Defensive lineman Melvin Johnson, a former star at Las Vegas’ Canyon Springs High School who was UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez’s first commitment for this season, has failed to qualify academically and will not play for the Runnin’ Rebels this season. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported the development.
Speaking to Anderson, Johnson was blunt in his feelings on the matter.
“I’m going to play at a junior college, and hopefully I will get a scholarship better than UNLV,” Johnson said. “If not, I will go back to UNLV.”
Despite the circumstances, it sounds like Johnson wasn’t particularly happy to have to stay in his hometown and play at UNLV to begin with, but that doesn’t excuse his words. He’ll play at California’s Victor Valley College this year, and should just accept the situation for what it is. Taking a shot at UNLV itself was highly unnecessary and even if he plays great football at Victor Valley, UNLV would be wise to reconsider its offer to Johnson if he’s going to say such things about the school just because he didn’t qualify academically.
Either way, depending on how UNLV reacts to Johnson’s statement, if at all, Campus Sports will update this story accordingly.
The former head football coach at Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High School, Sanchez begins his UNLV career on the road against the MAC’s Northern Illinois Huskies on September 5.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports
