Edwards is dual threat for Hawaii

One strategy for UNLV to consider regarding Hawaii's Mike Edwards: Don't kick to him, and don't throw at him.

Edwards is one of the nation's top return men. The junior leads the Mountain West Conference with 30.5 yards per kick return and has taken three back for touchdowns.

At cornerback, Edwards (5 feet 10 inches, 180 pounds) has broken up 13 passes.

He defended Southern California standout wide receivers Marqise Lee and Robert Woods and held them to a combined five catches for 45 yards in passes thrown his way. Edwards held Brigham Young's Cody Hoffman to zero receptions on passes targeted in his area.

"Mike Edwards is without question an NFL prospect," Hawaii coach Norm Chow said. "He's had a tremendous year returning kicks. Air Force wouldn't even kick to him. We changed our style on defense as well to a lot more aggressive man-to-man coverage, and he's really flourished."

UNLV (2-10, 2-5 MWC) faces Edwards and the rest of the Warriors (1-9, 0-7) at 8 p.m. PST Saturday in Honolulu.

Edwards began his career at Tennessee, playing in eight games as a freshman in 2009. He transferred to a Kansas junior college and redshirted. Edwards then went to Hawaii, and last season he broke up 11 passes and intercepted one.

"I didn't want to really go to a bigger school again, even though I was being recruited to some bigger schools," Edwards said. "I kind of wanted to get somewhere where I could focus more and be around good people."

Edwards has a decision to make after this season. He said he will seriously consider leaving school early if it appears he will be selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.

Edwards, who is majoring in communications and wants to be a sports analyst, sounded conflicted about what direction to take.

"I really want to come back and get my degree," he said. "Not only get my degree, but focus on being a leader of this team next year as a senior, and putting everything on my back and being able to have better success than this year.

"But also I have a family back home (in Cleveland), so if I have the opportunity to go, I might be able to make that decision. We'll see what happens in the next month or so."

■ AHEAD OF SCHEDULE - Though UNLV quarterback Nick Sherry is listed as doubtful, coach Bobby Hauck said the redshirt freshman is in better position than last week at this time.

Sherry didn't play in Saturday's 28-23 loss to Wyoming because of what is believed to be a back injury.

Hauck said the decision on whether to play Sherry went to game day, and the same probably will happen this week.

"I was hopeful last week, so I'm hopeful this week again," Hauck said.

■ RUNNING DOWN RECORDS - Junior running back Tim Cornett will tie UNLV's single-season record with another 100-yard effort.

He has eight such games, just one behind the mark set by Ickey Woods in 1987 and Mike Thomas in 1973.

Cornett also tied Dominique Dorsey for second place with 11 career 100-yard games and is within striking distance of Thomas' all-time best of 17.

With 1,200 yards, Cornett already has the Rebels' best rushing season since Dorsey gained 1,261 yards in 2004. Woods set the school record in 1987 when he led the nation with 1,658 yards.

"I feel the work I put in in the offseason and the extra work I put in with the linemen after practice shows it's paid off," Cornett said.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.