Payne catches on for Rebels
No matter if the coverage was tight or if the throw was a little off, UNLV wide receiver Phillip Payne caught just about every fade pass early in training camp.
Other routes weren’t so easy. Payne, an incoming freshman from Western High School, sometimes would run a slant on a sideline pass or an out on a pass over the middle.
But just as he made those fade passes look so simple, Payne began to pick up the playbook and smoothly run the routes as they were designed. It didn’t hurt that coaches put Payne at one receiver spot and kept him there.
"He must’ve been studying off the field, as we asked him to do, because he got it picked up," wide receivers coach Kris Cinkovich said. "As you saw in Ely, all of a sudden it hit pretty good, and his ability started coming out when he was done thinking and just started playing."
Payne showed how quickly he learned with an impressive debut in Saturday’s 27-17 season-opening victory over Utah State. He caught four passes for 52 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown. On a fade route, of course.
Not a bad way to go into Saturday’s 5 p.m. PDT game at No. 22 Utah (1-0). It is the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
Rebels coaches were high on Payne early even though he was lightly recruited at Western. Cinkovich, the former Las Vegas High coach who recruits the valley, was traveling when he watched tape of Payne’s junior season. Impressed by seeing Payne consistently fight for catches while surrounded by defenders and dish out crushing blocks on other plays, Cinkovich called coach Mike Sanford and offensive coordinator Todd Berry.
They watched Payne up close at UNLV’s camp that summer, and the coaches’ high opinions became solidified. Payne was offered a scholarship when the camp ended.
"We thought we stole one getting him," Cinkovich said, "and think he’s going to be a heck of a player for us."
Payne, who used to watch the Rebels at Sam Boyd Stadium, said he felt wanted.
"The big thing to me is family," Payne said. "I felt like this is my new family."
He doesn’t have the sprinter’s speed many coaches seek. Cinkovich calls Payne "a bit of strider" and someone who will become faster.
At 6 feet 3 inches and 190 pounds — and with room to grow — Payne does have size, which has helped him on those fade patterns.
He already is giving opponents another receiver to think about after Ryan Wolfe and Casey Flair, who also are off to strong starts. Wolfe caught seven passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns against Utah State, and Flair made four receptions for 53 yards.
They attract opponents’ best defensive backs, which usually will force teams to play a less talented defender on Payne.
He also figures to get better and learn even more of the playbook, which should create further opportunities.
"He has that thing that you can’t coach, that balance and timing and positioning," Cinkovich said.
• NOTE — Utah is banged up. According to Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, game-day decisions will be made on safety Robert Johnson (hamstring), offensive left tackle Zane Beadles (knee) and backup quarterback Corbin Louks (shoulder). The injury to Louks could be important because the Utes use him as a change-of-pace quarterback to provide a running element.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.
