ELY — UNLV’s football coaches made no secret of their intent to overhaul the defense this season.
UNLV Football
ELY — With a veteran team and some talented newcomers, Mike Sanford has enjoyed his most productive training camp entering his fifth season as UNLV’s football coach.
Wide receiver Phillip Payne became last season’s top newcomer at UNLV’s football camp in Ely, catching fade passes in the end zone at Broadbent Park before doing the same in the regular season, notably helping to beat Arizona State and Iowa State. In previous years, tailback Frank “The Tank” Summers and wide receiver Ryan Wolfe offered harbingers of what they would accomplish later in the season. Now at camp, several players are vying to become the next big thing.
ELY — A day later, UNLV wide receivers coach Kris Cinkovich still was upset.
ELY — Jordan Barrett didn’t expect to play this football season, and he certainly didn’t expect to play tight end. … UNLV signed the three-star recruit to be a linebacker. He was rated by three recruiting services as among the nation’s best at that position. … But the Rebels have a logjam at linebacker, and they could use some help at tight end, a position Barrett (6 feet 3 inches, 225 pounds) also played at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
ELY — Until Saturday, UNLV sophomore safety Chris Jones would see an open receiver and know he could do little more than play touch football with him.
ELY — Junior cornerback Mike Grant wanted to play at UNLV two years ago but admitted he “couldn’t get it done in the classroom.”
ELY — An accomplished play-caller when he arrived in Las Vegas in December 2004, Mike Sanford decided to keep that responsibility as UNLV’s football coach.
Fear is being replaced by hope for the recovery of sophomore Rebel linebacker Bryce Saldi following a skateboarding accident.
ELY — UNLV badly needs a stronger pass rush, a major reason why the Rebels signed junior defensive end B.J. Bell.
Each day from the practice field at Broadbent Park, if UNLV’s football players have a moment, they can look up and see the steam-engine train roll by in the distance. Riding the train is one of the attractions, but the players know they will never have time to jump on board. They practice each day, going twice every other day. The rest of the time is spent in meetings studying previous practices and planning for the next one.
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