Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

UNLV football notes: Rebels should have improved APR, Sanchez praises locals

2015 Photo Favorites by L.E. Baskow

L.E. Baskow

UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez and his players get ready in the tunnel to meet San Jose State on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Two springs ago, the UNLV football team’s Academic Progress Rate barely met the NCAA standard.

It had a four-year average of 930, the minimum score required to be eligible for a postseason bowl. And 930 was a recalculation after initial totals came in at 925, meaning UNLV — albeit briefly — wouldn’t have qualified for a bowl in 2014.

That was then ...

“We aren’t worried about it anymore,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said Thursday in a meeting with media to recap spring practice.

The APR measures academic development based on eligibility and progress toward graduation of athletes on scholarship. It’s based out of 1,000 points. Sanchez projects the 2014-15 total will be more than 950, which would bring the four-year average to at least 942.

Here are some other highlights from the meeting :

• Senior running back Keith Whitely, last year’s leading rusher, will be suspended for the Rebels initial three games for violating an undisclosed team rule. Regardless, Whitely wouldn’t have been the starter.

That honor goes to sophomore Lexington Thomas, who rushed for 531 yards and three touchdowns in 2015 as a true freshman.

“Lexington Thomas is the guy,” Sanchez said. “He is the starter going into Week One. That is it. He is our most compete back.”

• The quarterback competition between Kurt Palandech and Johnny Stanton won’t be decided until fall camp in August. Palandech, who had success mostly as a runner last season, has improved in the passing game. Stanton, a junior college transfer, made strides learning the offense during the 15-session spring practice. “I really think in the beginning of (fall) camp you will see a major separation, and it will happen fast,” Sanchez said. ....”I don’t want to go through another season were we can’t complete a 10-yard out (pattern).”

• Redshirt freshman Justin Polu, a local product from Silverado High, is listed as the starter on the offensive line at right guard. “Man he looked good in spring. We really feel we have a special guy there,” Sanchez said.

• There are two locals on the defensive depth chart — defensive tackle Michael Hughes Jr. and defensive back Tim Hough. Sanchez, who never hides his desires to build the program with Las Vegas recruits, made sure to highlight both. “The whole town should rally around that guy,” he said of Hough. “If we played with his effort every day, we’d be fine.” And on Hughes: “He is our best hunting dog. He’s a local guy, a Palo Verde grad who busts his tail every day.”

• On senior linebacker Ryan McAleenan: “Ryan is the most accountable (linebacker) and it’s not even close.”

• On the support of locals: “It is showing up and getting to games and buying season tickets,” Sanchez said. “When our locals come to games, and when (recruits) show up and there is a full stadium, they are going to want stay home and fight for the 702.”

• On qualifying for a bowl: “If we go 1-0 we have a great chance. Our team has to develop the mentality of one at a time,” Sanchez said. “...We have to get rid of making (going to a bowl) a want. We have to expect that.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy