Coach encouraged by players mixing it up in practice

UNLV coach Bobby Hauck hopes to see more fight out of his football team this season, so he was encouraged by what he saw in practice this morning.

At least three skirmishes broke out between offensive and defensive linemen.

"It should be competitive, and it's good to see them get after each other," Hauck said. "It's hand-to-hand combat in there, so it should be a little heated. When we take the field, we've got to be a little bit feisty."

The intensity only figures to increase Thursday when the team goes into half-pads for the first time.

It will be the first true opportunity Hauck and his staff to evaluate the players. The first two practices were in helmets and shorts with little contact.

"It's completely different in terms of the physicalness and the ability to practice blocking and tackling," Hauck said. "We'll get after it."

GETTING CLEARED

Offensive lineman Allen Carroll, a junior college transfer, was medically cleared to practice. He had tendinitis in his back, but said he didn't feel discomfort.

"The heat is a little different for me, so I've got to adjust to that," Carroll said. "But other than that, it was great getting back moving around."

Though Carroll (6 feet 4 inches, 300 pounds) was a tackle at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., he is working at guard with the Rebels because redshirt freshman Cameron Jefferson and junior Yusef Rodgers are the clear leaders at the tackle spots.

"A bigger presence inside, that's what we need," Hauck said.

HERE AND THERE

Freshman running back Elijhaa Penny has been all but ruled out for this season because of academic reasons. UNLV is still awaiting word on junior defensive lineman Louvan Green, but Hauck said he didn't believe Green would be eligible. ... Redshirt freshman wide receiver Taylor Spencer (broken leg) again was in a blue no-contact jersey, but ran pass patterns. "He's fighting through it," Hauck said.