Friday, July 8, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.
Despite undergoing a barrage of heart and stomach tests over the past three months, Alvin Marshall still does not know if he'll be resuming his UNLV football career when fall camp opens on Aug. 8.
Marshal, a 5-foot-10 senior from Los Angeles, the team's top returning receiver from 2004 with 37 catches for 437 yards, took part in just one spring practice before being sidelined with chest pains.
It was originally thought that Marshall, a former J.C. All-American at Compton (Calif.) Community College who drew comparisons to NFL star Marshall Faulk because of his running and receiving skills, was suffering from a bad case of acid reflux. But despite drastically improving his diet, Marshall still has experienced some chest pains and now says an enlarged heart could be to blame.
Marshall recently was cleared by a stomach doctor to resume his career after undergoing several tests. However, he still hasn't received clearance to play again from his heart doctor.
"Right now the only thing I'm waiting on is for my heart doctor to clear me," Marshall said. "The only thing he found wrong is that I have an enlarged heart on the left side. ... They're trying to find out if my heart is enlarged due to some type of viral infection I had over the years or if I was born with it."
Marshall was going to meet again with his heart doctor on Thursday. Regardless of the outcome of that meeting, he said he will seek a second opinion from another heart specialist before deciding his playing future.
"I want to get all that taken care of, all the paperwork and stuff, before we go into fall camp," Marshall said. "That's when I'll make my decision whether I'm going to play this year or sit out."
Marshall said if it is determined he was born with the enlarged heart, he will likely play again.
"But if it is something that developed over the year while I was playing, then that wouldn't be good because my heart would continue to get bigger and stop the blood flow," he said. "Whatever happens, happens. I can't worry myself about it. It's out of my control. Hopefully everything goes well and I'll be on the field again."
If not, Marshall, who already has obtained his bachelor's degree in sociology, said he would return to school and add a second major.
Harrison, 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, was the only member of Sanford's 29-man recruiting class to fail to qualify academically. He currently plans on enrolling at UNLV as a part-time student in the fall and will continue taking the SAT in an attempt to improve his score. His other option is to enroll in a junior college where he would need to obtain an Associate of Arts degree before transferring back to a four-year school.
"We're disapponted that Jarrell will not be with us in the fall," Sanford said. "He's a great football player and a great person. He still wants to be a Rebel and we still want him to be a Rebel."
Harrison, who picked UNLV over Oregon State, was instrumental in helping the Rebels sway several other top local area prep recruits to sign with UNLV, including Las Vegas High School offensive lineman A.J. Rodriguez and the Cheyenne High School all-state duo of running back Torrie Coleman and defensive lineman Perry Eppenger.
It has been rumored for several months that Hinds, who starred for the two-time defending national champions during spring practice in place of injured 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, planned to transfer to UNLV after he was listed just third on the team's depth chart behind Leinart and sophomore John David Booty. Mark Sanchez, who led Mission Viejo (Calif.) High School to a mythical national prep title and was Parade Magazine's national player of the year, joins the group in the fall.
Because Hinds is considered a recruitable athlete until he officially enrolls at his new school, Rebels head coach Mike Sanford can not comment on the matter.
Attempts to reach Hinds, who recently changed his cell phone number, were unsuccessful.
Hinds must sat out the 2005 season but will still have three years of eligibility remaining at whatever school he enrolls at. Hinds, 6-4, 225 pounds, has been timed at 10.47 in the 100 meters and high-jumped 6-7 and is considered a much more polished passer than former Rebels star Jason Thomas.
Junior Erick Jackson (5-6, 180), the frontrunner to replace Mountain West Conference rushing champ Dominique Dorsey at tailback, owns team marks in both the clean (307 pounds) and pro shuttle (3.86) in his 180 pounds and under category.
Marshall has top time in the pro shuttle (3.97) in the 181 to 200-pound class while 6-foot-8 tight end Greg Estandia owns records in vertical jump (34 inches) and pro shuttle (4.21) in the 256-280 division. Senior safety Joe Miklos (201-225 pounds) also owns a record in the pro shuttle (3.89).
Three players hold records in their weight class for the 40-yard dash. They are sophomore wide receiver/kick returner Tremayne Kirkland (4.35) in the 180 pounds and under group, linebacker Ryan Welter (4.45) in the 226-255 class and senior defensive tackle Isaiah Tafua (5.13) for 281 pounds and over.
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