New Rebel eager to play again

All-state players from the hotbed that is Miami often wind up at one of Florida's major universities or another football factory outside that state, and cornerback Ken Spigner had his chance.

He could've accepted Florida State's offer to join the Seminoles in January 2008 as a grayshirt.

Spigner, though, had more important and pressing obligations at home, so he stayed in South Florida for a year before returning to football -- only to wind up at a California junior college and later miss his sophomore season because of injury.

Now maybe, finally, Spigner will get his chance at UNLV to play full time and show why Florida State first wanted him and notable schools such as Tennessee offered scholarships last year.

Spigner (5 feet 11 inches, 190 pounds), who said he runs the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds, is competing with five cornerbacks for two spots.

Senior Quinton Pointer and sophomore Sidney Hodge are on top of the depth chart, but that doesn't mean Spigner won't eventually start or make a big impact.

"He's got a lot of talent, but right now it's a matter of learning what we're doing -- picking up the system, learning how to practice hard," secondary coach and pass defense coordinator J.D. Williams said. "But the kid's talented."

UNLV's secondary needs Spigner to make a difference. The Rebels were last in the Mountain West Conference last season in pass defense, allowing 227.8 yards per game, though an anemic pass rush didn't make life easier for the defensive backs.

Spigner was the first of four players from College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., to commit to the Rebels, though defensive lineman Louvan Green is not expected to be eligible this season.

"Getting the first domino to fall was big," coach Bobby Hauck said.

Spigner, though, didn't take a direct route to UNLV.

He was a first-team all-state player in 2006 as a senior at Miami's Jackson High School, but he turned down Florida State's offer to join the team as a grayshirt.

Spigner's grandmother needed financial help, so Spigner stayed home to help while also taking classes at a community college. Florida junior colleges don't play football.

Spigner returned to the sport a year later by moving across the country to Sequoias, where he made 36 tackles, intercepted two passes and returned a kickoff for a touchdown as a freshman.

Then Spigner faced another unwelcome football sabbatical, dislocating a finger on his left hand last year. Though Spigner could've returned at midseason, Sequoias coach Curtis Allen suggested Spigner should avoid the risk of further injury.

He was able to stay in shape, but running on a treadmill was nothing like hitting and getting hit.

"You want to come back as hard as you can, but your body won't allow you because you've got to put your body back into shape," Spigner said.

So Spigner is at Rebel Park this week trying to do just that, as well as learn UNLV's playbook, and Williams said he hopes "everything starts clicking for him" in about a week or so when the team is practicing in Ely.

Then it will be a matter of where Spigner falls on the depth chart when the Rebels open Sept. 1 at Wisconsin.

Whatever his role, Spigner will be more than ready after missing so much time.

"I'm pretty fired up," Spigner said. "It's a blessing to be able to get a second chance after the situation I was in."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.