ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nevada's Nate Burleson, who scored against UNLV on Saturday, has caught 15 passes for 196 yards in two games against UH.
UH must Nevada's opponents hope the Wolf Pack's go-to guy goes to the NFL next year.
stop Burleson
The receiver has become
Notebook
Nevada's biggest threatBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comBut Nate Burleson, the nation's leader in average receiving yards per game, said he plans to graduate on time. That would give him the option of one more year at Reno, delaying the start of his professional career.
Because of a core class mix-up in high school, Burleson was a partial qualifier when he entered college three years ago. His situation is similar to that of Hawaii linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa -- if he graduates within four years, he gets the lost year of eligibility back.
UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa hopes tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium is the last time he has to try to stop Burleson.
"He's well-built -- tall, lean and very athletic," Lempa said of the 6-foot-2, 187-pound Seattle native. "He has a knack for finding the seams in a defense. When he finds the seams, the quarterback finds him and he catches the ball. He can go deep, he can go short and take it the length of the field, he goes across the middle.
"We have to be conscious of him."
Burleson, who has been invited to February's Hula Bowl if he chooses to turn pro, said he won't rush his decision.
"My priority is graduating," he said. "I just want to stay focused on that. Who knows? Football might not work out, and then the degree will be important. Right now it's 50-50 about turning pro, but either way I still want to finish school. Playing college football and going to college is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I want to take advantage of every Saturday I can."
Burleson graduated from sports powerhouse O'Dea High School in 1999, starring in football, basketball (his brother, Kevin, starts at guard for the Minnesota basketball team) and track. He was named the city's best prep athlete by The Seattle Times. Burleson had lots of scholarship offers from bigger schools, but he said he chose Nevada out of loyalty because they recruited him early on.
"He's an outstanding person and an outstanding football player," Nevada coach Chris Tormey said. "He's a money guy. When we need a big catch, he makes them."
Burleson has caught 53 passes for 682 yards and five touchdowns in five games this year. The career numbers are 163 catches, 2,340 yards and 15 touchdowns in 25 games.
In his two games against UH, Burleson has grabbed 15 passes for 196 yards and one TD.
He's become the focal point of Nevada's offense because running back Chance Kretschmer was lost for the season with a knee injury.
"It wasn't a big transition. When Chance was healthy I still had to make plays to take some pressure off him," said Burleson, who set WAC and school records with 326 receiving yards against San Jose State last year. "There's some pressure, but I enjoy it."
Pressure is what the Warriors' defensive backs will feel, too -- and not just because of Burleson. Nevada, often running four- and five-receiver sets, is fifth in the nation and atop the WAC with 331.2 passing yards per game.
"Right now he's one of the top receivers in the nation," UH cornerback Kelvin Millhouse said. "It's going to be a tough test for our secondary because they run the same offense we do. They have a really good quarterback (Zack Threadgill). He's real efficient, hardly throws any interceptions."
Lempa said UH will be prepared.
"We've always got something set up," he said. "Whether it works, that's another thing."
When: Tomorrow, 6:05 p.m. UH vs. Nevada
Where: Aloha Stadium
Tickets: $21 sideline, $16 end zone, $12 students/seniors, UH students free (super rooter only). Available at Aloha Stadium, except for student tickets at Stan Sheriff Center. Also at Ticket Plus outlets or by calling (808) 526-4400.
TV: KFVE (Channel 5), delay at 10 p.m., with rebroadcast Sunday at 9 a.m. Also available live on Pay-Per-View. Call 625-8100 on Oahu or (866) 566-7784 on neighbor islands to subscribe.
Radio: 1420-AM.
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