Aug. 12, 2010

CAMP REBEL (UNLVRebels.com) - The first half of UNLV's initial double-day under new head coach Bobby Hauck included a distinct scheduling change for the returning Rebels.

Unlike previous coach Mike Sanford during his five-year run, Hauck goes with a lighter practice in the morning and full-pad affair in the afternoon to finish up the day.

"Sometimes it hard to get everyone going full-on in the morning," Hauck said. "We like to build through the day and finish up with a bang."

The Rebels hit the field before 9 a.m. on Thursday and practiced for more than two hours before enjoying a deli-buffet lunch. After some rest and position meetings, the players will suit up again in time for a 3:30 p.m. start.

VEA FINALLY A REBEL

Freshman linebacker William Vea is finally getting his first taste of college football this month in camp. The graduate of Pahranagat High School signed with UNLV in February 2007 but did not enroll before heading out on a two-year LDS Church Mission, which he served in Kingston, Jamaica.

Now, three years later, Vea is suiting up in the Scarlet & Gray but gaining back the 20 pounds he lost while on the islands is not his only adjustment.

"I'm working on the transition from playing eight-man to 11-man football, but it's coming along," said Vea, who starred for PHS along with his brother, George, who lettered at UNLV in 2006 before going on his own mission and is now playing at Dixie State.

Hauck said he and his staff are used to developing players from rural places such as Alamo.

"We are not unaccustomed to teaching player from smaller schools," Hauck said. "We had a lot of guys like that at Montana."

Vea, however, may be Hauck's first returning missionary -- but he certainly won't be his last as 2010 UNLV signee and Silverado High School linebacker Kyle Anderson will serve before joining the program down the line.