Notebook: Payne practices with scout team, injury report released

By Ryan Greene

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010 | 2:15 a.m.

For the second consecutive day, UNLV junior receiver Phillip Payne worked with the scout team offense during practice at Rebel Park and donned the No. 17.

With the Rebels' seventh game of the season just three days away, the fact that Payne has not run this week with the first or second unit — and is not listed anywhere on the current depth chart — makes it appear unlikely that he'll see the field at Colorado State on Saturday.

But UNLV coach Bobby Hauck has yet to make an official announcement ... and probably won't.

"He did a good job today," Hauck said briefly following Tuesday's practice. "There probably won't be (an official announcement). I won't tell anybody. If he plays this weekend, we'll probably just spring it on them on Saturday."

Payne was told by Hauck last Thursday morning that he was being left home from the team's trip to West Virginia after the preseason All-Mountain West selection made disparaging remarks about the program on his Twitter feed the day before.

It's worth noting that, in team drills, UNLV's first unit looked good with the ball on Tuesday, as senior quarterback Omar Clayton found good rhythm with junior Michael Johnson, who so far is the team's leading receiver with 25 grabs.

During a 2-minute offense drill to close out practice, Clayton hit Johnson for two big gains, including a touchdown pass while on the run from about 15 yards out.

Payne's peers do appear to be behind him, though.

Earlier in the practice, Payne caught about a 40-yard deep ball from redshirting freshman quarterback Taylor Barnhill down the right sideline between two defenders. Witnessing it from the adjacent field, Clayton yelled, 'I see you, Phil!' a couple of times.

Maka feeling comfortable

Of the young Rebels to make strides while seeing extended playing time against an elite opponent last Saturday, true freshman linebacker Tani Maka may have stood out the most.

Maka found out just before kickoff that he'd be starting in place of senior Starr Fuimaono, who tried to warm-up, but was unable to go with a foot injury.

The Long Beach, Calif., native was one of four Rebels with a team-high four tackles, and the former UCLA signee appeared to grow more and more comfortable as the afternoon wore on.

"The first series, I was nervous," he said of the Mountaineers' three-play, 80-yard scoring drive to start the day. "After that, I just played through the game like I'd been there before."

It appears to be doubtful that Fuimaono will play on Saturday at CSU, meaning Maka gets a chance to show what he learned from the first start on yet another big stage.

"West Virginia was a good team, and going into Colorado State, now with the first start (out of the way), nervousness is out the door," he said. "Now I can just go and play football."

Injury report released

On Tuesday, UNLV put out its weekly injury report. It's as follows:

Out: DB Courtney Bridget (arm), DB Travis Dixon (leg), DL Kjelby Oiland (undisclosed), LB Beau Orth (back), DB Quinton Pointer (leg), RB Imari Thompson (foot), LB Travis Trickey (neck).

Doubtful: FB/DE Beau Brence (neck), LB Starr Fuimaono (leg), TE Austin Harrington (arm), DE Daniel Mareko (arm), OL Shane Watterson (leg).

Questionable: WR Mark Barefield (leg), RB C.J. Cox (neck), DL James Dunlap (arm), WR Irshad Stolden (leg).

Probable: DB Will Chandler (leg), OL Matt Murphy (leg), WR Marcus Sullivan (undisclosed), FB/LS Anthony White (leg).