UNLV senior tight end Greg Estandia, who injured his left knee in the team's last preseason scrimmage, won't play against Tennessee on Sunday. The injury was later diagnosed as a partially torn medial collateral ligament.

Estandia, who is 6-foot-8, 255 pounds, was one of the stars of UNLV's preseason workouts. Junior Michael Fruend, a former fullback, will start in Estandia's place.

Simon's Friends: The Rebels aren't all strangers to UT linebacker Kevin Simon, who is a California native.

"One of my best friends is their free safety (Joe Miklos)," Simon said. "I talked to him last week."

He and Miklos were teammates at De La Salle High School, which was 25-0 in 1999-2000.

Simon went to Las Vegas on spring break this year. Simon, Miklos and UNLV wide receiver Earvin Johnson also hung out together in New Orleans in June.

"We had fun," Simon said. "We ate some good jambalaya and catfish.''