Rebels await meeting of minds on Hinds
ELY — Rocky Hinds’ football future could become a lot clearer Monday.
The most recent test on the surgically repaired right knee of the UNLV junior quarterback showed it to be weaker than it should be at this point in his recovery. However, another surgery is not expected, Rebels coach Mike Sanford said.
A conference call will be held Monday with Hinds, who remains in Southern California, his mother, his surgeon, his rehab specialist and either Sanford or UNLV head trainer Kyle Wilson to discuss Hinds’ playing status.
“I don’t know if we’ll have any specific answers from that, but I know there’s obviously going be something (to) come out of that,” Sanford said.
On Thursday, redshirt freshman Travis Dixon was named to start the Rebels’ opening game, Aug. 30 at Utah State.
“I’m excited that they gave me a chance,” Dixon said. “I took full advantage of my opportunity that I had and just led this offense.”
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Berry said Dixon is not the provisional starter depending on Hinds’ situation.
“He’s the starter,” Berry said. “I think he’s earned that.”
Junior Dack Ishii is the backup. Sanford said today’s 9:25 a.m. scrimmage will help determine the No. 3 spot. That battle is between incoming freshmen Mike Clausen and Omar Clayton.
“We’ve got to get one of them ready to be the No. 3 guy because who knows how long this Rocky Hinds thing is going to go,” Sanford said.
Hinds transferred from Southern California before the 2005 season as a much-hyped quarterback. But he suffered a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament at Iowa State in the second game of last season.
Hinds played the rest of the season, but the injury hampered his performance in running the shotgun spread for the Rebels, who went 2-10. Nevertheless, Hinds’ 2,148 yards passing were the most by a UNLV quarterback since Jon Denton’s 2,586 in 1997.
Hinds was supposed to undergo surgery in December but postponed the operation until January so it could be performed by Dr. Clarence Shields of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Whether the delay will ultimately cost Hinds the starting job all season is uncertain.
After being deemed ready when training camp opened Aug. 3, Hinds soon began to experience swelling, and he left camp Sunday for Southern California to have the knee tested.
Dixon, in the meantime, won the starting job. He made a statement in Tuesday’s scrimmage, capping four consecutive drives with touchdown passes against the starting defense.
Sanford said Dixon’s performance made a big impression with him, but he wanted to take two days and make his decision on the starter.
“It was time,” Sanford said. “Travis has earned this job. It’s not by default. I think he’s the best answer for our football team to win this year.”
• NOTES — The opener at Utah State will be televised on Las Vegas One (Cox 19). … Junior tailback David Peeples, a Cheyenne High product, probably will play in the scrimmage. He has not gone through a full practice yet because of a stress fracture in his left foot. … The Rebels picked up their fourth recruiting commitment for 2008: offensive lineman Jason Heath (6 feet 4 inches, 265 pounds) of Del Oro High School in Loomis, Calif.
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