James Boyd’s move to defensive end highlights UNLV’s Spring Showcase

By Taylor Bern

Saturday, April 21, 2012 | 2 a.m.

The worst-kept secret of UNLV football’s spring schedule got out at the team’s Spring Showcase on Friday: Junior transfer James Boyd took off his yellow quarterback jersey and took his first reps at defensive end.

And he looked pretty good, too.

For a team that isn’t any closer to announcing its starting quarterback and survived 15 spring practices in relatively good health, this move counts as big news.

Boyd transferred to UNLV from West Los Angeles Community College after starting at USC. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, he has the size and athleticism for defensive end but he came to Las Vegas for a chance at quarterback. UNLV coach Bobby Hauck promised him that, but as the spring wore on it became clear that the frontrunners were Nick Sherry and Caleb Herring.

After Wednesday’s practice, Hauck called Boyd in for a meeting and discussed the position change. Boyd said he prayed and slept on it, waking up secure in the move.

“He gave me a fair shot, it didn’t work out so I went to a position where I can help the team,” Boyd said.

On Friday, though he didn’t really know any of the plays, Boyd found his way to the backfield often, letting his instincts take over. He finished with four total tackles, including one for loss, for the white team, which fell to the red team 23-16 in double overtime.

Moving forward, Boyd said the move is permanent while Hauck, who always plays things tight, wouldn’t commit. If he does stay on defense, Boyd will have a different kind of summer regimen. Working in the quarterback rotation required extensive playbook study, while Boyd said the defensive line puts more emphasis on technique than understanding everyone else’s responsibilities.

As far as the team goes, it’s a good move because Boyd wasn’t going to beat out Sherry or Herring and considering the inexperience at the ends, adding another body to the mix can only be a good thing.

The star of the game itself, not surprisingly, was running back Tim Cornett, who finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries for the red team. He broke off a 57-yard touchdown on one of the first plays of the game and his 17-yard touchdown was the deciding score in the game.

On a team full of inexperience, Cornett, the team’s leading rusher the past two seasons, really stood out. And judging from spring practice that’s the way the Rebels will try to win in the fall, too.

“I always tell Nick and Caleb, ‘In doubt, give it to me,’” Cornett said. “Because I know I’ve been playing since my freshman year and I have more experience. … I know what I see out there.”

Senior running back Imari Thompson (33 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries) handled most of the rushing duties for the white team as Bradley Randle, who’s slated to be the backup this fall, had just one carry.

The showcase itself had the fun and relaxed atmosphere you would expect from a spring football event. There were inflatable attractions for kids, Hauck did a little play-by-play over the PA system towards the end and after the game the players hung around to sign autographs and mingle with the announced crowd of 2,007.

As far as what he learned on Friday, Hauck said, per usual, that he would defer to the tape. And no matter what he sees on film, it will only give him a small idea of what his team is capable of doing this fall.

The more telling information is what he gleaned over the last five weeks, and at the top of that list is that the Rebels like the physicality of practice, Hauck said. They enjoy getting out early and putting in the necessary work, which means less yelling from the coaches and more time spent on technique and learning.

That, Hauck said, is different from his previous teams at UNLV. Did his teams at Montana share the Rebels current work ethic?

“All the good ones,” Hauck said.