Former Ute helps lift receiving corps

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Injuries have ravaged the Gladiators’ wide receiving corps this season, but the unit received a boost last week when Travis LaTendresse came off injured reserve.

The former University of Utah player showed promise by catching eight passes for 89 yards and a touchdown Sunday in Las Vegas’ 59-37 loss to Los Angeles, the Gladiators’ ninth defeat in 10 games this season.

“He’s a guy that got hurt in camp, and we kept him around because every day he got better and better and we liked what we saw,” Gladiators coach Danton Barto said. “It’s a good thing when you see a young player come out in his first game and play well and as a coaching staff your opinion of the guy was right on.

“He has a chance to be a very solid football player for us.”

LaTendresse hurt his left knee in camp, and the knee filled with fluid whenever he worked out.

He took four weeks to work on healing the knee and then another three without activity to rest it completely.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound LaTendresse was cleared to resume playing last week, and the timing was especially important for a team already depleted at receiver. Kevin Prentiss (ankle) and Joe Douglass (foot) remain out, and Etu Molden (groin) is doubtful for today’s 7:30 p.m. game at San Jose (6-3).

LaTendresse’s good early showing helped relieve concerns.

“I always felt like I could compete at this level,” he said. “I still have to prove it game in, game out. I’m still young to this game. I made a lot of mistakes. I need to clean it up.

“This is a completely different game than the outdoor game.”

LaTendresse was one of the key contributors at Utah, where current UNLV coach Mike Sanford was his offensive coordinator. LaTendresse played for the Utes’ undefeated 2004 team that routed Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.

“(Sanford) brought a lot to the Utah team,” LaTendresse said. “We were lucky enough to have him. He kind of expanded (then-coach) Urban’s (Meyer) offense.”

LaTendresse keeps up with UNLV’s program through his friendship with former Rebels quarterback Shane Steichen. Both attended Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills, Calif.

“The results haven’t come yet for (Sanford), but they will,” LaTendresse said.

But LaTendresse doesn’t see the Utes’ domination of UNLV — Utah has won 11 in a row in the series — changing.

“Always,” he said. “You’ve got to go with your alma mater. I don’t know what it is. It’s kind of like when Utah plays Utah State. We just kind of look at it as the younger brother.”