Fuimaono’s role solidified

Junior Starr Fuimaono still is paying the price for the dislocated right shoulder he suffered last football season at Wyoming, but his role for UNLV is solidified.

He played a hybrid outside linebacker/nickel position last season and now is concentrating on linebacker while junior Daryl Forte and sophomore Rico Thomas are the safeties.

Coach Mike Sanford said the decision was made to put Fuimaono at linebacker rather than safety to improve UNLV's run defense. The Rebels allowed 183.6 yards rushing a game last season, seventh in the Mountain West Conference.

"We've got to have seven guys and eight guys in the box as much as we can," Sanford said. "Our design is more oriented toward stopping the run when people have normal personnel groups."

Fuimaono, who still will play some in the secondary, is not able to participate in contact drills this spring because of the injury.

"Practice gets boring after a while just sitting there," said Fuimaono, who last season made 68 tackles, including four for losses.

* CENTER SHUFFLE -- Sophomore John Gianninoto was listed as a starter at center but is out for the spring because of mononucleosis and an enlarged spleen.

Sophomores Mike Donato and Ramsey Feagai, junior Joe Hawley and senior Siosifa Moala are working at the position, which now will be decided at training camp in August.

* GETTING SERIOUS -- UNLV will have its first true scrimmage of the spring at 4 p.m. Friday. It is open to the public.

"Execution under pressure, that's big for us right now," Sanford said of what he wants to see out of the scrimmage. "Our ones (starters) have to become perfect (in) execution. Our twos (backups) have to become efficient. Right now, our twos aren't efficient.

"Our sense of urgency timeline is much earlier. We're an older team. We've got to get this right in spring practice."

* WEARING THE BLACK -- Senior tailback Frank Summers wore the black jersey in Wednesday's practice, sophomore cornerback Quinton Pointer on Monday and junior wide receiver Rodelin Anthony on Friday.

Coaches recognize the player who wears the black jersey as the best player at the previous practice.

Nominees were senior defensive tackle Jacob Hales and sophomore defensive tackle Malo Taumua for Wednesday, Taumua for Monday and Pointer and sophomore offensive tackle Evan Marchal for Friday.

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