Dixon takes Rebels’ reins, tries to lead

ELY — Quarterback Travis Dixon looked around at UNLV’s first-team offense on the sideline and called out, “Stay loose. Let’s stretch.”

Dixon’s teammates followed his instruction and then followed him back onto the field for Saturday’s scrimmage.

The redshirt freshman believes he has established himself as a leader as the Rebels prepare to open the season Aug. 30 at Utah State with him under center instead of junior incumbent Rocky Hinds.

“I think I earned the respect out of my teammates, especially on the offensive side,” Dixon said. “They look to me as a leader. It didn’t matter that I’m a redshirt freshman. I’m a quarterback, and they all respect me, and they feel I can run this team.”

Dixon completed 6 of 11 passes for 78 yards with an interception Saturday and led drives that ended in a touchdown and a field goal.

Though defenders were not allowed to hit him during the scrimmage, Dixon delivered one of the hardest shots of the day when he slammed into Lafayette Fletcher after the cornerback made an interception on a pass that linebacker KC Asiodu tipped.

Clearly, tackling is not what UNLV coaches wanted to see out of Dixon with Hinds’ playing status still unclear because of his surgically repaired right knee.

“He’s a tough guy, and he went and made a tackle,” coach Mike Sanford said. “We yelled at him at the time, and he didn’t hear us.”

Sanford described Dixon’s day as “up and down,” acknowledging the quarterback’s style is more conducive to being able to break tackles and use his running ability to make something happen.

“One of the things that’s kind of important to know about this offense, when the quarterback doesn’t have the threat of the run and the players know that’s he not live, it’s a different deal,” Sanford said.

The Rebels received a scare when tailback Frank Summers injured his right knee while being tackled by safety Tony Cade. Summers went back in for one more running play, then iced his knee.

Sanford said he wanted to see how Summers’ knee responds before commenting on his status.

But Summers went through exercises after practice that seemingly would not have been possible had he been badly hurt.

“I knew it wasn’t anything serious,” Summers said.

He had only two carries but showed why the Rebels expect so much of him, running 31 yards on the first attempt and 17 on the second.

• NOTES — Senior linebacker Beau Bell (right hamstring), junior tailback David Peeples (left foot) and junior cornerback Geoffery Howard (groin) did not scrimmage. Sanford said all three should be ready soon. … Both incoming freshman quarterbacks had positive moments in trying to win the No. 3 job. Omar Clayton completed 2 of 3 passes for 30 yards and rushed for 16 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Mike Clausen was 4-for-7 for 55 yards and gained 8 yards on two rushes. … Sophomore Chris Brogdon, who ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts, was the leading rusher after Summers. … Juniors Renan Saint Preux (three catches for 52 yards) and Lorenzo Bursey Jr. (three for 41 yards) were the leading receivers. … Sophomore wide receiver Jerriman Robinson, who has played well in camp, was ruled eligible to play this season after transferring from Texas Southern. Sanford said Robinson enrolled part time at UNLV last fall and full time this spring, giving him the NCAA-mandated year off following a transfer.