Defenders step up in scrimmage for UNLV

ELY - Junior James Boyd sped around the end so quickly that all freshman offensive tackle Tom Clarkson could do was grab his football jersey.

Didn't matter, Boyd still made it to Caleb Herring to register the sack.

It was that kind of scrimmage for UNLV's defense Saturday, which totaled at least 18 tackles for loss, including nine sacks.

For a defense that last season got played rather than made plays, this performance was encouraging. Even better for the Rebels, their defense has been making big plays all training camp.

"To a degree, that's the way it should be early in camp and in spring ball," coach Bobby Hauck said. "The defense should be ahead of the offense. I don't think that's where we've been the last couple of years, so that's probably an encouraging sign that we're going to play some defense."

The defense sent an early signal with two big hits on senior wide receiver Trey Mays. Senior linebacker John Lotulelei delivered the second one, sending Mays to the sideline.

"We actually got to go live today," said Lotulelei, who also had a sack. "I was excited to finally get to go all out."

His hit on Mays, however, could have given the offense 15 yards on a personal foul in a real game because Lotulelei appeared to lead with his head.

"I think I went kind of overboard," Lotulelei admitted.

But the intention of hitting and hitting hard was a message received, and Hauck noted how good it felt to hear the pads popping so loudly.

The offense, though, was short-handed. Game-breaking sophomore wide receiver Marcus Sullivan remained out with an undisclosed injury. Junior running back Tim Cornett was removed after two runs, and junior Bradley Randle didn't get on the field at all. It was like a first-week NFL preseason game.

"It's pretty physical during camp, more physical than during the season," Hauck said. "So we try to limit how many shots they take. There's a fine line between keeping them sharp and getting beat up so much that they're to the middle of September before they can go full speed."

The scrimmage was switched to White Pine High School when torrential rains hit Broadbent Park and made the field unplayable. It's been an unusually rainy and thunderous week for the Rebels.

But the Rebels know they're in Ely because the starting quarterback hasn't been decided.

Redshirt freshman Nick Sherry has been operating the first-team offense, and he quarterbacked the starters most of the scrimmage. He overcame a slow start to complete 7 of 16 passes for 93 yards, with a touchdown and interception.

Herring, a junior, was 7 of 8 for 68 yards, with a touchdown.

Hauck said he might name a starter today but didn't commit to it.

He apparently has fewer questions about his defense, or he will if that side of the ball plays this well when the season opens Aug. 30. UNLV plays Minnesota that night at Sam Boyd Stadium.

The Rebels need a quality defense, especially after giving up 40.4 points per game last season.

"What I can tell is the difference from last year is we're playing a lot more cohesive," said sophomore defensive end Jordan Sparkman, who made two tackles for loss, including a sack. "We're all fired up. We're ready to go, ready to rock."

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