Freshman cornerback Hodge benefits from grayshirt season

ELY -- Most football players don't like to be grayshirted, but it often works out for the best.

It certainly did for former UNLV wide receiver Ryan Wolfe, who now is with the Atlanta Falcons. And it's worked out well for Rebels freshman Sidney Hodge, who is competing to start at cornerback.

Hodge signed last year out of Palo Verde High School but was grayshirted, meaning he didn't enroll full time until January. Hodge said it was difficult to watch rather than play, but getting a fresh start with a new coaching staff in the spring benefited him.

"It feels like I came in at the perfect time," Hodge said. "New coaches, we've got new schemes, and it was like the whole depth chart started over. So there were no favorites."

Hodge has been working in a three-player mix for the first-team repetitions, and he has made his share of plays, including an interception in Wednesday morning's practice.

"He's played really physical," coach Bobby Hauck said. "They do a lot of running. As I keep saying, this hasn't been easy, and he's fought through it better than anybody on the team."

■ ANOTHER NOTABLE CORNER -- Hodge isn't the only freshman cornerback who has performed well.

Kenneth Penny has been working with the second-teamers, and in the afternoon practice, he wrested an interception in the end zone from sophomore wide receiver Aaron Reed.

"He's improving, and he's showing up a little bit more," Hauck said of Penny. "It's going to be really competitive at corner to get on the field. (Position) coach (J.D.) Williams has given him a chance, and he's trying to make the most of it."

■ END OF TWO-A-DAYS -- The Rebels finished two-a-days Wednesday, but it's not like they're going on vacation.

"The one-a-days are pretty hard," Hauck said. "Maybe that's something they can hang their hat on and say, 'The end is near.' The next couple of days will show a lot about who we are. Do we have the mental toughness to finish this thing?"

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.