Getting Estandia more involved is the tall order for 2004 season

Steve Guiremand

Monday, Aug. 16, 2004 | 9:16 a.m.

As far as opening game debuts go, it would be hard to top the one turned in by tight end Greg Estandia last year.

A junior college transfer from Moorpark, Calif., Estandia caught four passes for 75 yards in UNLV's nationally televised 28-18 upset of Toledo at Sam Boyd Stadium, including fourth-quarter touchdown grabs of 19 and 22 yards to rally the Rebels from a 18-14 deficit. And he was also named the Mountain West Conference's special teams player of the week for blocking a key field goal attempt by the Rockets in the contest.

But Estandia, a 6-foot-8, 255-pound senior, caught only 16 passes and scored just one more touchdown the rest of the season. Many Rebels followers were critical of head coach John Robinson for not getting Estandia more involved in the team's offense.

Turns out there was a good reason for that.

Estandia injured his foot the following week against Kansas. He limped through the rest of the season with what was originally diagnosed as turf toe but turned out to be a very painful bone chip in the ball of his right foot.

"When I pushed off I'd feel a sharp pain in there," Estandia said. "Even when I was walking I'd feel it every step. When I was blocking was when it hurt the most because you'd have to put a lot of pressure on that area.

"It was tough to even practice."

Estandia had the bone chip surgically removed about three months ago.

"It didn't show up when they took X-rays of it during the season so they thought it was turf toe," he said. "Then I got an MRI and they finally found it.

"It feels a lot better now. It took about six weeks for my recovery. I can still feel it a little bit but it's getting better every day."

New Rebels offensive coordinator Bruce Snyder, who tutored future NFL tight ends Todd Heap and Steve Bush during his Arizona State head coaching days, is expected to give the healthier Estandia a much more featured role in this year's offense.

"We've got to get him the ball," Robinson agreed before the team's preseason camp practice on Sunday night at Rebel Park. "Last year he hurt that toe and it really made it difficult for him to push off."

There are some around Rebel Park who believe Estandia could rank right behind All-America safety Jamaal Brimmer as the team's best NFL prospect. Estandia has added 30 pounds since arriving at UNLV in the spring of 2003 and was timed at 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash despite the recent foot surgery.

He also set team records in his weight category for the pro shuttle (4.01) and vertical jump (34 inches).

"He's a good kid who has worked very hard," UNLV strength coach Mark Philippi said. "He hangs out with guys like (Ryan) Claridge and (Kurt) Nantkes in the weight room.

"Guys like that make your job a whole lot easier because they always show up to do their work."

Besides size and athletic ability, Estandia, a former prep basketball star, also has some of the best hands on the team.

"He's right up there with Erv's," Nantkes said referring to all-Mountain West Conference wide receiver Earvin Johnson. "He's fearless across the middle. He can catch it in a crowd. He undoubtedly has some of the best hands on our team."

Estandia said: "I'm hoping to contribute a lot more this season. Coach Snyder has placed a big emphasis on opening up the offense.

"He wants to catch people off guard. And he has coached a lot of good tight ends in the past. Hopefully I can be another one."

It was the third consecutive practice session that Seward missed and he might sit out a few more "just to make sure it's 100 percent," he said.

Seward missed most of spring practice after having surgery on his left foot for a stress fracture.

Meanwhile, Estandia took part in full drills despite having his left elbow heavily wrapped. He hyperextended it while making a block in Saturday night's workout.

Senior defensive end Pete Dunbar (knee) also watched Sunday's workout but could return for tonight's first practice in full gear.

Two other players who haven't been practicing are defensive back Will Tagoai and linebacker Mike Tinoisamoa. Both are finishing up a summer school class they need to pass to be eligible in the fall.