Courtney Bridget wants to be free safety

At 6 feet 3 inches and 180 pounds, UNLV redshirt freshman Courtney Bridget looks like he should be a free safety.

But after practicing at cornerback last football season, he's been learning to play that new position.

Bridget said the transition has "been a little tough," but he was improving.

He looked like he had the position down during a goal-line drill today, leading a three-man charge to keep redshirt freshman tailback Bradley Randle out of the end zone.

"We always go back and forth in the dorms," Bridget said.

Now it's a matter of trying to unseat senior starting free safety Travis Dixon before the Rebels open next season Sept. 4 against Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"(Against) Wisconsin, I do want to be the starting free safety," Bridget said.

BACK AND FORTH

The Rebels ended practice with a goal-line drill that went the way a head coach would prefer.

UNLV's offense scored three touchdowns, and its defense made three stops.

"That's the down side of spring ball is when someone succeeds, you worry about the other side," coach Bobby Hauck said. "That was split down the middle, and both sides made some good plays, which was great to see, in particular our defense."

ODDS AND ENDS

Several ex-players attended practice, including linebacker Beau Bell, who mostly was with the Cleveland Browns in 2008. Also there were linebacker Jason Beauchamp and center/guard Joe Hawley, who were in the NFL scouting combine about a month ago. ... Sophomore Bennielee Shelby was switched from defensive line to center, but Hauck said it wasn’t necessarily a permanent move. ... UNLV returns to Rebel Park at 4 p.m. Thursday.