, Calif., attended the scrimmage along with his father Michael. Sanford hopes to redshirt the 6-4, 180-pounder next fall but he will still travel with the team as an emergency quarterback behind No. 1 Omar Clayton and backups Mike Clauson and Les Obie. … RB/DB Tyler York (5-11, 195, 4.54), a two-time first team all state pick who helped lead Reno McQueen High School to the state 4A title last fall, also attended practice with his father.

One of these years the Mountain West Conference might give UNLV’s football program a break and actually give the team a bye week before its annual Fremont Cannon showdown with Nevada, a.k.a. “The Team Up North.”

The MWC finally got around to releasing the 2009 schedule on Thursday just five months before the season kicks off. And the Rebels, who were hoping for an extra week to prepare for the Oct. 3 game with the Wolf Pack in Reno after playing three straight weekends against Sacramento State, Oregon State and Hawaii, instead find themselves headed to lovely Laramie, Wyoming for their conference opener on Sept. 26.

Back-to-back road trips to Laramie and Reno. Doesn’t get better than that, does it?

I’m guessing Chris Ault will be able to convince the head honchos at the WAC to give his squad Sept. 26 off and a full two weeks to once again get ready for their in-state rival.

Wait, it gets better. The Rebels do get a bye week during the conference season to help heal their bumps and bruises … on Nov. 21st … before concluding the MWC season against San Diego State on Thanksgiving weekend at Sam Boyd Stadium.

I guess it could be worse. TCU, perhaps the league’s best bet to make a run at a BCS bowl, got stuck with its bye in Week No. 1 and will then play 12 straight weeks.

In a perfect world, the MWC would find a way to give all of its teams a bye somewhere between Week 4 and Week 9 when it would do the most good for their student-athletes.

A bye before the season-finale? Thanks for nothing.

Here’s the 2009 UNLV football schedule:

DATE             OPPONENT                    SITE                     TV               TIME (PT)
Sept. 5        SACRAMENTO STATE        LAS VEGAS        None        7:00 pm
Sept. 12        OREGON STATE        LAS VEGAS        CBS C HD        8:00 pm
Sept. 19        HAWAII        LAS VEGAS        The Mtn.        6:00 pm
Sept. 26        at Wyoming*        Laramie, WY        None        12:00 pm
Oct. 3        at Nevada, Reno        Reno, NV        TBA        TBA
Oct. 10        BYU*        LAS VEGAS        The Mtn.        7:00 pm
Oct. 17        UTAH*        LAS VEGAS        The Mtn.        7:00 pm
Oct. 24        at New Mexico*        Albuquerque, NM        The Mtn.        5:00 pm
Oct. 31        at TCU*        Fort Worth, TX        VERSUS HD        1:00 pm
Nov. 7        COLORADO STATE*        LAS VEGAS        The Mtn.        7:00 pm
Nov. 14        at Air Force*        Colorado Springs        The Mtn.        3:00 pm
Nov. 21        BYE WEEK
Nov. 28        SAN DIEGO STATE*        LAS VEGAS        The Mtn.         6:00 pm
*Mountain West Conference Game

UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford has put a strong emphasis on improving team speed in both off-season conditioning and recruiting and it appears to be paying off.

Sophomore corner Deante Purvis had an average time of 4.31 during forty-yard dash drills this week including several under 4.3. Linebacker Nate Carter of Las Vegas High School lowered his forty from 4.79 to 4.65 and 6-foot-5 wide receiver Rodelin Anthony turned in an impressive 4.57 clocking.

If the Rebels keep this up, I’m going to lobby for strength and conditioning coach John Grieco to get a raise.

Spring football drills begin on Monday afternoon at Rebel Park.

UNLV picked up its 16th football commitment today when safety Alex DeGiacomo (6-1, 190) of El Camino College in Torrance pledged the Rebels.

DeGiacomo visited UNLV last weekend and took in UNLV’s exciting basketball victory over Arizona. He is a mid-year transfer so he will enroll in January and be able to take part in spring practice which begins on March 9.

UNLV just announced officially the signings of junior college corners Kenny Brown (listed at 6-0 instead of 5-9 as we saw on several recruiting sites) from College of the Canyons, the younger brother of former BYU’s all-time leading rusher, RB Curtis Brown, and Warren Zeigler (6-1, 180) of College of San Mateo (Calif.).

If Brown is indeed now 6-foot, nice to get two big corners for spring ball. Brown also has 4 years to play 3 after qualifying out of high school.

Here are Mike Sanford’s official quotes from UNLV’s release:

“Kenny Brown is a great competitor and a leader from a winning junior college football team,” Sanford said. “He will be a great addition to our football program.”

On Zeigler:

“Warren Zeigler is an excellent man-to-man coverage defender who was a very strong prospect coming out of high school and has improved greatly playing in junior college,” said Sanford. “We’re looking forward to him being a Rebel in 2009.”

Spring ball starts March 9. Can’t wait to see the two newbies.

Citing a desire to “play on the big stage,” City College of San Francisco safety Jarrell Harrison today announced that he has decided to attend Missouri over UNLV.

Harrison, a former prep quarterback at Palo Verde High School, had signed with Mike Sanford’s Rebels out of high school but failed to qualify academically. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder eventually switched to safety in junior college where he was rated one of the best on the West Coast.

Harrison, appearing via phone on the ‘Talkin’ Sports With RT’ radio show on Fox Sports 920, said the fact the Tigers “are always on TV and play in a big-time conference” played a big role in his decision. He also said a big factor was the fact Missouri landed a commitment from friend and CCSF teammate, MLB Josh Tatum (6-0, 240), last week.

Tatum originally signed with USC out of Oakland’s McClymonds High School.

