UNLV confident in QBs regardless of who starts

UNLV would love to start Nick Sherry at Hawaii, but the Rebels know they have a capable backup quarterback in Caleb Herring.

A starter for Saturday's 8 p.m. PST game against the Warriors (1-9, 0-7 Mountain West Conference) could be announced today when UNLV (2-10, 2-5) releases its weekly injury report.

Because of a back injury, Sherry didn't play last week in a 28-23 home loss to Wyoming. Herring started for the first time this season at quarterback - he has four starts at wide receiver - and passed for a career-high 268 yards and two touchdowns.

"We've got familiarity with Caleb, so going into the game, it wasn't like it was going to be some new experience," coach Bobby Hauck said. "We've all been down that road. We've got confidence in his ability to come in and help us move the chains."

Herring started eight games last season but struggled, passing for 1,004 yards. That opened the door for Sherry to win the job this season, even though he's a redshirt freshman.

But Herring, a junior, showed he could handle the offensive load against Wyoming. Now, though, Hawaii has fresh video on him.

"We were able to do some of the things he does really well repeatedly," Hauck said. "Certainly when people have a chance to game plan you, some of that dries up, so you have to go to some other things. But he did a nice job."

Sherry appeared on his way to smashing the Mountain West freshman passing record before he got hurt, which would have helped him secure the conference Freshman of the Year award.

He still could break the record of 2,662 yards set by Colorado State's Pete Thomas in 2010, needing 284 yards. Sherry threw for more than 284 three times this season, twice topping 300 yards. He averages 216.2 yards.

The Warriors allow only 187.9 yards passing per game, but they are last in the Mountain West in rushing defense (222.6-yard average) and scoring defense (41.1-point average).

Hauck, though, pointed out the Warriors did a good job defensively Friday at Air Force. The Falcons totaled 338 yards - all on the ground - in a 21-7 victory.

"I kind of suspect we'll see some new stuff, and we've got to be ready for it," Hauck said. "We'll see what happens, but for us, it's about going over and having a good performance and putting a complete game together. We've done some really good things, but now we need to finish the job."

Hawaii also is uncertain who it will start at quarterback. Sophomore Jeremy Higgins started at Air Force, but junior Sean Schroeder also played after starting the first nine games of the season.

The Warriors average 188.4 yards passing, which is seventh in the Mountain West and 98th nationally.

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