Spinal injury ends spring workouts for UNLV’s Sorensen

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, April 10, 2002 | 9:40 a.m.

Trevan Sorensen won't practice again this spring for the UNLV Rebels. Now the question is whether the 6-foot-4, 275-pound senior, who was penciled in to take over all-Mountain West defensive end Anton Palepoi's former spot, will ever play again.

That answer won't likely be known for a couple of weeks when Sorensen meets with neurologists to discuss a spinal injury he suffered in a pass blocking drill on the first day of spring practice April 2.

Sorensen laid motionless on the practice field for about 20 minutes before being taken to the UMC Trauma Center by paramedics. He spent three days in the hospital before getting his release last Friday. His neck remains in a brace and he has not attended practice because of pain medication which has caused him discomfort. He also has continuing headaches from his concussion.

"I think everything is going to be OK," Sorensen said. "I hope so, anyway."

"I'd say he's definitely out for the rest of spring," UNLV trainer Kyle Wilson said. "We'll just have to see how it goes and what the doctors say after that."

Sorensen was moved to defensive end from tight end for the final month of the 2001 season after Palepoi suffered a knee injury, and Sorensen drew raves from Rebel head coach John Robinson and defensive line coach Craig Wederquist. Though he hadn't played on the defensive side of the ball since his high school days at Colton (Calif.) High School, Sorensen finished with nine tackles, including five against Utah.

"This was actually the first time where I was really looking forward to spring practice," Sorensen said. "That's the ironic thing. I was finally in the position I thought I should be in. Defense is so much easier for me. It's more natural. I've worked hard in the weight room. I was eating right. I was stronger. I was really looking forward to getting out there to learn more about the position."

But then in one of the final drills on the first day of spring practice, Sorensen found himself wondering for a while if he'd even be able to walk again, much less start at defensive end for the Rebels.

"I don't remember a whole lot about what happened," Sorensen said. "We were doing a pass rush drill and when I was coming off the line I stepped into a gopher hole or something on that crappy (intramural) field and stumbled. (Offensive tackle) Matt Williams stuck his hands out and caught me on my head and it kind of snapped back I guess. The next thing I remember is being strapped to that gurney.

"It was all so sudden. People were talking above me but I couldn't really see them. I remember feeling my body go numb and the sensation that I couldn't move my arms or legs. I couldn't move anything for about 20 or 30 minutes. Then the feeling began to come back."

Sorensen said doctors were concerned about the bruising of his spine and the possibility of some bulging discs.

"He had kind of a stretching of the spine," Wilson said. "His head was forced back into a hyperextension and just stretched his spine out. That's when he lost all feeling and motor function in all four of his extremities.

"We'll just have to wait and see what the physicians say about the fall. He's going to have some follow-up exams and testing just to make sure he's OK enough to come back and play."

Sorensen remains optimistic despite the traumatic experience.

"I think I'll be fine," he said.