Denton isn’t thinking about NFL Draft — yet

Tim Graham

Friday, Aug. 15, 1997 | 11:29 a.m.

MESQUITE -- Let's get it out of the way right now, before the first snap, pass or loss: Jon Denton does not want to enter the NFL Draft after the 1997 season, and he does not even think about a Heisman Trophy in his future.

UNLV's cov er boy since he rewrote the NCAA record book for freshmen passers last year only wants his team to win. In fact, mention the above unmentionables and the Henderson native actually blushes.

"Being a quarterback in the NFL is the ultimate goal," Denton said following the Rebels' first practice of training camp Thursday. "But it's something I can't think about every day.

"I don't think I could come out after this year. Something really, really major would have to happen for me to come out now."

But even if Denton doesn't plan to go pro after this year, that doesn't mean he will stick around all four years like head coach Jeff Horton believes.

"To Coach Horton's dismay, if the opportunity presents itself early, I would be crazy not to take advantage of it," said Denton, who completed 277 passes for 3,591 yards and 25 touchdowns against 16 interceptions in his first year. "After next season, I'll take a serious look at it and sit down with Coach Horton and my family.

"It's going to be a tough decision. Right now, I don't know what I would do if I had to decide."

As far as the Heisman, Denton truly couldn't care less.

"I have zero control over that," he said. "I'm just trying to get our squad on a national level."

Extra points

* BLACK AND BLUE: UNLV sustained its first injury of camp in its second practice when starting nickel back Randy Black, a Clark High grad, suffered a first- degree concussion. On the final play of a pass defense drill, Black collided with redshirt freshman linebacker Marques Robinson. Clark's helmet nailed Robinson in the knee and the two immediately dropped. Robinson wailed in pain after the hit and limped off the field with a deep thigh bruise. "But his knee looks stable right now," head trainer Kyle Wilson said. Black won't practice today. Robinson is day to day.

* LATE ARRIVALS: The Rebels were without five players when Camp Horton started Thursday. Left behind at UNLV so they could finish summer courses were defensive back Bobby Coffman, linebackers Greg Gales, Brent Gilbert, and Lamont Hicks, and defensive lineman Jean-Hans Stallsmith. Gales and Hicks are projected starters. According to head coach Jeff Horton, the quintet needed to take classes this summer not to make up poor grades, but to maintain the requirements for their core curriculums. They are expected to leave Las Vegas today at 1 p.m., but Horton was uncertain if they would take part in the late practice.

* MESQUITE MYSTIQUE: There sure is charm at the Virgin Valley High athletic complex, where the Rebels are training. A marquee at the school's entrance announced "WELCOME UNLV 1997 WAC CHAMPIONS." A Rebel football flag also flew under the U.S. flag -- in fact, it was bigger than Old Glory -- on the pole at the softball and baseball fields, where UNLV is practicing in the outfield areas. ... The view of the mountains surrounding Mesquite is breathtaking from the high school, which is situated on a bluff. The only problem is the pungent, early-morning manure stench blowing in on the lower field. ... To accommodate the Rebels, Virgin Valley's football team is practicing at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

* GEAR HEADS: The trip to Mesquite is a major haul for UNLV equipment coordinator Paul Pucciarelli. With the Rebels so far from home for an extended period, many things had to be moved to the Utah border town. "Other than the clothing end of it, it is pretty close to an away game," Pucciarelli said. "But for a game, we normally use one 24-foot Ryder truck. For this, we used two 24-footers." In addition to player equipment, the Rebels had to bring all training devices, including four sleds and a blocking chute. "And on top of that, you have to bring two of everything for the players to wear," Pucciarelli said. "At UNLV, we did laundry between practices. Here, we can only do it at night."

* TAILGATING: The UNLV Alumni Association recently announced its pre- game tailgating location has changed from Alumni Park to the 1 1/2-acre grassy area adjacent to the locker room facilities behind Sam Boyd Stadium. The area, called "Rebel Experience," also will be shared by the UNLV Football Foundation and students.