JUCO Transfer Blake Decker named UNLV's Starting Quarterback

Caleb Herring was a more than pleasant surprise for the Rebels in 2013, taking the starting job after the season began and lead UNLV to their first bowl game since 2000. The Senior finished his career in Vegas with over 2,000 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in his final year. With Herring's departure, the quarterback position was left up for grabs in 2014, and the competition was heating up between Decker and junior Nick Sherry during fall camp, with Decker taking most of the first team snaps.

On Friday, Head Coach Bobby Hauck made it official that Decker is his guy, and he would be under center to start the season when the Rebels take on the Arizona Wildcats in Las Vegas to open the season. "He’s just played better," Hauck said after practice, "He’s made more plays in camp. We feel right now it’s productive to move forward in that direction."Decker's style of play closely resembles what Herring was able to do last year, he's a good passer who also can take off and run if need be, compared to Sherry who is more of a pocket passer.

Decker started his college football career as a walk-on at BYU, but he would redshirt his first year and eventually transfer to Scotsdale Community College, where he would spend the next three years of his career. 2013 was a huge year for Decker, leading the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference with 4,241 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. He would rush 390 yards and four scores as well. Right after he graduated from SCC this winter, he committed to UNLV and immediately came in this spring to compete along side the returning Sherry for the starting job.

The new Rebel will have a lot to live up to after last year's surprise bowl run, but if his 2013 season is a sign of what he is capable of as a quarterback, UNLV may have found a hidden gem in the Arizona desert.