QB competition continues as UNLV football holds first practice in pads

After a one-day respite from the heat courtesy of Tuesday’s indoor practice at the Raiders’ climate-controlled Henderson facility, the UNLV football team was back out in the elements on Thursday, resuming practice in stifling heat on campus.

It was also the first session in pads, as players were given the green light to make full contact in some live drills.

Superstar receiver Ricky White was unbothered by either development, as he turned in his usual highlight-reel catches and afterward said he liked what he saw from the rest of the team.

“It was great,” White said. “It was hot, so that impacted a lot, but it was great to go out there, flying around, making contact with each other. We’re looking forward to Saturday.”

Saturday is the first intrasquad scrimmage, which will be closed to the media. That session could go a long way toward determining which quarterback will earn the No. 1 job, as the position battle continues between seniors Hajj-Malik Williams, Matthew Sluka and Cameron Friel.

Thursday saw Sluka and Williams both receive a significant amount of snaps with the first-team offense, something head coach Barry Odom said he wanted to see throughout camp.

While the quarterbacks often know in advance which group they’ll be piloting in each drill, on Thursday, offensive coordinator Brennan Marion made it a point to mix up the assignments in an attempt to simulate the “chaos” of a typical game day.

“Today was a chaotic day,” Marion said. “We didn’t tell them what group they were in. We just told them, ‘Hey, you’re up.’ Boom. Just put them with a group and see how they operate. Because anybody that we put out there, we have to trust that they can take that group of skill guys and offensive line down the field and go score a touchdown.”

Williams and Sluka are considered the contenders for the starting role, with Williams offering a bit more touch in the passing game and Sluka bringing big-play ability as a runner and deep-ball thrower.

Marion said each of the quarterbacks has put in the work to learn his go-go offense.

“It’s awesome. Those guys are all real football guys. We share that common trait; they love to be in there, the love to stay all day, be there all night and learn and work and get better.”

Williams and Sluka are adjusting to the go-go after playing in different offenses at their previous schools. Marion said Campbell ran an RPO-heavy scheme with Williams, while Holy Cross asked Sluka to make one read before using his legs to pick up first downs.

Those traits are valuable in the go-go, too, as Marion envisions a playbook that blends their talents with his signature up-tempo system.

“At Hajj-Malik’s school, they did a good job with the RPO system. If you see Hajj play, he has really fast hands. He can get the ball out quick. With Sluka, it was more of, they had a receiver that got drafted and went to the NFL; it was throw to him, or you take off and run. For us, we do a little bit of everything.”

“We’re going to put the scheme together for them,” Marion continued. “But we’re also going to make them uncomfortable and do some things that they haven’t done in the past.”

White, a respected leader on the offense, stayed far away from offering an opinion on the ongoing quarterback competition.

He said he is developing good chemistry with all three, and is confident he can be “the best receiver in the nation” with any of Williams, Sluka or Friel throwing to him.

“All three of them do a great job getting me the ball,” White said. “When I’m on the field with all three of them, they make sure they show me their eyes, give me signals and communicate.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.