Aug. 10, 2008
REBEL CAMP 2008 -- - Enjoying the low temperatures and good vibes that its off-campus training site provides this time every year, the UNLV football team turned in a spirited 22-period, full-contact practice on Sunday.
Following a travel day and then light walk-through after arriving yesterday, more than 100 players were on hand and settling in for the next 10 days.
Members of the Las Vegas media who made the trip on Sunday quickly heard the big news coming out of camp this weekend. Less than a week after head coach Mike Sanford revealed that returning starting quarterback Travis Dixon (Chandler, AZ/Hamilton HS) would be moving over to defense to instead compete at safety, Sanford announced that another young signal-caller, true freshman Chris Jones (Las Vegas/Shadow Ridge HS) was making the same switch to the secondary.
Jones, who unlike Dixon, played as a defensive back as well as a quarterback in high school, wanted to make an immediate impact in 2008 instead of redshirting and decided to help at a Rebel position still in need of athletes.
"We don't have enough guys at safety with the athletic build and ability that Chris Jones has so it's a great thing for our team," said Sanford. "He was looking for a way to play this year and we have a need at safety. He is now going to compete to play and start for us there and will be able to play special teams as well (UNLV QBs are not inserted on special teams)."
The 6-2, 175-pound rookie is the closest thing to Rebel royalty. He is the son of former three-time All-American sprinter Cheryl (Cheeks) and the late Kirk Jones, who was one of the top tailbacks in UNLV history back in the mid-1980s.
"I asked the coaches what position we needed help at and they said safety was lacking," said Jones. "I played there in high school so I made the switch."
POSIITION SWITCH PART TWO
Another Rebel is making the move across the line of scrimmage but this time it's from defense to offense. Junior Luke Plante (Lake Arrowhead, CA/Rim of the World HS), who signed with UNLV as a defensive end last year out of Chaffey College but had to take an injury redshirt season, is now a tight end.
"Luke saw that he was not in the mix on the defensive line, he had a interest in moving to tight end, and we had an interest as well, so now he's wearing the white jersey (offense wears white in practices)," Sanford said.
RETURN OF THE BLACK JERSEY(S)
Continuing something the UNLV coaching staff debuted during spring practice, the Black Jersey returned on Sunday but with a twist -- there was a winner on both offense and defense. Awarded to the players who had the best previous practice, the first-ever off-campus Black Jerseys were Sundy worn by junior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (Santa Clarita, CA/Hart HS) and defensive back Geoffery Howard (San Diego, CA/Horizon HS/Grossmont College).
"Both Ryan and Geoff had good first weeks of practice and made a lot of plays on Friday down at Rebel Park," said Sanford.
UP NEXT
The first off-campus two-a-day hits on Monday. Players will begin their stretching at 9:40 a.m. and will hold a 20-period practice through 11:40 in full pads. After lunch, rest and meetings, the Rebels will return for an 18-period evening get-together from 5:35-7:05 p.m. in Rebel Gear.
