Rebels’ Peeples ready to run

UNLV tailback David Peeples was so nervous before practice on Oct. 3, he began to shake. This would be his first time absorbing a hit since he suffered a major concussion less than two weeks before.

He took the blows and left practice once again feeling like a football player.

Now Peeples, a Cheyenne High School graduate, is excited to get back in a game. Practices have eased concerns about putting himself at risk Saturday against Brigham Young or any other opponent later this season.

"I figure if you go in there being nervous, you're not going to really know what you're doing," Peeples said. "You're going to be worried about getting hurt. So I'm going to go in there, prepare like any other game and play hard.

"It will be great to get back on the field and release some of the fear that I have built inside of me."

Peeples' next play will be his first since the injury Sept. 22 against Utah. The junior took a late first-quarter handoff and was knocked unconscious at the line of scrimmage by Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester.

Deborah Johnson, who was watching from the stands, had seen her son take many hits and quickly rise.

"When he didn't get up, my heart dropped to my feet," Johnson said.

Rebels coach Mike Sanford walked over to his fallen player and "feared the worst." He saw Peeples' fingers and toes move but still wasn't completely certain there wouldn't be some paralysis or other medical problem.

As Peeples was lifted onto a stretcher at a hushed Sam Boyd Stadium, his mom, dad, brother and uncle came out of the stands and onto the field. Johnson's legs felt like "jelly."

"I don't know how I got down there," Johnson said.

She rode in the ambulance as medics kept asking Peeples to respond, but he struggled to stay awake.

They arrived at Sunrise Hospital, and Johnson prayed her son would be OK. Only after a doctor said the signs were encouraging did Johnson begin to relax.

Back at the stadium, Sanford also received the positive initial report and told his players. He found out after the shocking 27-0 victory over the Utes that Peeples would be fine. A victory on two levels.

"Our team was very concerned," Sanford said.

Peeples was in another world that Saturday night but was able to leave the hospital. He went home to his own bed, where he stayed the next day.

On that Monday, Peeples decided to go to class. The sunlight caused agonizing headaches, but he made it to his 10 a.m. criminal justice class anyway and thought about going to his 11:30 a.m. philosophy course. But another bout with sunlight was too much, and Peeples returned home rather than withstand the excruciating pain.

He watched the play twice but doesn't need to see it anymore. The experience was painful enough; he doesn't need to relive it.

A concussion occurs when the brain is bruised, and UNLV head trainer Kyle Wilson said this was a significant one because of the strong and lengthy symptoms.

It was Peeples' first concussion, but Wilson said it didn't make him susceptible to more, although further concussions would probably be even more intense. They also could lead to lingering effects, but Wilson said Peeples would not experience any more problems unless he receives another blow to the head.

So now Peeples will put himself at risk again, something all football players do when they run onto the field.

Peeples had never missed a game, going back even before high school. He's eager to suit up this weekend, after missing games against UNR and Air Force.

Johnson said she wasn't concerned about his return, but she knows she and her son are fortunate.

"I wake up," she said, "and I'm thankful to God he's OK."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.