UNLV football notebook: Beefed-up Payne ready for battle

By Ryan Greene (contact)

Tuesday, March 10, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Sam Morris

UNLV wide receiver Phillip Payne pulls in a touchdown pass over UNR defensive back Mo Harvey during the first half.

New faces and no pads made the opening of spring drills a pretty run-of-the-mill experience on Monday afternoon out at Rebel Park for the UNLV football team.

But it was also the first chance to take a look at some of the returners in action, showing off the fruits of the first portion of offseason conditioning work.

In that department, few were as noticeable as sophomore receiver Phillip Payne.

The Western High product, whose freshman season went from full throttle to an unexpected, concussed finish, was out running routes and grabbing pass after pass as the Rebels' No. 2 receiver behind Ryan Wolfe, who will enter his senior campaign as the most prolific receiver in UNLV history.

He did so with some added confidence -- And some added bulk.

Payne, who came into the program a year ago at a wiry 185 pounds, didn't come out on Monday looking like the Incredible Hulk, but now at an even 200 pounds, he appeared noticeably larger.

"I tried to get bigger and stronger so I can absorb hits like that," he said.

The hits Payne referred to were a fourth-quarter blow at BYU on Oct. 25 which left him woozy, followed by another collision against New Mexico two weeks later, which ultimately ended his season.

His numbers as a freshman -- 29 catches for 436 yards and a team-best 7 touchdowns -- were solid when the 5-7 season was said and done.

But now he's expecting more.

Pads won't make their first appearance on the practice field until Friday, but Payne said he's more anxious to be back in full gear for the first time since the victory over the Lobos than nervous.

Monday did nothing but confirm that.

"It's easier to get off the press now," he said. "I didn't even get to play the last game of the season and it didn't end the way we wanted it to end."

Depth chart notables

The first depth chart of the spring season was released on Monday, with only a few surprises to be found.

The most solid corps may be football's most important -- the offensive line.

Four starters -- left tackle Matt Murphy, center John Gianninoto, right guard Joe Hawley and right tackle Evan Marchal -- all return.

In the backfield, sophomore-to-be C.J. Cox is listed as the No. 1 tailback heading into the spring. His stiffest competition in replacing the graduated Frank Summers will be incoming freshman Bradley Randle, who doesn't arrive until this summer.

The area expecting the most shakeup is in the secondary, which coach Mike Sanford and his staff placed much of their focus on while hitting the recruiting trails.

Listed atop the charts at the safety positions are Chris Jones and Travis Dixon, who both converted from quarterback before last season.

Earning the pre-spring nod at left cornerback is sophomore-to-be Deante Purvis, a speedster who made his biggest impact late last season as a kick returner.

Three junior college transfers who arrived on campus between semesters -- sophomore Kenny Brown, junior Alex DeGiacomo and junior Warren Ziegler -- are all listed on the two-deep.

"It basically was the top priority," DeGiacomo said of the potential of competing for a job right away. "Coming here, having a great chance to play, makes it more interesting. You're actually here for something, trying to get something out of it."

Added Ziegler: "I love competing for spots. Hopefully I can make my teammates better nad get a nice job out of it, too."

A little hobbled

A handful of Rebels are out of action for the start of spring drills while recovering from injury.

The two most notable absences are on the defensive side of the ball, with cornerback Quinton Pointer and linebacker Starr Fuimaono sidelined.

Fuimaono tore his ACL against Utah in last season's second game, and followed the linebacking corps on Monday sporting a black knee brace.

Also still working his way back to full form is Sanford, who rode around the practice fields on a golf cart, only a couple of weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees.