Hauck expects Rebels’ QB battle to heat up after spring break

UNLV isn't ready to declare sophomore Caleb Herring the starting quarterback after just two weeks of practice, but he's put himself in solid position heading into spring break.

Herring had his moments in Friday's scrimmage at Rebel Park, completing a 60-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Irshad Stolden and rushing for a 21-yard TD after a nice fake handoff on fourth-and-1.

Coach Bobby Hauck said the quarterback battle will intensify when the team returns after having next week off.

Junior college transfer Sean Reilly has been running the second team and redshirt freshman Taylor Barnhill the third team.

Hauck said he expects Reilly, in particular, to show noticeable progress. Reilly threw two touchdown passes in the scrimmage.

"The first eight practices were probably not a great gauge on where he's going to be," Hauck said. "It's these next couple of weeks. He gets a better understanding every day. Caleb's done a nice job. We need both those guys to come on."

Herring said the offense as a whole is making progress.

"We got a lot of things done," Herring said. "The mistakes were minimal. We definitely improved from day one in spring until now. That was a goal, so we're on the right track."

■ HEAVY WORKLOAD -- Junior college players are expected to contribute immediately, and that's especially true for those who enroll early such as junior defensive end Trent Allmang-Wilder.

UNLV is working him as though it expects the 6-foot-6-inch 280-pounder from College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif., to be a big part of next season's plans.

"It's completely different than on a junior college level," he said. "They're pushing me to where my legs don't even work anymore. I'm ready for it. I'm ready to keep working hard and hopefully get in shape and work my way to that top spot and be starting out here."

Hauck said it was too early to project how Allmang-Wilder will perform but added, "I hope big things."

Allmang-Wilder was recruited heavily at College of the Desert, where last season he had five sacks and broke up four passes. In addition to UNLV, he visited Washington State, Kansas State, Baylor and San Jose State.

"I felt comfortable with these coaches the most out of everybody else," Allmang-Wilder said. "It just seemed some coaches were trying to fill a spot, get a big guy in there, but over here I knew I had my chance to play."

■ A WAYS TO GO -- The scrimmage lacked the sound of serious pad popping, and Hauck said that's a sign of where the team stands.

"We've got to get better," he said. "We've got to play faster. We look a little bit like a young group that's trying to figure it out. That's probably what we are."

It was a long scrimmage, lasting more than 95 plays.

■ PAIN IN THE NECK -- Senior wide receiver Phillip Payne didn't practice because of a neck injury sustained in a car accident Wednesday.

Hauck said the injury wasn't serious and that Payne was expected back when the team returns to practice March 22.

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