Fall Previews: UNLV

UNLV:

Head Coach: Tony Sanchez
2014 Record: (2-11, 1-7 MWC)
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: 4-3
Starters Returning: 12 (5 Off., 5 Def., 2 Spec.)
Starters Lost: 12 (6 Off., 6 Def., 0 Spec.)

Offense: 

Blake Decker

2015 is a year of change for the UNLV Rebels with the program in the hands of a coach that was leading one of the nation's best high school programs only a year ago. The Rebels has a bit of stability in senior quarterback Blake Decker (231-401/2,886/15TD) under center. The 6-2, 205 pound signal caller is the leader of the offense and will turn 25 during the upcoming season. Decker is backed up by sophomore JUCO transfer Kurt Palandech. If any quarterback other than Decker is taking meaningful snaps this fall, the Rebels are in huge trouble.

The Rebels have a suitable backfield that has potential to be much more productive in 2015 led by junior starter Keith Whitely (118/504/2TD). The multipurpose back was a very good return man in 2014 as well but should focus mostly on offense this fall. Backing up Whitely is junior David Greene (3/14/0TD), showing that the Rebels have very little depth behind the junior starter. Leading the way at fullback is junior Marc Philippi, a linebacker for the Rebels at this time last year. His ability to cause collisions and make room for the rushing game should make UNLV much more stout. Senior George Naufahu (52/210/1TD) is currently the backup but should see time on the field at either the fullback or tailback spot.

Devonte Boyd

The Rebels are led at receiver by sophomore X-Receiver Devonte Boyd (65/980/4TD). The 6-1, 175 pound receiver was a 2nd team All-MWC selection in 2014 as well as the MWC's freshman of the year. Boyd is a very talented player and will be the first player opposing defenses key on before each play. Senior Aaron Criswell is coming off of a redshirt season in 2014 and should provide solid depth behind Boyd. Senior Anthony Williams (24/234/1TD) will take over the A-Receiver slot after making eight starts last fall. Williams will be expected to make the tough catches over the middle and be the Wes Welker of the Rebels offense. Redshirt freshman Justin Brown, at 5-7, will be a great understudy with a chance to make an impact for UNLV in the future. Sophomore Kendal Keys (24/310/2TD) made five starts and saw action in all 13 games last season for the Rebels. At 6-3, 200 pounds, his ability to make important catches should keep defenses from rolling the secondary completely to Boyd's side of the field. Criswell is also the first reserve at the Z-Receiver spot. Tight ends Jake Phillips (5/67/0TD) and Andrew Price (1/14/0TD) should be good combination run blockers and pass catchers for the Rebels with both at 6-6, 250+ pounds. The Rebels have three 6-6 tight ends on the roster.

Ron Scoggins

Despite all of the depth and experience at other positions, the offensive line is a bit of a question mark as no returning lineman made more than nine starts last fall. At left tackle is sophomore Kyle Saxelid (4 career starts) saw action as a redshirt freshman in 2014 in starting the final four games of the season. The 6-7, 270 pound tackle is looking build on the strong end to last season with a good campaign this fall. Junior Patrick Carroll saw action on special teams but earned his way into the two-deep with a strong spring. At left guard, Eric Noone (6 career starts) made six starts last fall and should be able to hold on to the starting job this fall. Sophomore Chris Lopez saw action in one game as a redshirt freshman and will push Noone for playing time this fall at left guard. In the middle is junior Will Kreitler, a JUCO transfer that snapped the ball to Rebels quarterback Blake Decker at Scottedale CC. At the other guard spot is senior Ron Scoggins (24 career starts). The 6-3, 335 pound guard has had an up and down career but should find a spot at either guard spot this fall. Fellow senior Nick Gstrein (14 career starts) missed spring practice due to injury but the most likely LG and RG combination would be Scoggins and Gstrein with both able to play either spot. Junior Tom Clarkson will be the understudy at right guard. At the right tackle spot is another young player in sophomore J'Ondray Sanders. The 6-5, 270 pound tackle has yet to see playing time at the FBS level and will have to prove he is ready for a big responsibility at right tackle. Junior Charles Howard came to the Rebels as a defensive lineman but is now the backup at right tackle and should see some playing time this fall.

