As a sophomore last season, running back Tim Cornett looked at the senior wide receivers and defensive backs, waiting for them to lead.
He was disappointed.
He won’t be disappointed this season.
Cornett, a junior who is one of UNLV’s older players, is taking on the leadership role himself.
“That’s something I felt was missing out here,” he said. “There are times I’ve got to be
a leader out there.”
Cornett is doing more than speaking his mind. He also is leading by example, gaining 10 pounds to get up to 212 pounds on his 6-foot frame. Cornett also increased his bench press this spring by 45 pounds, up to 365.
The hard work was evident in the spring.
Cornett already had a strong burst, but he was more consistent, looking like a player who could become UNLV’s first 1,000-yard back since Dominique Dorsey in 2004.
“I know my place and I know my role, and it’s important to have a good running game in college,” Cornett said. “I felt I had to step up.”
But it’s not like Cornett just began producing.
He played as a true freshman in 2010 out of Houston’s North Shore High School. Cornett rushed for 546 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
Cornett averaged 5.6 yards per carry last season, finishing with 671 yards and seven touchdowns. He shared much of the duties with true freshman Dionza Bradford, who finished with 615 yards.
They were expected to have a strong battle for the starting job and share the carries during the season, but Bradford surprisingly quit the team in the spring for personal reasons. Junior Bradley Randle and senior Eric Johnson back up Cornett.
Though Cornett is the unquestioned leader, that doesn’t mean he will get 20 carries a game. Coach Bobby Hauck prefers to spread the attempts, especially because the Rebels play an extra game this year without a bye.
“It’s a long season,” Hauck said.
“I don’t know who’s going to hold up for 13 games and getting it (20) times. So we’ll play all those guys, but Cornett came out ahead this spring. I think those other guys provide a good change-up.”
Cornett figures this is his time, and he won’t defer to others.
“I see myself as one who will do what I can to help the team a lot,” Cornett said. “I think the coaches will put me in the position to do it, and I will try to do it.”