Hauck picks Herring as starting quarterback for Rebels

ELY -- UNLV coach Bobby Hauck made official Sunday what seemed inevitable since July. Sophomore Caleb Herring will start at quarterback in the Rebels' season opener Sept. 1 at Wisconsin.

Hauck said at last month's Mountain West Conference football media days it wouldn't be fair to give junior college transfer Sean Reilly only 15 spring practices before naming a starter.

Herring ended spring atop the depth chart and never gave Reilly a chance to catch up, taking nearly all of the first-team snaps during training camp.

"He's been more consistent," Hauck said of Herring. "Just a better handle on the offense. He just played better. It's as simple as that."

Herring played in eight games as a reserve last season. He completed 28 of 56 passes for 365 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Herring (6 feet 3 inches, 190 pounds) twice came off the bench to get the Rebels on the scoreboard when they were being shut out. Another time, his scoring pass accounted for UNLV's lone touchdown.

Now his next snap will be as a starter.

"Even when I was competing for the No. 1 spot, I tried to approach it as if I was the No. 1 guy," Herring said.

Herring succeeds Omar Clayton, who finished second in UNLV history with 6,560 yards passing.

Herring was UNLV's only experienced scholarship quarterback after last season. So the Rebels signed Reilly (6-4, 210) last December out of Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, Calif., because of that position's lack of experience and depth.

Reilly acknowledged Herring led the competition all camp.

"I felt he had the better grasp on the offense, too," Reilly said. "I kind of saw it coming."

Hauck said Reilly should keep practicing as if he'll play. Mike Clausen was named the starter before last season but quickly lost the job to Clayton.

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