UNLV
UNLV

UNLV Team Report

Updated: April 25, 2012 08:29 EST

The battle for UNLV's starting quarterback position will carry over until fall camp as most expected but it will have one less contender.

That's because James Boyd (6-foot-5, 255 pounds), a highly touted transfer from USC, has decided to move to defensive end, a position he also saw some time at with the Trojans.

Boyd, who was battling junior incumbent Caleb Herring, redshirt freshman Nick Sherry and senior Sean Reilly for the starting QB job, met with head coach Bobby Hauck two days before the team's final spring scrimmage and decided to make the move after it became apparent that Herring and Sherry had emerged as the frontrunners.

"He gave me a fair shot, it didn't work out so I went to a position where I can help the team," Boyd said. "I just want to win."

Even though Boyd hadn't practiced on defense since arriving at UNLV in January from West Los Angeles Junior College, he was one of the stars of the final spring scrimmage, finishing with four tackles and pressuring the quarterback a handful of times.

UNLV's defense can definitely use a pass rusher. The Rebels finished with just 14 sacks during a 2-10 finish in 2011.

The fact that the Rebels, who are 4-21 in two seasons under Hauck, even had a regular spring game should be considered progress. Because of injury concerns with his young and rebuilding squad, Hauck had decided against holding the event his first two years. But a crowd of over 2,000 lined the field on a sunny 90-degree afternoon at Rebel Park to watch this year's event.

--RB Dionza Bradford, who finished just nine yards shy of breaking the school's freshman rushing record (624 yards) set by James Wofford, quit the team midway through spring drills for what was described as "personal reasons." The 6-foot, 210-pounder had three 100-yard rushing games as a freshman including an impressive 152-yard effort at New Mexico.

--Third-year head coach Bobby Hauck changed his coordinators on both sides of the ball following a 2-10 finish in 2011. Tight ends coach Brent Myers was promoted to offensive coordinator in place of Rob Phenicie, who stayed on as quarterbacks coach. Defensive backs coach J.D. Williams takes over as defensive coordinator for Kraig Paulson, who also remained on the staff as assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach.

SPRING MOVERS:

RB Tim Cornett -- The 6-foot, 205-pound junior, who will attempt to lead the team in rushing for a third straight year, was easily the team's offensive MVP during the spring and looks primed to make a strong run for the Mountain West rushing title.

WR Marcus Sullivan -- The explosive sophomore, who redshirted in 2011 after an impressive freshman debut, will be a key cog in UNLV's passing game next season following the departures of longtime starters Phillip Payne and Michael Johnson. He is also an outstanding kick returner who finished second in the Mountain West in that category as a freshman with a 27.9 average.

MLB Taylor Barnhill -- The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder started two games at quarterback for the Rebels last season as a freshman where he did most of his job as a runner. He was moved to middle linebacker prior to spring drills and finished No. 2 on the depth chart.

DE James Boyd -- He played on defense only for the final scrimmage but quickly showed why he was a second team USA Today All-American his senior year at Los Angeles Jordan High School. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder, who spent most of the spring auditioning for the starting quarterback job, should give UNLV's anemic pass rush (just 14 sacks in 2011) a big boost at left defensive end.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's been a pretty close competition. We haven't made any decisions in that regard." -- UNLV coach Bobby Hauck on the starting quarterback battle between junior Caleb Herring, who started eight games in 2011, and promising redshirt freshman Nick Sherry.

2012 OUTLOOK: UNLV has taken its share of lumps under head coach Bobby Hauck who decided to rebuild with mainly high school players who were thrown into the mix early. Although still young -- most of the key players are juniors or sophomores -- the Rebels are a bigger, stronger and more physical team entering Year No. 3 under Hauck. The schedule, which features seven home games, including the first four of the season, is set up to for the team to get off to a quick start and build some much-needed confidence following back-to-back two win seasons.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The offensive line, led by 2011 second team Freshman All-American Brett Boyko at left tackle and sophomore left guard Cameron Jefferson, returns all five starters and more than held its own against high quality teams a year ago. Junior RB Tim Cornett should vie for all-conference honors while sophomore WR Marcus Sullivan, who missed 2011 because of academics, is a budding star with game-breaking speed. The big key will be getting effective play from whoever wins the starting quarterback spot in fall camp.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Junior Sidney Hodge is a two-year starter at corner who should contend for all-conference honors. The line, led by junior tackle Nate Holloway (6-3, 365) and junior college transfers Parker Holloway (6-4, 240) and James Boyd (6-5, 255) at ends, appeared to be much improved during the spring. The play of the secondary, which returns just one starter in Hodge, will go a long way in determining whether this team can improve enough to contend for a bowl berth.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: The Rebels can more than hold their own with any team in the Mountain West here. Junior kicker Nolan Kohorst connected on 9 of 14 field goals, including a 50-yarder, last season while senior punter Chase Lansford averaged 41.2 yards per punt and had 12 boots of 50 yards or more. The big news, however, is sophomore Marcus Sullivan returns after sitting out 2011 because of academics. The explosive Sullivan finished second in the Mountain West and 17th nationally in kickoff return average (27.9) two years ago as a true freshman and can be dazzling at times.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

DE Parker Holloway -- The mid-year enrollee showed flashes of being a good edge pass rusher in the spring. The Rebels, who had just 14 sacks a year ago, are expecting big things from Holloway who picked UNLV over schools like North Carolina and Syracuse.

QB Nick Sherry -- The strong-armed 6-foot-5, 220-pounder redshirt freshman, who originally committed to Colorado out of Casa Grande High in Petaluma, Calif., will go into fall camp even with returning starter Caleb Herring for the starting quarterback job.

DE James Boyd -- The athletic transfer from West Los Angeles JC began his career at USC at quarterback where he fell behind some guy named Matt Barkley on the depth chart. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder also saw time at tight end and defensive end for the Trojans and decided to make the move back to defense for the final scrimmage of spring practice. If that scrimmage is any indication, look for Boyd to be an impact player for the Rebels in the fall.

ROSTER REPORT:

--S Dre Crawford, a senior transfer from Minnesota, had to be helped off the field with an ankle injury during the final spring scrimmage but head coach Bobby Hauck said he didn't believe the injury was serious.

--RB Dionza Bradford, who had three 100-yard rushing games during an impressive freshman season, left the team during the middle of spring practice for "personal reasons."

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