LOOKING IN ON: UNLV FOOTBALL

Friday, April 20, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

What: Scarlet vs. Gray spring game

Where: Sam Boyd Stadium

When: 6 p.m. today

Admission: Free

Info: www.unlvrebels.com

Some of UNLV's key offensive players will be relegated to the sidelines, but head coach Mike Sanford still expects today's annual spring football game to be a productive exercise.

Quarterback Rocky Hinds, wide receiver Casey Flair, running back David Peeples and place kicker Sergio Aguayo are recovering from off-season surgeries and will not suit up for the game at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"Regardless of who's (playing) or not, we get a ton out of this game," Sanford said. "Even though we have some guys who are injured that can't play, we have a ton of positions that are open, a ton of positions where we haven't determined yet who the starters are and who the No. 2s are.

"This game is one more opportunity for guys to show what they can do."

Sanford will pay particular attention to the offensive line, where virtually every starting position will be up for grabs when fall practice begins.

"We need to determine who our starting offensive line is," Sanford said, "because right now that's up in the air. That's a question we're going to answer in fall practice."

Sluggish 'O'

Today's game also will give the three quarterbacks vying for the role of Hinds' backup - Travis Dixon, Jarrod Jackson and Dack Ishii - another chance to show they have command of Sanford's shotgun spread offense.

Sanford said he hasn't been pleased with the execution of the offense during spring practice.

"We're not executing the way I'd like to execute at this point," he said, "but I feel like we've had a great opportunity to evaluate players and we've put our team in a lot of situations that you don't normally get to in spring practice, and that's been really good for us."

Sanford said the number of offensive starters sitting out with injuries this spring is only part of the reason the offense's performance has been lackluster.

"I think we threw a lot at them," he said. "We're playing with a lot of young players, and we've put a lot of offense in through 13 days, and I think there's been a little bit of a learning curve there."

Spring highlights

Sanford said several players on both sides of the ball have stood out this spring.

He cited linemen Malo Taumua and Jacob Hales and cornerback Geoff Howard as defense standouts.

Offensively, Sanford said he has been most impressed with lineman Ramsey Feagai and running back Frank Summers.