As the Rebels returned to practice Thursday, one of the obvious team leaders continues to be linebacker Kyle Beaudry. The local product from Liberty High School has been a glue guy all three years on campus and on special teams every Saturday. However, starting for the first time at New Mexico late last season, Beaudry shined, forcing two fumbles, recovering one and posting 1.5 quarterback sacks as he helped UNLV earn its first win under head coach Marcus Arroyo. That impressive showing kept him in the starting lineup for the last third of the season and he's now wearing a captain's C on his uniform this spring.

The true senior met with the media following drills and talked leadership and team chemistry as the team hits the second half of spring ball.

"I think overall as a team, we're definitely trying to find the leadership pieces that we need and trying to just hold each other accountable," said Beaudry. "And I think we've set a standard now. It's either we meet the standard or we raise the standard so we're just trying to not take steps back. Just trying to be very intentful trying to learn as much as we can. Trying to get the new guys a voice -- trying to get them to learn make everyone feel comfortable. And that's what spring practice is for -- just learning and growing and becoming closer as a team."

And is it working?

"I think from years past, it's definitely a lot different. I think everyone's pretty close. You can just feel it in the locker room and meetings, the way we treat each other. When we walk around the building. It's just completely different and it's a good thing to feel and I think going into the season that's going to carry us a long way on just having that trust with the guys. It's a great thing to see."

Next up, the Rebels will hold the first of three scrimmages on Saturday.