Rebels’ Hodge grateful for being thrown in fire as freshman

ELY -- Safety Eric Tuiloma-Va'a wasn't the only UNLV defensive back to play and start as a freshman last season.

Sidney Hodge also cracked the lineup, starting six times at cornerback.

His situation didn't completely mirror Tuiloma-Va'a, who the year before suited up for Desert Pines High School. Hodge was a grayshirt, meaning he didn't enroll until January 2010 after graduating in 2009 from Palo Verde High.

But Hodge (5 feet 8 inches, 175 pounds) probably would have redshirted last season if the Rebels weren't so thin in the secondary.

He showed promise, making 44 tackles, breaking up two passes and forcing two fumbles.

"If I had redshirted, obviously you get that year to grow," Hodge said. "But getting that playing experience really helped as far as coverage-wise, as far as knowledge-wise, as far as play recognition."

Being able to go through spring practices earlier that year, Hodge said, made a big difference because "I could transition into new coaches and work my way up from there."

Now Hodge is the No. 1 cornerback opposite of senior Quinton Pointer, who returns after missing virtually all of last season with a knee injury.

Having a player of Pointer's caliber starting on the other side of the field probably means Hodge will see his share of passes thrown his way.

"With the way Sidney plays, they might test Quinton out," secondary coach and pass defense coordinator J.D. Williams said.

NOTABLE

Running back Bradley Randle has received a lot of work the past two days and is pushing for at least the No. 2 spot behind fellow sophomore Tim Cornett. "(Randle) can work his way to No. 1 if he keeps playing like he is," coach Bobby Hauck said. ... Redshirt freshman wide receiver Taylor Spencer, recovering from a broken leg, was in full uniform for the first time this training camp. "He'd been back three days ago, but he pulled his hamstring," Hauck said. "He did well today. He looked better, the best he's looked in his time here." ... Hauck has banned his players from posting on Twitter. He previously didn't have a policy, but senior wide receiver Phillip Payne tweeted criticisms of the coaching last season and was suspended for two games.