Thomas slated for MRI on shoulder

Steve Guiremand

Monday, April 9, 2001 | 9:46 a.m.

The good news for UNLV football fans is that star quarterback Jason Thomas' right foot feels fine.

The bad news is his left (throwing) shoulder does not.

So the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Thomas, who figures to battle for All-America honors this year after being named the Mountain West Conference Newcomer of the Year last fall, will undergo an MRI on his shoulder this week to make sure there is no serious damage.

"It hasn't felt right all spring," Thomas said after completing 8 of 18 passes for 109 yards, one interception and one 36-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Bobby Nero in Saturday's Kickoff 2001 scrimmage at chilly and damp Bill "Wildcat" Morris Rebel Park.

"It seems like I've been throwing to try and not get hurt instead of just letting it loose."

Part of the problem could be overwork. With third-string quarterback Ryan Hanson pitching on the Rebel baseball team instead of taking part in spring drills, Thomas and backup Kurt Nantkes have had to handle most of the quarterbacking snaps so far.

Although Thomas' throws looked strong during the scrimmage, he still met with trainer and team doctor Dr. Gerald Higgins afterward to talk about the soreness he was experiencing. Higgins then ordered Thomas to have an MRI.

"I don't think it's anything serious, but they just want to make sure," Thomas said. "They don't want it to drag on like what happened to my foot last year."

Thomas suffered a sprained right foot in an Oct. 14 loss at Colorado State and then limped his way through the remainder of the season when X-rays at the time revealed no broken bones.

But it was discovered in a January MRI that Thomas was developing a stress fracture in his second metatarsal bone and he had to have the foot placed in a cast for almost two months to allow the injury to heal.

Thomas appeared to be his old explosive self running the football on Saturday, carrying twice for 11 yards, including a six-yard touchdown run around left end for a touchdown.

UNLV concludes its spring workouts on Saturday.