Rebels land J.C. OL star

UNLV received a verbal commitment on Thursday morning from offensive lineman Siosifa Moala (6-2, 330) of El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. Moala was an honorable mention J.C. GridWire All-American after helping lead the Warriors to the 2006 California state title, the school’s first since 1971.

El Camino defeated perennial JC powerhouse City College of San Francisco, 49-35, in the championship game in Fresno.

Moala, who attended UNLV’s scrimmage last Friday at Rebel Park, picked the Rebels despite interest from Washington, Colorado and Colorado State. He was a prep teammate of UNLV running back Lafayette Fletcher at Morningside High in Inglewood, Calif., where he was recruited by Oregon after starring at defensive tackle. However, he failed to meet NCAA freshman eligibility requirements and instead enrolled at El Camino where he was moved to the offensive line.

Moala still has to wrap up earning his A.A. degree before enrolling at UNLV, possibly in time for summer school. He is expected to compete for playing time at both guard and center for the Rebels.

Because Moala is still technically considered a recruitable athlete until he officially enrolls at UNLV – he did not sign a letter of intent – Rebel head coach Mike Sanford, per NCAA rules, can not comment about his newest line recruit.

Meanwhile, reports that Bishop Gorman running back Keola Antolin is taking an official recruiting trip to UNLV this weekend are false. Antloin, who also has scholarship offers from Iowa and Arizona and also is very interested in Cal, visited Rebel practice on Wednesday along with former Gaels head coach David White and teammates Josh Jordan and Justin Chaisson.

Chaisson, a 6-4, 255-pound defensive end who will only be a junior in the fall, is expected to be a national recruit in a year after more than holding his own at the U.S. Army Combine in San Antonio in January. UNLV has already offered him a scholarship.

Jordan, a corner prospect who is the younger brother of former Las Vegas High star Eric Jordan, is also looking at San Diego State.