Freshmen from Rebels’ national signing day class likely won’t play right away

For the third time since taking over as UNLV's football coach, Bobby Hauck will go through the first-Wednesday-in-February ritual of standing in front of the media and unveiling his latest recruiting class.

Just like last year, Hauck will read off a list of high school players today who Rebels fans immediately should put out of their minds because just about all of them won't play next season.

Only one incoming freshman in last year's recruiting class, wide receiver Devante Davis, played right away.

"For most guys, both in terms of maturation and assimilating into the college lifestyle, redshirting is productive," Hauck said. "Guys who don't redshirt, almost to a man, wish they had that extra year."

Hauck's first season went against his philosophy. The combination of a coaching transition to a new system that necessitated changes and a team ravaged by injuries forced UNLV to play 14 incoming freshmen in 2010 and, including redshirts, 23 overall.

The Rebels could be better off for it next season, with players such as running back Tim Cornett, defensive lineman Tyler Gaston and defensive backs Sidney Hodge and Eric Tuiloma-Va'a getting thrown into the mix.

Hauck, though, wishes circumstances could have been different.

"If I could go back to that first year, I would've redshirted them all, but we couldn't in our situation," Hauck said. "We played 14 true freshmen just to put a team on the field. You can't cancel games."

Though he doesn't anticipate having to flood the field with freshmen next season, Hauck said he wouldn't hesitate to play any newcomer who has proven himself on the practice field.

Davis did that in training camp in August, and playing him immediately became perhaps necessary when receivers Marcus Sullivan and Eric Johnson were declared academically ineligible. Davis probably could have used the redshirt season because he caught just four passes for 42 yards.

UNLV had the option of redshirting running back Dionza Bradford last season after he grayshirted in 2010, but he proved to be too good to keep off the field. He rushed for 615 yards and three touchdowns, going over the 100-yard mark three times.

But Hauck resisted the urge to play other players who might have made an immediate difference, most notably quarterback Nick Sherry and cornerback Fred Wilson.

The word given to recruits in their living rooms, however, is if they are capable, they will get a shot to play without sitting. But players also are told "the benefits of" redshirting, Hauck said.

"At different positions, it's harder for some guys to come in and play," he said. "But we talk if they come in and are competitive for a starting job, the best players will play. We tell them to come in and compete, and we'll see what happens."

■ NOTES -- Two Bishop Gorman players -- offensive lineman Ron Scoggins and safety Marc Philippi -- reneged on commitments to New Mexico and committed to UNLV on Tuesday night. Rivals.com reported Scoggins' change of heart, and Philippi tweeted his news. ... UNLV will have a public event at 4 p.m. today to announce the recruiting class. It will be in Cox Pavilion Conference Room 2.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.