Sorting out Nevada's quarterback situation after latest Malik Henry news

Nevada's quarterback carousel took another turn Tuesday when the Wolf Pack returned to the practice field for the first time this week and did so without Malik Henry, who had started the team's last two games. Nevada released a statement halfway through practice that Henry was being taken off the field to focus on his academic work and life off the field but emphasized he was not suspended. So where does that leave Nevada's quarterback position moving forward? Here's a look, by quarterback.

Malik Henry

You can read Norvell's full statement here, but it basically boils down to this: Nevada believed starting Henry on the field would spark him to take care of his business of the field, but after starting for two weeks, Henry is behind academically to the point the Wolf Pack believes taking away football and letting him focus on academics will help him get back on track in the classroom.

“I’ve just been following his situation closely over the last couple of weeks, and Malik is a new student here at Nevada and he’s just gotten behind in some of his classes and I just didn’t think it was fair for him (to play)," Norvell told Nevada Sports Net after Tuesday's practice. "I thought the best thing for him was to focus on his academics and take a little break from football. He’s not suspended. He hasn’t broken any team rules. But it’s the best thing for him as a student. He’s still a walk-on. He’s got to get his academics squared away. Carson (Strong) and Cristian (Solano) will do a good job. We have confidence in those guys. When Malik gets himself in good standing, then he’ll be available to play.”

Norvell had not come to this decision for his Monday press conference but pulled the trigger on taking Henry off the field prior to the team's start of practice rather than allowing it to linger into the week of preparation.

“It wasn’t an easy decision but it became very clear to me over the weekend," Norvell said. "It’s pretty difficult to make those decisions during the week once we start practicing. I wanted to get with (offensive coordinator/quarterback coach) Matt (Mumme) yesterday and really evaluate what the kid had to do this week. It’s too much. He’s overwhelmed and really needs to focus on school. So we’re going to back off the practice field and give him time to do that.”

So how did Henry take the news?

“He wants to play, but we've told him from the time he first got here that we were going to do what is best for him and sometimes that is making a hard decision," Norvell said. "But we’re here for these players first and we have their best interests in hand and sometimes that’s what we have to do.”

In his three games (two starts), Henry has completed 42-of-78 (53.8 percent) passes for 593yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

Carson Strong

So who starts Saturday at Wyoming with Henry out of the picture, at least in the short term? I asked Norvell. His answer:

“Carson and Cristian will both be available, and it will probably be that order I would say," Norvell said. "Carson has done a really good job and Cristian has, too. We feel really comfortable playing both of them.”

So it appears as if Strong will get his fifth start this season after the redshirt freshman started Nevada's first three games as well as its contest with Hawaii. Strong suffered a major injury against Purdue but played through it before resting in Nevada's win over UTEP. He's sat the last two games, which Strong said was difficult.

“It’s just tough not playing with your teammates, but all you can do is support whoever is in and do whatever you can to win," Strong told NSN. "You just have to support whoever is in.”

Norvell said one of the bonuses to starting Henry the last two games was allowing Strong's injury, which has not been disclosed by Nevada, to heal.

“It’s good; a lot better," Strong said of his injury. "I was banged up throughout since the Purdue game, and the UTEP game I got to sit out and take a break and get more healed up. The Hawaii game I was still banged up, but I’m feeling a lot better now.”

Norvell said Strong has learned a good amount watching from the sidelines the last couple of weeks. That lesson?

“Just being patient," Norvell said. "That’s the biggest thing we need is execution and patience from our quarterback. Don’t be afraid to check the ball down. He did a good job of that in the Purdue game and he kind of got away from doing that the next couple of weeks. But he’s a good player, he’s got a lot in front of him and I think this break for him has been good.”

Strong agreed that the break was useful.

“I know what I need to do now," Strong said. "I know what I need to do to make the offense go and just move the ball one play at a time and just make yards on every play. ... I just have to take the shots when they’re there, take my one-on-ones when they’re there, but take my check downs and get completions and move the ball.”

In his four starts, Strong has completed 80-of-134 (59.7 percent) passes for 729 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions.

Cristian Solano

While Strong is on track to start at Wyoming, Solano, the senior, also could see the field. Solano started in the win over UTEP, his only start this season, and has Nevada's top passer rating (130.1).

Solano has tried to be a positive force in the locker room regardless of his role.

“Since I was a kid, I was never taught to point the finger at nobody," Solano told NSN. "If you’re going to point a finger, you point it at yourself first. Look in the mirror. You have to be there for your whole team, your brothers, your coaches, everybody. You can’t point fingers at all. This sport isn’t the sport to point fingers. If you are, you’re in the wrong sport and on the wrong team. That’s not how it happens at Nevada.”

Solano broke his hand in fall camp, which took him out of the running for the starting job for the season opener. He said he's open for whatever role Nevada sets for him, which appears to be backup quarterback this week.

“Whatever the teams need it to be," Solano said. "That’s how it’s been. That’s how it will always be. Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it. If the team needs me to rush for yards, I’m going to rush. If they need me to throw, I’m going to throw. Whatever the team needs, I’ll do.”

Solano said that team-first mentality stems from his freshman season when he was mentored by Danté Mayes, a junior quarterback for the Wolf Pack at the time. Solano said Mayes took him under his wing and he wants to repay the favor.

“He led the way for me," Solano said. "Whatever I needed help with. It was crazy. I look back and noticed he was there for me all the way through. He taught me to be there for the rest of the guys. That’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a freshman. I want to help these kids out so when I get out of here I don’t leave them with nothing behind. Whatever Carson needs help with, I’m there for him.”

In his two games (one start), Solano has completed 24-of-36 passes (66.7 percent) for 241 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He's rushed 20 times for 132 yards.

Kaymen Cureton

Nevada has three more eligible quarterbacks on its roster in Hamish McClure (who played at Oregon), Austin Kirksey (a true freshman who hasn't played this season) and Kaymen Cureton (who began the season as a safety). Cureton appears to be Nevada's third-string quarterback this week, if needed.

Next up

The Wolf Pack quarterbacks get a tough test Saturday at Wyoming, which has held teams to 2.79 yards per carry, the ninth-best mark in the nation. If Nevada is going to upset the Cowboys as a 13.5-point underdog, it will likely come through the air. Wyoming ranks 42nd in the nation in pass efficiency defense (121.52) and has limited teams to 55.9 percent passing, picking off six passes while giving up nine passing scores. Wyoming has allowed 2,056 passing yards, the 10th most in the FBS.

Nevada has struggled to throw the ball for the majority of the season with nearly twice as many interceptions (11) as touchdowns passes (six) in 2019.

“We shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes," Solano said. "We have a great offense, we have great coaches, we just need to execute the plays that are given to us. We don’t have to go out there and do a whole bunch of stuff. Just execute our plays. We have a really good offense, and it’s going to click real soon.”

Strong looks like he'll get the next chance to lock down the starting quarterback job long term, which has yet to happen for any quarterback more than halfway through the season.

“We just need to get our rhythm down," Strong said. "Once we get our rhythm and start rolling there’s no stopping us. We just have to ignite it and start moving at the beginning of the game.”