Battle for UNLV’s No. 2 quarterback could be interesting

Redshirt freshman Caleb Herring worked as UNLV's No. 2 quarterback in football practice this morning, but coach Bobby Hauck cautioned about reading too much into that.

Herring is competing with senior returning starter Omar Clayton and junior Mike Clausen. Clayton has been running the first-team offense, and has the edge to start the Sept. 4 season opener against Wisconsin at Sam Boyd Stadium.

"They're all three getting pretty much equal (repetitions) right now," Hauck said. "We're trying to make it as even as we can, so it will be a different rotation pretty much every day until we start narrowing it down."

The battle for the No. 2 spot could be the more interesting competition. Clausen has more experience, but Herring probably is the quarterback of the future.

"I have no idea where I stand right now as far as the ones and twos and threes," Herring said. "I'm just out there competing, and how ever many reps I get, that's my job to make the reps count, not count the reps."

CAREER OVER

Freshman Thomas Kilgore, once considered a top offensive line prospect, has been medically discharged. He underwent back surgery last year and redshirted, but now it has been determined he won't play again. Kilgore will remain on scholarship, but won't count against the maximum of 85.

Also, junior defensive end B.J. Bell left the field twice today. He was limping, appearing to favor his right leg. Hauck said he didn't know the condition of Bell, who last year underwent shoulder surgery that cost him most of the season and limited his time in spring practices.

TOP PLAYS

UNLV's defense had the upper hand in a team drill, making most of the big plays. Senior safety Alex De Giacomo, in particular, intercepted a pass and later made a nice tackle on redshirt freshman tailback Bradley Randle.

Other top defensive plays:

-- Senior linebackers Starr Fuimaono and Calvin Randleman and freshman defensive back Eric Tuiloma broke up passes.

-- Junior cornerback Deante Purvis put a big hit on sophomore tailback Imari Thompson, who held on to the ball.

-- Junior defensive lineman Jameel Medlock came around the corner to strip Clayton of the ball.

-- Redshirt freshman cornerback Cedric Coleman fought junior wide receiver Phillip Payne for a pass down the right sideline, breaking up the play.

WHAT'S NEXT

UNLV is back at Rebel Park at 8 a.m. Tuesday for its final practice before leaving Wednesday for Ely. The Rebels will be in shoulder pads on Tuesday and full pads on Wednesday.