LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV Football turned in its first two-a-day sessions of 2015 Camp Rebel on Wednesday, going full pads in the morning outing and then heading out to Sam Boyd Stadium in half-pads for the nightcap.

The 90-minute evening practice was to be the team's first in its home stadium under new head coach Tony Sanchez. The head man said it will be heavy on special teams and simply give the players a chance to do their thing in their home venue.

"It will be good for our guys to run around on the new turf, catch a pass there in their home stadium," Sanchez says. "That is our home and we need to make ourselves at home."

POSITION PREVIEW: WIDE RECEIVERS

Quality if not Quantity. That could describe UNLV's receivers group in 2015.

"The receivers are our most consistent group so far," says Sanchez. "We have six scholarship guys at the position and you would ideally want 8-10 so those six HAVE to be good."

The discussion begins with 2014 FWAA Freshman of the Year and Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year Devonte Boyd (6-1, 175, SO-1L). To no one's surprise, the local product from Basic High School was on everyone's preseason first team all-league lists after catching 65 passes for 980 yards as a rookie. His position coach, holdover assistant Cedric Cormier, said he was proud of the youngster.

"The road to get there was not easy and then when he finally got out there for that first game at Arizona, you could see he was appreciative," says Cormier. "To see him go out and make plays like he did made us proud."

Cormier says Boyd certainly benefited from learning under a senior star with the same first name, former Rebel great Devante Davis.

"Big Devante took little Devonte under his wing. He showed him how you practice, how you handle yourself in the hotel, how you work out in the summer and take care of your body. He kind of taught him how to be a college football player. "

So what to do for an encore?

"That's the challenge," says Cormier. "Now he has to make that next step. He needs to not just be a freshman phenom but shoot for bigger goals."

Will being first and foremost on the opponent defense's minds this fall be a hindrance for a guy who is still just a sophomore?

"That's a challenge but a welcome one. That's what receivers want -- to be THE guy."

Boyd, however, is far from a one-man show. "As a group everyone knows Devonte Boyd, but then we have another sophomore, Kendal Keys (6-4, 200, S)-1L) who may have the biggest upside out of anyone," says Cormier. "He was solid last year, made some plays in the red zone for us, but we expect him to do some big things this year.

"Our two steady seniors this year are as solid as they come. Aaron Criswell (5-10, 180, SR-1L) is our most improved receiver. He's done a great job in the weight room and I'm happy for him. Anthony Williams (5-11, 195, SR-3L) is a natural leader who when you throw him the ball, he's going to catch it. That's just who he is. And then we have two freshmen coming in who are getting a lot of reps -- we are throwing a lot at them -- Darren Woods (6-1, 220, FR-HS) and Brandon Presley (6-0, 175, FR-HS). We are trying to speed up the process a little bit and they are responding well.

"One other guy I'm proud of is Justin Brown (5-6, 160, FR-RS), a local kid (Eldorado High) who walked on last year, paid his dues on the scout team. He throws himself around in there and makes the most of any chance he gets."

CAMP REBEL TEMPO SYSTEM SONG OF THE DAY:

"I Got You (I Feel Good)" by James Brown. Release date: October 1965.

UP NEXT

The football team will enjoy its first day off during fall camp on Thursday, but not before taking its official team photo at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels will next be on the field Friday for a two-a-day schedule that starts at 8 a.m. on campus.