Defense: 

Sonny Sanitoa

The Rebels, looking to fix a defense that gave up 38.5 points per game in 2014, returns one big starter in senior Sonny Sanitoa (44 tkl, 4 tfl, 2.5 sacks). The 6-3, 260 pound defensive end made all 13 starts last fall and 34 overall starts for the Rebels with 106 total tackles and 9.5 sacks in his career. Sophomore Mark Finau, a JUCO transfer, will be the backup for Sanitoa at the defensive end spot. At the other defensive end spot is junior Iggy Porchia (28 tkl, 2 tfl), a former linebacker for UNLV. The 6-2, 225 pound end can drop into coverage and rush the passer but has to prove he can hold up versus physical run offenses in the MWC. Redshirt freshman Joseph Salazar, at 6-4, 210 will be the backup for Porchia. Sophomore starting defensive tackle Mike Hughes, Jr. (18 tkl, 2 tfl) will bring some much needed size to the defensive line at 6-3, 300 pounds and will need to earn double team blocks to give room for the linebackers to operate. Junior Dominic Baldwin (27 tkl, 1 tfl) will have to prove he can hang in the trenches at only 240 pounds. At the other defensive tackle spot is senior Tuli Fakauho (2 tkl). The 6-1, 300 pound tackle gives the Rebels 300 pound tackles at both inside spots and he will be expected to take a step forward in playing time this fall.

Tau Lotulelei

The Rebels have some returning experience at linebacker with two of the team's three leading returning tacklers in weakside linebacker Tau Lotulelei (99 tkl, 10.5 tfl, 3 sacks) and middle linebacker Ryan McAleenan (70 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 sack). McAlleenan made nine starts last fall and is a good tackler with solid instincts to make the safe play but rarely makes the wow play. Those plays are reserved for Lotulelei with a team-leading 10.5 tackles for loss last fall. His ability to make plays in the backfield is the only way for UNLV to get that points per game down to something reasonable. Trent Langham (33 tkl, 0.5 tfl, 0.5 sacks) and Kimble Jensen (5 tkl) will back up that duo. Sophomore Matt Lea (52 tkl, 3 tfl) had a solid 2014 season and should only improve this fall with more experience and more weight training. 5-10, 210 pounds will be a tough frame to hold up all season. Backup Najee Johnson (16 tkl, 1 tfl) must work to find playing time but may only be used as a situational player.

Peni Vea

The Rebels will be playing the 2015 season with one tried and true starter from last season in strong safety Peni Vea (88 tkl, 7.5 tfl, 3.5 sacks). The 2014 All-MWC Honorable Mention honoree has made 31 starts and is only 28 tackles from breaking into the top ten Rebel tacklers all time. Junior Troy Hawthorne (8 tkl) made his name in 2014 on special teams but could see some playing time this fall behind Vea. At the free safety spot, senior Blake Richmond (33 tkl) is the projected starter after making one start last fall. The 6-3, 190 pound safety made the transition from JUCO ball and should show significant strides forward this fall. Senior backup Kenny Keys (53 tkl, 3 tfl, 0.5 sacks) will find his way onto the field in some capacity and should be able to contribute for the Rebels defense this fall barring injury. A pari of upperclassmen will handle the cornerback spots in junior Torry McTyer (30 tkl, 2 tfl) and senior Fred Wilson (2 tkl). Thought both have been with the program for a while, the two combine for one career start and that was in 2012. Depth is nonexistent behind the duo of corners with redshirt freshman Charles Henry and true freshman Chazz Eldridge as the backups.

Special Teams: 

Logan Yunker

For a team with so many question marks, special teams is not one of those spots with kicker, kickoff specialist, and punter all back after solid 2014 seasons. At punter is senior Logan Yunker, a 6-2, 200 pound player that punted the ball 81 times for a 40.5 yard average, a long of 60 yards, 30 landing inside the 20, and 14 over 50 yards. Yunker was named to the preseason Ray Guy Award Watch List. At the kicker position, senior Jonathan Leiva is the projected starter after going 11-17 on field goal attempts with a long of 46 yards and 32-33 on PAT attempts. Junior Nicolari Bornand should be the kickoff specialist after kicking off 31 times in 2014 with eight touchbacks. Bornand also went 4-6 onf field goal attempts with a long of 54 yards as the long distance kicker.

Overall: 

With a coach coming directly from the high school ranks and a lack of depth at nearly every position, UNLV cannot be headed for a good season in 2015. The Rebels open the season on the road versus the 2014 MAC champion Northern Illinois before hosting UCLA and traveling cross country once again for a trip to the Big House to face Michigan. If UNLV does any better than 0-3 to start the season, it will be a huge shock nationally.

The Rebels will get their first win of the season on September 26 as FCS foe Idaho State comes to town in a gimme game for UNLV. With conference play kicking into gear the next week with a trip to Nevada, UNLV will struggle through October with Nevada, Fresno State, and Boise State on the schedule as well as a visit from San Jose State. UNLV can only reasonably beat San Jose State but could put a scare into Nevada on the right day. There is a very good chance the Rebels are heading into November with a 1-7 record.

UNLV will take care of business versus Hawaii but will fall to Colorado State and San Diego State before heading into the season finale versus Wyoming at 2-9. This should be a good game but Wyoming has the depth that UNLV doesn't and the Rebels will only win two games again this fall. Prediction: 2-10.