Rebels hope Juco transfer Holloway flourishes at defensive end

Projecting how a player will perform -- barely two weeks into spring practice ­-- is tricky, and that's especially true given UNLV football's recent history with junior college transfers.

"When you bring JC guys in, you need them to help," coach Bobby Hauck said. "We've had a little case of bringing JC guys in and they haven't helped on us on Saturdays."

Maybe defensive end Parker Holloway will be the exception.

He signed with UNLV in December and broke into the first-team defense in the first week of spring, making it difficult for anyone to challenge him.

Holloway (6 feet 4 inches, 240 pounds) is showing why North Carolina, Oklahoma State and Syracuse also offered scholarships, and why Miami and Mississippi made offers just before he signed with the Rebels.

"We got lucky getting him," defensive line coach Michael Gray said. "He's going to be a good player for us."

Holloway never wavered, choosing a long-struggling UNLV program over Bowl Championship Series schools.

"I was kind of set on UNLV after my visit," said Holloway, who went to Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas. "I was ready to come here and help the program.

"I love it out here. I mean, we're in Vegas."

Holloway is one of two midyear junior college signees for UNLV. The other is James Boyd (6-5, 255), who is competing at quarterback, but could switch to defensive end. UNLV needs help there, especially with the loss of James Dunlap, who as a senior last year made 14½ tackles for loss, including 6½ sacks.

The Rebels sold Holloway on being able to make an immediate impact, and he is part of a defensive line that needed an upgrade. Even with Dunlap, the Rebels made only 14 sacks last season while giving up 35.

But the front has shown promise in spring drills. Junior tackle Tyler Gaston (6-3, 290) and redshirt freshman end Sonny Sanitoa (6-3, 235), in particular, have performed well.

UNLV also has moved sophomore Desmond Tautofi (6-3, 300), who played tackle last year, to weakside end behind Holloway. Gray, though, said he wants to try different combinations to see what works.

Holloway will be involved in some way, and maybe he can be the kind of pass rusher UNLV has longed for, the kind who can help dictate a game. He's already spent the spring putting heat on UNLV's quarterbacks.

"He'll run faster than most quarterbacks," Gray said. "He runs faster than our guys.

"He's got like jet speed."

What it all means by the Aug. 30 opener against Minnesota at Sam Boyd Stadium is anyone's guess. The spring is still fairly young, and assumptions this time of year can be long forgotten by August and September.

But coaches like what they've seen from Holloway, who has made the most of the opportunity to come in early and take a position that was up for grabs.

"I don't have to light a fire under him," Gray said. "I just coach him on techniques and fundamentals. So his motor runs pretty good. ... He got really good coaching (at Trinity). He's got some gifts."

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