Playmaking safety joins Rebels after Minnesota release
Safety Dre Crawford figured he would be getting ready to play football at Minnesota, having signed as a midyear junior college transfer.
One of his credits wasn't accepted, however, and the Golden Gophers released him. In stepped UNLV coach Bobby Hauck, and now Crawford is making an impact for the Rebels.
"He's opened some eyes," Hauck said. "One of the best things I like about him is he really shows up when the pads go on."
Crawford (6 feet, 185 pounds) walked on but will receive a scholarship that counts against next year's class.
He was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit and by Scout.com as a two-star prospect.
Last season at Arizona Western College in Yuma, Crawford made 66 tackles and intercepted four passes, returning one for a touchdown.
Crawford said he first became interested in the Rebels when he and his Arizona Western teammates stopped in Las Vegas in 2009 en route to a game at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
"I had seen the campus, and I already knew it was a good place, so there was really no need for a visit," Crawford said. "Once (Hauck) told me they wanted me out here, I was happy."
Hauck said UNLV still is trying to get an NCAA waiver for Crawford, but it wasn't expected to be an issue.
"Everything is going to get done," Crawford said. "It should be a smooth process."
■ ANOTHER NEWCOMER -- Linebacker John Lotulelei (6-0, 230), another junior college transfer who walked on, is on the second team and competing with sophomore Tani Maka and redshirt freshman William Vea.
"He's pushing," Hauck said. "That's pretty good competition right now."
Lotulelei made 84 tackles, including 12 for loss and five sacks, last season at Merced (Calif.) College.
■ GOING LOCO -- Former UNLV standout linebacker Beau Bell signed with the United Football League's Las Vegas Locomotives. He was the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.
