With Bell gone to NFL, Rebels look for new face of team

He became the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a fourth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns.

Now it’s not so obvious who UNLV’s star player will be when the season begins against Utah State on Aug. 30 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Here are the top five candidates. Each one’s position coach explains what makes that player stand out.

QB OMAR CLAYTON

No player shoulders more of a burden than Clayton, a sophomore who rose from fifth on the depth chart last year to a starter late in the season. He needs to prove coaches made the right decision in naming him the starter, and UNLV is looking for its first strong performance at quarterback since Jason Thomas in 2000.

Clayton is the only Rebels quarterback to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game, and his 61.1 completion percentage is the highest at UNLV since Randall Cunningham’s school record-setting 62.4 in 1984.

But Clayton is raw, and for all the spectacular plays he should make this season, he probably will make his share of big mistakes. If given the freedom to play through those mistakes, Clayton could fulfill his tremendous upside.

Quarterbacks coach Todd Berry said: “To be an impact player, obviously you have to have athleticism, but it’s his intangibles — strong leadership qualities, great intellect, very passionate about the game, very competitive. He’s one of those guys that wants the ball in critical situations.

“He’s got a huge desire to get better. He’s very coachable. He kind of hangs on every word and does exactly what he’s taught to do.”

TB FRANK SUMMERS

Losing about 10 pounds has given Summers a noticeable burst. The 230-pound senior already was a bruiser, but that extra part of his game should give defenders plenty to think about.

Summers’ 928 yards rushing last season was UNLV’s highest total since Dominique Dorsey put up 1,261 in 2004.

Running backs coach Kenith Pope said: “A guy you would call a coach’s dream because every day he comes out to work, he’s trying to make himself a little bit better player whether it’s running, whether it’s blocking, whether it’s doing the little things right. That’s the thing I feel like is going to give Frank an opportunity to really, really be explosive for us this fall.

“I think he’s one of our strong leaders on the team. I think that’s one of the things that will make him the type of guy we feel that can get the job done for us.”

WR RYAN WOLFE

If not for a sprained ankle that greatly diminished his statistics for two weeks, Wolfe might have made first- or second-team all-conference last season. He was honorable mention after catching 66 passes for 784 yards and two touchdowns. Wolfe was league Freshman of the Year in 2006.

Now Wolfe is primed to improve, if he stays healthy, and could leave no doubt about his standing on the All-MWC team.

Wide receivers coach Kris Cinkovich said: “He’s a tremendous practice player. Every (repetition) every day is full speed, full effort. It carries to the field.”

DT JACOB HALES

The senior from Las Vegas High School was UNLV’s top player in the spring and last season made 36 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks.

New defensive coordinator Dennis Therrell’s aggressive defense seems to suit Hales.

Defensive line coach Andre Patterson said: “He’s a great leader, physical, tough, very smart. I think those are things that make him a really good player. … The technique that I’ve taught, he’s really bought into it real quick, and I think it’s really helped his game.”

DT MALO TAUMUA

Taumua, a sophomore, might be having a better camp than Hales. Their numbers last season were remarkably similar, so they probably will feed off each other.

Perhaps no player has benefited more in preseason from Therrell’s scheme than Taumua. If he translates his practice performances to the games, the Rebels will have an enormous weapon.

Patterson: “Malo possesses a good first step, one of the quickest first steps I’ve been around in a long time. He’s able to get on the edge of offensive linemen so quick in the running game and the passing game, it gives him the ability to make big plays in both areas.

“And he’s got a nonstop motor. He plays hard all the time, every day, all day.”

• NOTE — UNLV’s major preseason scrimmage is at 10 a.m. today at Ely’s Broadbent Park.

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