UNLV preparing for Arizona system, not quarterback

ARIZONA UNSETTLED AT QB

ELY — Like UNLV, Arizona has not announced its starting quarterback.

The battle is even more crowded for the Wildcats, with four players competing for the position, including Bishop Gorman High School graduate Anu Solomon.

UNLV opens its season Aug. 29 at Arizona, but Rebels coach Bobby Hauck said he was more focused on preparing for the Wildcats’ offense rather than the player taking snaps.

“They’re going to do what they mostly do,” Hauck said. “So I think whoever starts, they’re not going to change their system much. As we get into, which will be next week, preparing for Arizona, we’ll lock in on things that they like to do.”

Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez is considered the father of the run-first, zone-read spread offense. UNLV faced that attack last season, and the Wildcats rushed for 397 yards in a 58-13 victory.

The quarterback must read an unblocked defensive end and quickly decide whether to hand off or keep the ball.

Solomon, a redshirt freshman, has taken more first-team snaps than his competitors, according to Tucson’s Arizona Daily Star.

Hauck recruited Solomon when he was quarterbacking Gorman, but said what happened in high school provided few clues regarding how to defend him.

“Kids when they come to college evolve,” Hauck said.

NOTABLE

Junior Blake Decker ran UNLV’s first-team offense in practice Wednesday, and junior Nick Sherry handled the second-teamers. The two are competing to be the starter. Decker also took nearly all the first-team snaps on Tuesday. ... Linebacker Elexious Perkins II (6 feet, 210 pounds) was cleared and practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday. He is a transfer from San Bernardino (Calif.) Valley College, where he made 72 tackles last season, including four sacks, and blocked five kicks. Perkins had been waiting to be cleared by the NCAA after taking classes over the summer. ... Single-game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today with an online-only 48-hour sale at unlvtickets.com. Prices for the first two home games, Sept. 6 against Northern Colorado and Sept. 13 against Northern Illinois, are up to 50 percent off. Tickets also will be available at the Thomas &Mack Center box office beginning Monday or by calling 702-739-3267.

POSITION SPOTLIGHT

Defensive backs: This was the strongest unit of UNLV’s defense last season, and it should be again this fall.

Starting cornerbacks

Tajh Hasson, Sr., 6-1, 195

Kenneth Penny, Sr., 5-11, 175

Reserve cornerbacks

Sidney Hodge, Sr., 5-8, 180

Torry McTyer, So., 6-0, 180

Brandon Baker, Jr., 6-1, 175

Fred Wilson, Jr., 6-0, 175

Starting safeties

Mike Horsey, Sr., 6-0, 190