Rejoice, UNLV fans: No QB controversy

ELY — Kurt Nantkes. Yep, that long ago.

That many UNLV football seasons past.

The Rebels have issues as they prepare for a fifth season under coach Mike Sanford, namely if they have a running back good enough to cause any defense to worry and if they can stop anyone outside of Sacramento State.

But quarterback isn’t one of UNLV’s issues. There is no controversy, no indecision on who best fits the leading role, no lingering doubt about the position.

It has been awhile.

Junior Omar Clayton will start for a second straight season, the first time the Rebels have had that sort of stability since Nantkes took the opening snaps in 2003 and 2004.

Clayton also could become the first UNLV quarterback to lead the team in passing in consecutive seasons since Jason Thomas did so from 2000 to 2002.

It doesn’t mean anything beyond that, and yet it means a ton. Consistency at quarterback is an offense’s best friend. UNLV features the best collection of wide receivers is the Mountain West Conference, and their production should only increase with familiarity from the guy throwing.

"My state of mind is really good," Clayton said. "My comfort level with everything is much better, especially with the team. I know I’m the guy, and they know I’m the guy, so it’s my job to perform well and be a leader.

"There is no quarterback controversy wearing me down."

Clayton played well as a sophomore, starting the first nine games and throwing for 1,894 yards and 18 touchdowns with only four interceptions before injuring his knee against Texas Christian.

He is the only UNLV quarterback to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game and enters this season having thrown a touchdown pass in nine straight, which ranks fourth in conference history. He has only nine interceptions in 353 career attempts, the best percentage in school history. He also owns the best completion percentage at 59.5.

There is talent in the former walk-on.

There is also a backup in sophomore Mike Clausen, of whom the coaches are so fond that they scripted first-half series for him last season and will do so again this year, no matter how a game is being contested at the time.

I’m lukewarm on such a philosophy. I understand if a quarterback is struggling and needs a series to gather his thoughts and exhale a breath or 100 of frustration, inserting his backup makes sense.

But when an offense is moving the ball and scoring points and has established a successful rhythm, why risk losing momentum just because you decided at midweek your No. 2 would play at a particular time?

"If you want to win a championship nowadays, you have to be good at quarterback," offensive coordinator Todd Berry said. "It was critical we got (Clausen) repetitions last year, and we will do the same this season.

"One of the hardest things to do is break in a backup. Unless you have no confidence in the guy at all, you can’t be fearful of putting him in at a critical situation in the first half. It’s not the same as mop-up. You have to put pressure on him and see how he responds. I think it won us a few games late last year."

Clausen led the Rebels to wins against New Mexico and Wyoming after Clayton went down and also doesn’t throw many interceptions, having set a freshman school record of 119 straight attempts without one. He, too, seems a good fit for the spread offense.

Maybe it makes sense to get Clausen the most work possible. Clayton has seen his last two seasons end early with knee injuries, and the Rebels can’t afford to lose much of anything at quarterback should such a fate occur again.

This is the best team Sanford has had here, hardly an intimidating thought when you consider his 11-36 record, but true just the same. There is enough ability to think six or seven wins and a bowl berth more probable than not.

But it’s football. Injuries happen. Better to be prepared than not.

"The good thing is I know there was nothing I could do about either of those knee injuries," Clayton said. "I know this is a key year for me, that I need to protect myself and learn to take hits the right way and get out of bounds when I can. But if it’s third or fourth down and we need so many yards, I’m going to get them.

"We have a lot of guys who know how to lose. I know what it’s like to lose. I’m choosing not to lose anymore, and that’s going to be a prevailing attitude with this team."

Spoken like a two-year starter at the most important of positions.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He also can be heard weeknights from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on "The Sports Scribes" on KDWN (720 AM).