2008 OUTLOOK: The Rebels will play seven home games at Sam Boyd Stadium for the first time since 1979, which should be a big plus if they can survive a tough first month that includes back-to-back road dates at revenge-minded Utah and Pac-10 power Arizona State. Nine starters return on offense, including powerful senior RB Frank "The Tank" Summers, who should contend for the Mountain West Conference rushing crown if he stays healthy. Summers should also benefit from an improved offensive line and more stable quarterback play. Despite losing star linebacker Beau Bell, the defensive front seven should be improved. If the secondary can keep from giving up the big play, the Rebels are talented enough now to play with anybody on their schedule and, if they stay healthy, even flirt with a .500 season. That would be a dramatic improvement for a team that has won just two games in each of the last four seasons.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE
All eyes will be focused on the starting quarterback competition when fall camp begins on Aug. 4. Sophomores Travis Dixon (9) and Omar Clayton (3) both started games last season and appeared to be much improved during the spring. Whoever wins the job will have the comfort of handing off to Summers as well as throwing to perhaps the league's best receiving corps, led by senior Casey Flair and junior Ryan Wolfe. The Rebels must improve on a league-worst 70.3 percent success rate in the red zone.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE
The Rebels must replace 2007 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Beau Bell at outside linebacker but head coach Mike Sanford believes his overall group of linebackers is stronger. The defensive line, led by tackles Jacob Hales and Malo Taumua, starred during the spring and may be the strongest unit on the team. The big question will be how well the secondary, which had to adjust to the surprise defection of expected starting safety Shane Horton to USC, performs. Junior college transfer Terrance Lee is expected to get a long look at safety during fall camp.

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS
The big question is who will replace P Brian Pacheco? The Rebels will be scouring the junior colleges for that answer during the summer. Longtime PK Aguayo also is gone but sophomore Ben Jaekle and junior Kyle Watson both look like solid replacements and will battle it out in the fall. Sophomore CB Quinton Pointer and sophomore RB Channing Trotter go into the fall as the top return men although several incoming freshmen will also get long looks.

ROSTER REPORT

--Senior OLs Johan Asiata (shoulder) and Richie Plunkett (back) both sat out the spring rehabbing injuries. Asiata, a starter at right tackle last season, is expected to claim the starting left guard spot in fall camp while Plunkett will likely back up sophomore Evan Marchal, who had an excellent spring, at right tackle.

--Strongside LB Starr Fuimaono, who had 68 tackles in just nine games last year, sat out spring practice following shoulder surgery but is expected to be 100 percent by early May.

--Starting C Joe Hawley has moved to his natural right guard spot. Sophomore John Gianninoto, who missed part of spring with mono and an enlarged spleen, and senior Siosifa Moala will compete for the starting center spot in the fall.

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