Transfers try to make impact with Rebels

Four-year transfers are nothing new for UNLV football.

Previous coach John Robinson and current coach Mike Sanford have gone that route to upgrade their rosters, experiencing mixed results.

Sanford hopes three notable four-year transfers provide unquestioned positive results next season.

Junior Lorenzo Bursey Jr. (Washington State transfer) and sophomore Gerold Rodriguez (Arizona) will compete at H-back, a slot receiver position. Sophomore Jimmy Miller (Mississippi State) is vying for time with returning senior starter Bradley Niles at middle linebacker.

Junior Renan Saint Preux (6 feet 1 inch, 185 pounds) is the returning starter at H-back, but Sanford said he will play other receiver positions and Bursey (5-8, 175) and Rodriguez (5-10, 175) will compete for that spot.

Both newcomers probably are better fits for H-back because it usually is played by a small, quick receiver. Even so, Sanford said Bursey and Rodriguez aren't clones of each other.

"They each have some strengths and some weaknesses that the other one doesn't have," Sanford said. "Bursey is good with the ball in his hands. He's got the ability to make people miss. Gerold is more of a true receiver playing the position, whereas Bursey's kind of like an athletic running back/receiver, but more of a receiver than a running back."

Bursey showed his athletic ability by playing some cornerback at Washington State.

He knew about the spread offense Sanford ran at Utah as the Utes' offensive coordinator, and wanted to play in that kind of scheme. Also, Bursey grew up in Southern California with UNLV junior quarterback Rocky Hinds.

Bursey spent his first season at West Los Angeles College, where he rushed for 1,025 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He totaled 1,533 all-purpose yards, and could return kicks for the Rebels.

UNLV is deep at receiver, which Bursey said should only help his game.

"That's going to be a big plus for us," Bursey said. "Everybody can make plays, and (defenses) can't just key on one person."

Rodriguez said he looks forward to playing in an offense that is closer to the system he played in at Venice (Calif.) High. He was used to being in three- and four-receiver sets at Venice, where as a senior Rodriguez caught 56 passes for 987 yards and 11 touchdowns.

But he found himself in a pro-style offense at Arizona, and Rodriguez wanted the more wide-open style he was accustomed to.

"They spread the ball around pretty good here," Rodriguez said. "Everybody should get some good looks."

Miller was one of Rodriguez's teammates at Venice, and starting his college career at Mississippi State was quite a culture shock after growing up in the Los Angeles area.

"I felt like I could relate more to the players here and the people here than down in the South," Miller said. "I really liked the coaching staff, Coach Sanford and what all those guys had to say."

Miller (5-11, 240) played in eight games as a freshman for Mississippi State.

At Venice, he was ranked by Scout.com as the nation's No. 97 linebacker in 2005.

"The big thing is I expect him to compete at the linebacker position to be a starter," Sanford said. "I think he's a tough guy. I think he'll stick his face in there.

"I think he also has some good instincts. He's got a lot to learn. He's a ways away. But he's got some positive characteristics."

• NOTES -- Sanford's decision to allow quarterbacks to be hit was tested in Friday's scrimmage. Senior Jarrod Jackson sprained his left shoulder, and redshirt freshman Travis Dixon and junior Dack Ishii were briefly shaken up. "Obviously, there are some concerns about having a quarterback live," Sanford said. "But at the same time, I think the benefits outweigh the negatives. We've been able to find out some things about our quarterbacks because in this offense you've got to be able to run the football." ...

Sanford said Dixon, who has made several big plays running the option, is making a strong bid to become Hinds' backup. "Not just (running), I would say overall he's making a very strong push," Sanford said. ...

Likewise, Sanford said junior college transfer Frank Summers has been impressive and could wind up becoming the starter at tailback. "I think he's making a great push, but we won't make any of those decisions until fall camp," Sanford said.