Valley’s Jackson in learning mode

Steve Guiremand

Friday, March 26, 1999 | 10:07 a.m.

It has been about 16 months since Dion Jackson last put on the gear and got hit on a football field. But the former Sunrise Division MVP from Valley High School doesn't appear to have lost a step.

Jackson, one of former UNLV coach Jeff Horton's "5 1/2 year" guys, finally enrolled in UNLV in January after sitting out of school this past fall. The former two-sport star for the Vikings has added about 20 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot, 180-pound frame and now finds himself learning a new position, wide receiver.

"It's a little bit different," Jackson said following his fourth spring practice Thursday afternoon at Rebel Park. "I've never played wide receiver before I got here, so I have a lot to learn. One thing I've noticed is that the game is a lot quicker here. Everybody is a good athlete here."

Jackson made a nice catch on a short out pass from quarterback Jason Vaughan during one drill Thursday.

"I'm still just learning all the plays," Jackson said. "I'm learning the routs, the blocking and the footwork that goes with playing wide receiver."

"He's got very good hands," UNLV coach John Robinson said of Jackson.

Although he signed with UNLV when Horton was still the coach, Jackson says he likes what he has seen so far from Robinson.

"He's a great guy, a player's coach," Jackson said. "I think everybody has come out here with a good attitude because of him."

* MRI FOR JONES: Starting defensive end Rod Jones, who sprained his right knee in a drill on Wednesday, was scheduled to undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury.

Jones watched Thursday's practice on crutches.

"(Team physician) Dr. (Gerald) Higgins wants to make sure he didn't tear any ligaments or cartilage," Rebels trainer Kyle Wilson said. "It's pretty swollen and we put a brace on it. We should have the results early next week sometimes."

* BREAK TIME: Thursday's workout, the fourth of 15 spring practices, was the last by the Rebels until Tuesday, April 6, because of Easter vacation.

* BABY WATCH: The Easter break probably couldn't have come at a better time for a couple of nervous UNLV assistants, linebackers coach Joe Barry and offensive line coach Rob Boras.

Both have been wearing special pagers out to the practice field. The reason? Both are going to become fathers for the first time in the next couple of weeks.

Boras' wife, Amy, is due April 4 while Barry's wife, Chris, is due April 13.

"Only one person knows the number on these pagers and it's our wives," Barry said. "And they've been instructed only to call it in case of an emergency."

"If you see me running off the field during practice, that either means I just got beeped or I have to go to the bathroom real bad," Boras joked.

* TURNER HONORED: Wide receiver Nate Turner had a good reason for skipping Wednesday's practice this week.

Turner, a mid-year transfer from Compton College, was one of just two junior college football players in the state of California to win the 3C4A Scholar-Athlete Award.

Only eight athletes in the entire state were picked. To qualify, an athlete had to earn All-American acclaim in his sport and maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better.

Turner received a plaque and $100 scholarship as well as an all-expenses paid trip to San Francisco, where the awards banquet was held. Among those attending the ceremony was former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

* SWOOSH: UNLV, which wore Reebok shoes under former coach Jeff Horton, has switched to wearing Nike shoes, which Robinson also wore at USC.

The team also will have new uniforms and helmets next season.