UNLV spring football recap No. 3: Brian Keyes makes impact in comeback

Brian Keyes sprained his ankle Monday during UNLV’s first day of spring football practice and was in a walking boot Tuesday. But the big middle linebacker returned to practice Wednesday and was a standout on defense in Friday’s practice at Rebel Park.

Keyes, a 6-foot-1-inch, 255-pound midyear transfer from Scottsdale Community College who started his college career at the University of Arizona, intercepted a pass by Johnny Stanton and also recovered a fumble in 11-on-11 drills as defense carried UNLV’s first practice in shoulder pads.

“We’ve got to do a really good job of ball security. We put a couple balls on the ground and threw a couple picks today. We’ve got to fix that,” Rebels coach Tony Sanchez said. “On the flip side, the defense is doing a great job of emphasizing that. That’s coming along. Brian Keyes did a great job of getting back out there today. He had a great practice, a pick and a couple of other real good plays on inside runs. He’s a big, physical guy.”

Here’s a recap of Friday morning’s practice.

HIGHLIGHTS

Returnee Ryan McAleenan also picked off Stanton on a play similar to the interception the senior linebacker returned for a touchdown in last season’s win over UNR.

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Darren Woods Jr. made several oustanding catches, including a one-handed grab near the sideline of a pass thrown by Stanton, the junior college midyear transfer from Saddleback College.

NOTES

* UNLV quarterback recruits Armani Rogers and Marckell Grayson each attended practice. Rogers, a senior from Los Angeles’ Hamilton High School who is the headliner of the Rebels’ 2016 recruiting class, is expected to join UNLV in fall camp.

“I want to get familiar on how practice runs, since it’s the first day in pads, get familiar with the offense and try to learn everything before the season comes so I can be nice and ready,” said the 6-foot-5-inch, three-star recruit, who is staying with his cousin in Las Vegas for the weekend. “I’m liking (practice). I like how everything is real smooth and everything is real flowing. The coaches know what they’re talking about.”

Grayson, a junior at Desert Pines High School, is the first player to verbally commit to UNLV’s 2017 class.

“It’s home and it’s where I want to be,” he said. “I knew that early and I felt I made a solid decision.”

Grayson also was impressed with practice.

“It’s intense and they get after it,” he said. “I like it. I’m very pleased.”

* Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Dwan Edwards dropped by practice and spoke with the team afterward.

QUOTES

* Sanchez on the team’s first practice in pads: “We had the shoulder pads on today and guys were flying around and thudding up. Still not to the ground yet. We’ll do some live stuff (Saturday). Every day we’re getting a little bit better. The energy started good and stayed good.”

* More Sanchez: “We’re progressing. You just want to see great effort. You want to see alignment, assignment, technique, fanatical effort. Literally, that’s the bones of what we’re trying to get done here — alignment, assignment, technique, fanatical effort. If you see that on film, then you know you’re doing the right things and your guys are getting better.”