Aug. 14, 2007

UNLV Football Preseason Practice Photo Gallery

With just one practice on the docket for Tuesday at preseason camp, the UNLV football team turned in an extremely entertaining effort.

After the standard stretching, special teams work and position drills, the Rebels ran through a series of full-contact situations.

"We did a lot of situations because we have to get our competetive stuff in -- it was kind of a fun football day here this morning," said UNLV head coach Mike Sanford. "I think the No. 1 offense played better than the No. 1 defense while the No. 2 defense outplayed the No. 2 offense."

With last year's starter Rocky Hinds (Los Angeles/St. Bernard HS) still away from camp to get his knee checked out, UNLV's first-string offenseive unit was led again by redshirt freshman Travis Dixon (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton HS). Dixon, who was a state championship QB in Arizona, put on perhaps his most impressive practice to date by leading his team repeatedly into the end zone during short situational drills from inside the 10-yard line, including with defenders such as all-conference linebacker Beau Bell staring him in the face.

"Travis is a playmaker, no doubt," said Sanford. "Not many people believed it when we said we had a quarterback battle going on here (between Hinds and Dixon) but now you can see why. He loves to play football and wants so bad to be the starting quarterback for UNLV."

After the spirited morning, the team spent the remainder of the day meeting, resting and lifting weights. The Rebels will return to their off-campus training site for two practices on Wednesday.