UNLV
Rebels

UNLV Team Report

Updated: February 03, 2012 01:37 EST

UNLV coach Bobby Hauck obviously believes in the idiom that turnabout is fair play.

After seeing several early commitments raided by other schools in his first two years as Rebels coach, it was Hauck who managed to pull some switcheroos at the Signing Day wire this time around.

UNLV signed 20 players, including 18 high school prospects. Three of the biggest prep names -- defensive back Marc Philippi and offensive lineman Ron Scoggins of Nevada state champion Las Vegas Bishop Gorman and wide receiver/defensive back Jonavaughn Williams of JSerra High in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. -- reneged on commitments on the final weekend to sign with UNLV. Philippi and Scoggins changed from Mountain West rival New Mexico while Williams switched from Colorado.

"Over the years, we've lost guys at the end, and over the years, we've gained some guys at the end," Hauck said. "It was kind of fun this year to be the recipient 3-0 rather than losing somebody."

Hauck tried desperately to make it 4-0 but couldn't quite persuade Las Vegas High quarterback Hassan Henderson to switch from in-state rival Nevada.

"I was on the phone (Tuesday) night until 1:30 in the morning trying to flip a guy and making sure we were hanging on (to other guys)," Hauck said. "You get back up and get on the phone at 6 in the morning. Some of them don't like that call, but you make sure they know you're keeping track."

Hauck said he was "ecstatic" with his class which he managed to put together despite back-to-back two win seasons.

"We sell them the future is bright," he said. "We're going into our third year and it's time for some of the guys who we've projected to be players for us to develop them and for the work that they're putting in to pay off."

TOP OF THE CLASS

QB James Boyd (West LA Junior College, Los Angeles) -- It will be interesting to see if the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder, who began his career at USC, can copy the success of another former Trojan QB who transferred to UNLV, Jason Thomas. Boyd signed with UNLV for a chance to play quarterback after bouncing around from QB to tight end to defensive line in two years at Troy. The former USA Today All-USA second team selection from Los Angeles Jordan High School attended West Los Angeles Junior College last fall but did not compete and will enroll as a junior.

DL Parker Holloway (Trinity Valley Community College, Athens, Tex.) -- A mid-year enrollee who figures to battle for a starting defensive end spot. Had four sacks in eight games as a sophomore and received recruiting interest from North Carolina, Syracuse, Memphis and Arkansas State.

DT Charles Howard (Lincoln High, Stockton, Calif.) -- The Rebels had to withstand a late recruiting rush by a number of schools including Oregon State and Washington State of the Pac-12 to land this two-way line star who earned San Joaquin Athletic Association Lineman of the Year honors. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder should vie for immediate playing time on the defensive line.

--UNLV, which will play Hawaii this fall, added a late 13th game in January. The Rebels will host Northern Arizona of the Big Sky Conference on Sept. 8. That will give UNLV seven home games for the first time in three years, including three straight to begin the season: Sept. 1 vs. Minnesota, Sept. 8 vs. Northern Arizona and Sept. 15 vs. Washington State. UNLV's other two nonconference games are at Utah State (Sept. 29) and at defending WAC champion Louisiana Tech (Oct. 6).

--Brett Boyko, who started all 12 games in 2011 at left tackle for the Rebels, was selected a second team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele's. The 6-foot-7, 300-pound Boyko, who was also an honorable mention all-Mountain West pick, actually played quarterback in high school at St. Joseph High in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

SPRING SNAPSHOT:

Practice begins/ends: March 12/April 20

Practice priorities: All eyes will be focused on what figures to be a very competitive starting quarterback battle between returning starter Caleb Herring, highly touted redshirt freshman Nick Sherry and junior college transfer James Boyd, who began his career at USC. Shoring up a defense that ranked 118th nationally in scoring (40.4 points per game) and last in the Mountain West in pass defense (249.0 yards per game) will also be a top priority.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Part of getting guys to jump ship and come with us the last couple of days was look at this class. You want to be part of this class. It's a good-looking group. This group's going to win games." -- UNLV coach Bobby Hauck.

KEY LOSSES: The Rebels have struggled badly in rushing the passer in recent years so the departure of DE James Dunlap is a big one. Dunlap was one of the league's most improved players as a senior, ranking second in the Mountain West in tackles for loss (14.5) and fifth in sacks (6.5). UNLV had only 14 sacks as a team in 2011 which tied the Rebels for 108th nationally. The Rebels also must find a replacement for WR Phillip Payne, who caught a school-record 26 touchdown passes in his career to go along with 171 receptions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2012:

QB Caleb Herring -- Looked like he was going to be UNLV's starting QB for three years after winning the starting job in fall camp over JC transfer Sean Reilly. But after a solid start, the one-time Oregon recruit was very erratic over the final two months and found himself watching from the sidelines for several games.

RB Tim Cornett -- The 6-foot, 190-pounder finished seventh in the Mountain West in rushing as a sophomore with 671 yards on 119 carries (5.6 avg.) despite playing behind an offensive line that feature three freshmen and being hampered by an ankle injury for most of the second half of the season.

CB Sidney Hodge -- Only a junior, Hodge will be back to start for his third season. He has shown flashes of being an all-conference type of player. Had 53 tackles and eight passes defended as a sophomore.

WR/KR Marcus Sullivan -- The Rebels sorely missed the big play ability of this explosive sophomore who ranked 17th in the nation in kickoff returns with a 27.9 average in 2010. He was academically ineligible last season.

PLAYER NOTES

--WRs Eric Johnson and Marcus Sullivan, who both sat out the 2011 season because of academics, are both expected to take part in spring practice according to coach Bobby Hauck. Johnson, a JC transfer from College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., was expected to be an impact performer last year before he was ruled ineligible just prior to the start of the season while Sullivan was a preseason All-Mountain West pick as a return specialist by Athlon after ranking second in the league in kickoff returns with a 27.9 average as a true freshman in 2010.

--LB Connor Afoa, who sat out the 2010 season rehabbing a knee injury suffered his senior year at Foothill High School in Henderson, Nev., will take part in spring drills.

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