WALK-ON GETS FOOT IN DOOR
UNLV’s quarterback picture going into the season focused on Rocky Hinds’ gimpy right knee, Travis Dixon being named the starter and Mike Clausen possibly representing the future at the position.
Omar Clayton was a no-name walk-on. His high school accomplishments were nice but didn’t raise any eyebrows.
Clayton began training camp fifth on the depth chart and then quietly began surpassing the scholarship players in front of him.
He rose to No. 2 on the depth chart by the Sept. 15 game against Hawaii. Now he could start against Colorado State on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
“I didn’t know what to expect coming (into) training camp,” Clayton said. “You never know if the game is too advanced for you coming from what you were exposed to in high school. I was definitely expecting to learn a lot, which I have.
“I didn’t initially expect to be in the position that I’m in right now.”
Coach Mike Sanford has said it will be a game-day decision whether Dixon or Clayton starts. Dixon sprained his left knee and ankle in Saturday’s 24-14 loss to Brigham Young.
But Dixon also has been inconsistent, with periods of struggles offsetting the promising stretches for the redshirt freshman. Under his direction, UNLV is last in the Mountain West Conference in scoring (17.9-point average) and total offense (350.1-yard average).
Dixon’s injuries could be the perfect out for coaches to test Clayton because it would not appear to be a demotion.
No one, though, is tipping any hands.
Clayton’s journey to be in this spot mirrors the trek that led him to UNLV.
He began his high school career at Normal (Ill.) Community before moving to Texas when his father was transferred for his job. Clayton played two seasons at Plano East, coming off the bench for the final seven games of his junior year to pass for about 1,300 yards. He led his team to a playoff win, too.
Clayton missed Normal, though. He moved back and took the school to last year’s Class 6A state championship (of eight divisions). He passed for about 1,100 yards and rushed for more than 600.
“It was the best feeling possible being able to play with people that you grew up with,” Clayton said. “To be able to finish out that year and go 14-0 is something that I’m definitely proud of.”
But recruiters didn’t notice. Several factors hurt Clayton, including the back-and-forth moves between states.
Sanford watched his own son, Mike Jr., take a recruiting hit after moving from Indiana to California because his dad went from Notre Dame to the San Diego Chargers.
“And that was the son of a coach,” Sanford said of Mike Jr., who played quarterback at Boise State and now is an assistant at Stanford.
Clayton also believes his growth as a quarterback was stunted because his high school team’s offense ran out of the I-formation option, which didn’t let him show off his passing ability. His height — 6 feet — also might have turned off recruiters.
“(Colleges) didn’t want me, so they didn’t take me,” Clayton said. “If they didn’t want me, I didn’t want to go.”
Clayton and UNLV wanted each other. Normal’s coaches helped form that connection because they knew Todd Berry, the former Illinois State head coach and new Rebels offensive coordinator.
Berry watched videotape of Clayton at Plano East, which operated the spread offense, and was convinced he had a quarterback who could fit into UNLV’s shotgun spread.
“I was pretty pleased with the tape,” Berry said. “I thought he was a guy that had been overlooked and partly because of the offensive system there in Normal.
“And I have Texas as a recruiting area, so I went down to Texas whenever (Clayton) said he was coming. All the Texas guys couldn’t believe that we got him.”
It’s looking like a smart decision to offer Clayton a chance to walk on, especially after his play against BYU. He worked a series late in the second quarter, completing 4 of 4 passes for 38 yards and rushing for 17 yards on two carries to set up a field goal.
Late in the game when Dixon got hurt, Clayton threw for a touchdown and 2-point conversion.
Not a bad boost whether he starts or simply receives additional playing time Saturday.
“When you go in a game and you perform well, it just makes it fun,” Clayton said. “And when the game is fun, everything comes easier.”
• NOTE — UNLV football alumni can receive two free tickets to Saturday’s game and a pregame meal by calling 895-2474.
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.
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