BATTLE FOR JOBS
No major news came out of Friday’s UNLV football scrimmage, and coach Mike Sanford doesn’t expect any during the rest of spring regarding the position battles at tailback, cornerback and safety.
He said he expects those competitions "to go well into the fall as I can see right now. That’s a good problem because we’ve got a lot of competitors."
Sophomore C.J. Cox, junior Channing Trotter, senior Chris Brogdon and redshirt freshman Imari Thompson, in that order, are competing at tailback. Incoming freshman Bradley Randle will join the mix in August.
Sophomores Deante Purvis and Will Chandler are No. 1 at both cornerback positions, and sophomore Kenny Brown and junior Warren Zeigler are pushing them. Junior Quinton Pointer returns in training camp from right shoulder surgery to try to reclaim his starting job, and incoming junior Mike Grant also figures to make a push.
Sophomore Chris Jones and junior Travis Dixon are the leaders at the safety spots, with junior Alex De Giacomo and senior Marquel Martin challenging them.
BACK IN BLACK
Junior tackle Malo Taumua wore the black jersey today for the third time this spring, meaning he was the top defensive performer from the previous practice.
"I’m going to put my name on it," Taumua said jokingly.
Junior Les Obie, the third-string quarterback, wore the black jersey on the offensive side. He was the only QB to lead a touchdown drive in the scrimmage.
The nominees were Zeigler and senior linebacker Jason Beauchamp on defense and senior wide receiver Jerriman Robinson on offense.
LOOKING AHEAD
UNLV returns to Rebel Park for the 11th of 15 spring practices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. It is open to the public. Watch for the next practice update blog at about 8 p.m. that day.
