Saturday, August 21, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Diminutive Dorsey assumes big role in Rebels' backfield

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

At long last, senior Dominique Dorsey is ready to become UNLV's featured running back.

Since his freshman season, he has increased his weight almost 20 pounds to 170 while maintaining his speed, clocked at 4.35 seconds in 40 yards over the summer.

While the Rebels plan to rotate tailbacks as they have in previous seasons, the 5-foot-6-inch Dorsey heads into the Sept. 5 opener at Tennessee atop the depth chart.

"He has done very well all year," said assistant head coach John Jackson, who oversees the running backs. "He has really been attentive to his lifting, and he's always doing more than you expect him to do -- extra running, extra lifting. So he has prepared very hard for this year."

Dorsey has been a top playmaker throughout his UNLV career, but now he is eager to prove he can be the lead ball carrier, too. He showed signs of that last season, rushing for 626 yards and a touchdown on 158 carries as the backup to Larry Croom, who is now with the Arizona Cardinals. It was more carries than Dorsey had in his first two seasons combined.

"Just working out and making sure I get in the weight room has allowed me to go on the field and be able to take more of a pounding," Dorsey said.

The Rebels are deep at tailback, as has been the case since coach John Robinson became head coach after the 1998 season.

Behind Dorsey are senior Dyante Perkins (6-0, 235) and juniors JaJa Riley (6-2, 210) and Alvin Marshall (5-10, 190).

Perkins, from Bishop Gorman High School, rushed for 219 yards and seven touchdowns on 54 carries as a fullback last season. Riley brings a healthy reputation after transferring from Ohio State. Marshall, a highly regarded junior college recruit, has shown flashes of greatness in practice.

John Jackson also said sophomore Erick Jackson (5-6, 180) has been impressive.

The coaching staff's task will be to find the best way to allocate the carries. Part of the plan is to play Perkins and Marshall at H-back and try to get them more in the open field.

"It allows us to play two halfbacks," Jackson said. "I think it adds an element to the passing game in the sense those guys are good athletes and good receivers."

Having already moved from fullback, Perkins is accustomed to change.

"There are a lot of passes going to us this year," Perkins said. "There is some good competition between me and Alvin Marshall right now. I think we're both going to have a good season."

Perkins is built more like a tailback or H-back than fullback, and the position switch allows coaches to get him the ball more often. The Rebels don't often hand off to the fullback, but junior Chad Henley (6-1, 250) could be a vital addition as a physical lead blocker.

Riley also lends an impressive presence, but Jackson said the smaller backs should not be overlooked.

"They're tough guys in the sense that they don't cower or back off," Jackson said.

• NOTES -- Defensive end Leon Moore and linebacker John Andrews suffered pinched nerves in practice Friday. Their status is day to day.