Rebels QB Hinds cleared for workouts

UNLV quarterback Rocky Hinds received positive news from his doctor recently and will throw and participate in summer conditioning, which begins Monday.

Hinds underwent reconstructive surgery in January on a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which was injured last season.

“He has to ease in a little bit more than he would if he hadn’t had the surgery,” Rebels football coach Mike Sanford said Tuesday. “He’s progressing very well. We can increase what he’s doing as time goes on. He’s already started throwing (on his own), and he’s already started dropping (back to pass). He’s going to do some quarterback-featured stuff with our trainer.”

NCAA rules dictate a training staff must be present during voluntary workouts, but coaches are barred.

Hinds injured his knee Sept. 9 at Iowa State but played the rest of the season on the partially torn ACL.

He was supposed to undergo surgery in December but postponed it until January so a Southern California doctor that his family knows could perform the procedure.

Hinds, who will be a junior next season, visited his doctor early last week and received the promising report. Sanford said Hinds’ rehabilitation was “right on schedule.”

“It’s very encouraging, and Rocky’s very upbeat about it,” Sanford said.

UNLV opens training camp Aug. 3. Its season opener is Aug. 30 at Utah State.