Anybody who listen to City College of San Francisco safety Jarrell Harrison’s interview on “Talkin’ Sports with RT” had to leave feeling good about UNLV’s chances of landing the coveted junior college safety. Very good.

When asked if he was ready to make his official college announcement, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Harrison replied: “I’m not ready. I’ve got more thinking to do.”

Harrison said he will decide between UNLV and Missouri after eliminating Arizona and North Carolina State (too far from home). But he did admit he’s leaning toward the Rebels.

“I’m leaning toward coming home,” Harrison said. “It’s my hometown. I love it here. My family could come see me play. I’ll probably have a big cheering section at all the games. … I think I can be a positive influence here.”

Harrison also reportedly is not a fan of cold weather, something he’d encounter often in Columbia, Mo. To that end, today’s snow fall at his prep alma mater, Palo Verde High School, wasn’t a plus for UNLV.

Harrison seemed to also mention a lot more negatives about Mizzou (Chase Daniel and possibly stud WR Jeremy Macklin gone, tough competition in Big 12 South, etc.). He made it clear he wants to go to a school that he know that he can start at.

“I only have two years (of eligibilty) left),” he said.

Harrison said he could make a decision as soon as tonight … although it sounded like he had already made one.

The letter of intent signing period for junior college players begins on Wednesday.

On Fox Sports 920 between 2 to 3 p.m. Guess he told RT it’s down to UNLV and Missouri. Always a chance he could announce. You never know.

Among those attending today’s game at the Orleans Arena is recent LB commit Horace Miller, who is seated near midcourt with head coach Mike Sanford and DL coach Andre Patterson. Miller came in a day later than other recruits for his official visit so that he could take the SAT on Saturday morning. Miller’s Baltimore Dunbar teammate, DB Courney Bridget, also committed earlier to UNLV.

It was another good weekend for UNLV football coach Mike Sanford who landed verbal commitments from two more key defensive back recruits, CB/S Courtney Bridget (6-3, 190) of Maryland 1-A champ Baltimore Dunbar and safety John Therrell (6-2, 180) of Bishop Gorman.

City College of San Francisco safety Jarrell Harrison also visited and could decide as soon as Monday. The four-star junior college recruit, who prepped at Palo Verde High School, also is looking at North Carolina State.

One of the six players scheduled to visit UNLV this weekend is a very familiar one to local prep football fans. Jarrell Harrison (6-2, 210), one of the nation’s top junior college safety prospects from juco powerhouse City College of San Francisco, was the star quarterback for Palo Verde High School in 2004 and was the Southern Nevada Offensive Player of the Year.

UNLV head coach Mike Sanford successfully recruited Harrison to play quarterback for the Rebels in his first recruiting class but Harrison failed to qualify academically after failing to meet minimum NCAA entrance eligibility requirements. He eventually attended junior college and has two years of eligibility remaining. Better yet, he’s a mid-year transfer who could take part in spring practice.

UNLV will be Harrison’s fourth and likely final visit. He has already taken trips to Missouri, Arizona and North Carolina State and also is being recruited by Arizona State. He is expected to chose between the Rebels and N.C. State.

Harrison would be help fill one of UNLV’s biggest holes at safety. The Rebels ranked 111th nationally in pass efficiency defense with problems at safety playing a big part of that.

Meanwhile, UNLV piccked up its 12th commitment today when Cheyenne HS RB/WR Marcus Sullivan (5-9, 165), the Sunset Division Offensive Player of the Year, pledged the Rebels. Sullivan is similar to current Rebel wingback/returner Michael Johnson but a step quicker. He was timed at 21.1 in the 200 meters as a junior and 10.6 in the 100 meters. He rushed for 1,400 yards as a senior after an injury-plagued junior campaign and averaged over 33 yards per reception. He’s considered to be a potential game-breaker for Sanford’s Shotgun Spread offense.

It’s been a good week for UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford. First he gets word that he will be receiving a three-year extension that will take him through the 2012 season. Then he received verbal commitments from a couple of much-needed blue chip defensive prospects.

Nathan Holloway (6-foot-3, 320), a defensive lineman from Spring Valley High School who had schools from the Pac-10 Conference as well as Texas interested in his college services, committed to the Rebels after a weekend visit. Ditto Horace Miller (6-1, 210), a linebacker from Dunbar High in Baltimore who recently set a state record for quarterback sacks with 30 while helping lead the Poets to their third straight state 1-A title.

Miller is among six recruits scheduled to visit UNLV this weekend. He is bringing along another heavily recruited teammate, defensive back Courtney Bridget (6-3, 190).

The Rebels have 11 verbal commitments so far with just five more to give. Besides Miller and Holloway, UNLV has picked up verbals from JC corners Warren Ziegler (6-1, 190) of College of San Mateo (a mid-year enrollee) and Mike Grant of Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., center Doug Zismann (6-2, 275) from Shadow Mountain High in Phoenix, wide receiver Mark Barefield (6-2, 180) of North Mesquite High in Mesquite, Tx., defensive back Charles Childers from Bishop Gorman, offensive lineman Andrew Mack (6-2, 290) of Plano, Tx., Plano West High, linebacker Reggie Umuolo (5-11, 195) of Peoria, Az., Centennial and two blue chip offensive recruits, RB Bradley Randle (5-10, 195) of Vista Murrieta HS in Murrieta, Ca., and quarterback Caleb Herring (6-4, 180) of Citrus Hill HS in Perris, Ca.

Herring, who committed to UNLV last summer, has remained strong to his commitment despite pressure from Pac-10 and Mountain West schools to re-open his recruiting. That’s good news for Sanford and company. One scout I spoke with thinks he has the potential to be even better than current UNLV starter Omar Clayton.