UNLV’s Clayton won’t need knee surgery

UNLV sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton will not need surgery on the torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, providing hope that he might play again this season.

Clayton will miss Saturday's 7 p.m. game against New Mexico at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels finish the regular season with games Nov. 13 against Wyoming and Nov. 22 at San Diego State.

Redshirt freshman Mike Clausen will start against New Mexico.

"I'm actually looking forward to seeing Mike play, to go out there and make plays and move the offense," Clayton, injured in Saturday's 44-14 loss to Texas Christian, said Tuesday.

Two Rebels defensive players who missed Saturday's loss might return. End Thor Pili and linebacker Beau Orth practiced Tuesday, and coach Mike Sanford said he would have a better idea Thursday about their availability.

Also, UNLV picked up a commitment from Bishop Gorman High School's Charles Childers (6 feet, 181 pounds), who is listed as the nation's 120th-ranked safety by Scout.com. The recruiting service rates him as a two-star prospect. Childers is the third defensive back in about a week to commit to the Rebels.