Scout-team quarterback impressing

UNLV knew it was getting a highly touted football player when it signed quarterback Caleb Herring in February.

While he has yet to prove himself in a game, Herring has been living up to the hype and the Rebels’ expectations, earning several scout team player of the week awards.

“Caleb’s going to be really good,” coach Mike Sanford said. “Wow.”

Sanford said Herring’s accuracy has stood out as well as his intangible qualities.

“He’s a great leader,” Sanford said. “He’s got a way about him. He loves football. When you’re on the scout team, you can tell if guys really love football.”

Herring was a three-star recruit out of high school, rated the nation’s No. 34 pro-style quarterback by Rivals.com and No. 64 QB by Scout.com. He stuck to his commitment to the Rebels despite a late push from Oregon.

Herring, from Moreno Valley, Calif., is redshirting in an effort to pick up the system and add weight to his 6-foot-3-inch frame. He has gained 15 pounds to get up to 187.

“I’m trying to absorb everything I can from the older guys,” Herring said, “and trying to grow and be a better person for this team.”

• HITTING HOME — As Air Force (6-4, 4-2 Mountain West Conference) prepares for its home game against UNLV (4-6, 2-4) at 3 p.m. PST Saturday, its players also know their greater mission is to prepare to defend the country.

But such duty usually occurs on foreign soil. Last week’s shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, in which 13 people were killed by an Army psychiatrist with possible links to Islamic extremism, showed the military must be on alert even at home.

“You realize football’s fun and it’s great and we love playing the game, but we share that perspective of everything that’s going on in the world,” Air Force linebacker John Falgout said.

• GETTING BETTER — Rebels quarterback Omar Clayton, who battled shoulder and knee injuries earlier this season, is healthy now, and it shows.

After throwing nine interceptions over a five-game stretch, Clayton has gone three games without throwing a pick. And after rushing for 52 yards over that prior span, he has 110 yards over the past three games.

“I’m not going to blame my whole performance on that,” Clayton said of his injuries, “but it certainly didn’t help.”

• WOLFE TRACKS — With 279 receptions, UNLV’s Ryan Wolfe is one catch behind former Louisiana Tech wide receiver Troy Edwards for No. 12 on NCAA’s career list.

Wolfe also is 176 yards from passing ex-Colorado State receiver David Anderson, who had 3,634 yards, for first place in the MWC.

• BRRRR — According to weather.com, Saturday’s forecast at Colorado Springs, Colo., near Air Force, calls for a high of 40 degrees.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Read the latest UNLV football updates at lvrj.com/blogs/unlv_sports.