Offensive line coach Uperesa to miss at least part of training camp after cancer surgery

UNLV interior offensive line coach Keith Uperesa, who underwent surgery in May for thyroid cancer, will not join the team early next week for at least the first part of training camp in Ely.

Uperesa, who is still awaiting his first radiation treatment, will have blood work on Wednesday and soon after have a better idea of his schedule. The Rebels, who opened preseason football practices this morning with a newcomers-only workout, leave for Ely on Tuesday.

Uperesa said coach Mike Sanford and acting athletic director Jerry Koloskie have been supportive. Tackles and tight ends coach Gary Bernardi will oversee the entire line when Uperesa is away.

"I'll do what I can out here," Uperesa said while standing on the practice field. "I talked to the (players) last night to bring them up to speed just so they're not alarmed when all of the sudden during camp I pop out of here for a few days. I wanted to let them know what was going on. We'll work through this, and I'll get better."

In the meantime, practices serve as a chance to forget about doctors and treatments, even if for a short time.

"It's a good change because I'm around the kids," Uperesa said. "Especially when the older kids come in, it's great being around them because we've got a veteran group now. It's fun to coach these guys up."

NO-SHOWS

Highly touted defensive end B.J. Bell was not at this morning's practice, but there's no reason for Rebels fans to be alarmed. He was in class, and is scheduled to join the returning players at 6 p.m. today when they hit Rebel Park for the first time.

The third Bell brother to play at UNLV, he had 24 1/2 tackles for loss and 10 sacks last season at Santa Ana (Calif.) College.

There is less certainty regarding wide receiver Marcus Sullivan, a Cheyenne High School graduate. He is academically eligible by NCAA standards, but is awaiting state-required math proficiency test results for high school graduation.

"Anything that you don't know for sure you're concerned about," Sanford said.

GONE FOR GOOD

Defensive lineman George Vea, who went to Pahranagat Valley High, transferred to Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. His brother, William, is on a two-year Mormon mission and is expected to join UNLV next year. William Vea, a linebacker, signed in 2007.

LOOKING GOOD

Sanford said Mike Grant, a transfer from Sierra College in Rocklin, Calif., stood out this morning.

"He showed a lot of competitiveness, a lot of natural ability," Sanford said. "He's got a chance to be right in the middle of that competition at corner."

LEARNING FROM HISTORY

Unlike previous newcomers practices, coaches spent more time on teaching than conditioning.

"We've had some bad experiences in the past with running these guys too hard with only a few guys out here," Sanford said. "We did some work, obviously, but we tried to mix doing a lot with them and some evaluation of them with some instruction to get them up to speed. So when we start going to scarlet-and-gray (split) practices tomorrow, they're up to speed with the other guys."