Rebels start fighting for jobs

At UNLV, spring football usually comes and goes with hardly anyone noticing.

This year will be different. Starting at 4 p.m. Monday at Rebel Park, new coach Bobby Hauck and his staff will start getting their first up-close view of the task they have taken on.

Returning players will be getting their first chance to impress the new coaches, and Hauck has made it clear that no job is safe, regardless of a players’ contributions while Mike Sanford was coach.

The entire depth chart is “going to change daily,” Hauck said. “Guys will have to come in and compete and earn their playing time, and it will change week to week in the fall. I’m not a firm believer in people feeling comfortable.”

Here are the Rebels’ top five questions heading into spring practice:

1. How will the quarterback position play out?

Senior-to-be Omar Clayton is the returning starter, but he will be challenged by junior Mike Clausen and redshirt freshman Caleb Herring.

Clayton failed to build on his impressive sophomore season when he threw 18 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. His touchdown-to-interception ratio dropped to 13-to-12, though he completed 60.1 percent of his passes last season for 2,230 yards.

2. Who will start along with Phillip Payne at wide receiver?

The Rebels lost career leader Ryan Wolfe as well as Jerriman Robinson and Rodelin Anthony. Payne, who will be a junior, takes over as the probable No. 1 receiver after making 58 catches for 661 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

Junior Michael Johnson and sophomore Mark Barefield can make a strong case to start as well as three 2009 signees who didn’t play — Marcus Sullivan, Brandon Babineaux and Irshad Stolden.

3. Will UNLV finally have a pass rush?

The Rebels came out of previous springs looking as if they would pressure opposing quarterbacks, but the aggressiveness they showed in March and April virtually disappeared once the season arrived.

It’s unclear how much more aggressive the Rebels will be under defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson because he needs to see how the pieces fit into place. But Paulson’s Montana defenses recorded 55 sacks in the past two seasons compared with UNLV’s 26.

“In defense, I’m a real firm believer that it takes 11 (players), so when they’re throwing the ball, it’s not just the secondary,” Hauck said. “If you’re putting pressure on the quarterback, they’re not completing passes.”

4. How much of the depth chart will be settled during the spring?

Position battles will continue into training camp, but the picture should at least be clearer. In addition to quarterback and wide receiver, there are questions at tailback and throughout the defense.

At tailback, senior Channing Trotter returns to defend his starting job and could be pushed by redshirt freshman Bradley Randle and junior C.J. Cox.

On defense, the Rebels can hardly be worse than they were in 2009, when they allowed 456.2 yards per game. They need to begin to replace end/linebacker Jason Beauchamp.

5. Will players be changing positions?

Hauck said no decisions have been made, but don’t be surprised by moves such as sophomore Jordan Barrett from tight end to linebacker, Cox from tailback to safety, or senior Starr Fuimaono from linebacker to safety.

Barrett was a top linebacker recruit last year, but circumstances prompted the previous coaching staff to place him at tight end. The defensive-minded Hauck might move Barrett back, especially after landing two tight ends, including the lone junior-college signee.

Cox, a former top safety recruit, signed with UNLV two years ago because coaches told him he could play tailback. The new staff isn’t obligated by that promise to Cox, who averaged 3.5 yards per carry each of his two seasons.

When healthy, Fuimaono has excelled at linebacker, but he’s built more like a safety (6 feet, 210 pounds).

■ NOTES — Practices are open to the public. … The spring game is April 17 at Sam Boyd Stadium. … UNLV returns to Ely for training camp, probably Aug. 11 to 21. Camp is expected to open Aug. 7 at Rebel Park.

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