Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the UNLV Running Rebels season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– UNLV Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 4-8 overall, 2-6 in Mountain West
Head Coach: Tony Sanchez, 5th year, 16-32
– CFN Preview 2019: All The Team Previews
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNLV OFFENSE
– The Rebel offense was able to run the ball and it had its explosive moments, but it couldn’t make up for the issues on the defensive side. With nine starters returning, though, this has potential to be the best attack in the Tony Sanchez era by far … if everyone stays healthy.
– QB Armani Rogers is a special runner and talent as long as he can withstand the pounding. He needs to be a far better and more consistent passer, but he’s the one who can make the offense go. Max Gilliam stepped in when Rogers went down last season and was fine, and redshirt freshman Kenyon Oblad is going to be a factor, but the season is Rogers or bust.
– There’s a whole lot of receiving experience returning, but leading target Brandon Presley was knocked out for the season in spring ball with a knee injury. The next four top receivers are back along with TE Giovanni Fauolo, but they need to get the ball more – that’s more about the passing game that didn’t throw enough. It’s a good group even without Presley – grad transfer Jordan McCray should help – but they need the ball more.
– Losing RB 1,000-yard Lexington Thomas hurts, but the running game will work with Rogers taking off and with junior Charles Williams ready to take on a bigger role. The proven depth, though, is lacking. There’s talent and promise, but no other running back on the roster gained a yard last season.
– The offensive line should be a plus. It was strong for the ground game, but it allowed a few too many plays in the backfield. Four starters are back, starting around 6-3, 325-pound Justice Oluwaseun at one tackle spot, and with the interior set. It’s not a massive line, but there’s depth, and it can move.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNLV DEFENSE
– Six starters and five of the top eight tacklers return to a defense that gave up 454 yards and 37 points per game, having big problems against the decent passers and wasn’t strong enough against the run. However, there’s hope, because …
– The linebacking corps should be okay. The Rebels get back junior Farrell Hester in the middle, and senior Javin White is back as the team’s leading tackler making 74 stops. However, watch out for former Minnesota QB and JUCO transfer Vic Viramontes to step into a role in fall camp, and expect more out of hybrid Gabe McCoy either at outside linebacker or as an edge rushing end.
– Can the secondary be any sharper? Three JUCO transfers are about to become major factors in the rotation – with CB Jeremiah Houston the best of the bunch – but senior Jericho Flowers is all but certain at one corner spot. The safeties are a wee bit stronger around senior Evan Austrie – who made 66 tackles last year – to go along with the JUCO transfers.
– There’s a lot to like about the defensive front. 330-pound Kolo Uaskie is a big body on the inside, and there are plenty of pass rushing options to upgrade the playmaking in the backfield. The JUCO types are about to bring some options, and getting back a healthy Nick Dehdashtian helps for the versatility.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP UNLV PLAYERS
Best UNLV Offensive Player
QB Armani Rogers, Jr.
The 6-5, 225-pound former star recruit is one of the nation’s most effective running quarterbacks, but he takes a ton of hits, and he wasn’t able to last more than half of last season. When he’s right, he’s a game-changer rushing for 565 yards and eight scores, and throwing ten touchdown passes and four picks in his six games. Now he has to be sharper – he completed just 44% of his throws – and has to use his experienced receivers more.
2. OT Justice Oluwaseun, Soph.
3. RB Charles Williams, Jr.
4. OG Justin Polu, Sr.
5. WR Tyler Collins, Soph.
Best UNLV Defensive Player
LB Javin White, Sr.
He’s a safety-sized 6-3, 205-pounder who could work as a defensive back, but he uses his speed to get around the ball as a strongside linebacker. He’s the team’s returning tackling leader with 74 stops with two sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss with four picks. He might not be a thumper, but he can move.
2. CB Jericho Flowers, Sr.
3. LB/DE Gabe McCoy, Sr.
4. S Evan Austrie, Sr.
5. DT Kolo Aasige, Jr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The UNLV Offense
Crank up the downfield passing game. As long as Armani Rogers is under center, the ground attack will be the main mode of transportation. It’s not just that the Rebels need more of a passing game; they need to be more effective.
Rogers doesn’t have to be Drew Brees with his accuracy – it wouldn’t be bad, though, if he picked that up – but he has to hit more downfield plays after completing just five yards per attempt. If he can get that up to around seven, look out. If he’s around eight, the UNLV O will be deadly. On the flip side …
Biggest Key To The UNLV Defense
Don’t allow so many big pass plays. It starts with generating more of a pass rush after struggling to consistently get to the quarterback, and then the corners have to hold up.
The Rebels were bombed on for 270 passing yards or more seven times and in each of the last five games. It was also hit for two touchdown passes or more in nine of the last ten games and was bombed on way too easily. For the first time since 2014, the Rebels allowed more than 14 yards per catch, and only 11 teams allowed more yards per game.
Key Player To A Successful Season
RB Charles Williams, Jr.
The Rebels are going to miss Lexington Thomas, the consistent heart-and-soul of the ground game and all-star for the O over the last few years. He’s gone, and while there might be a few promising options for the rushing attack, there’s no experience outside of Williams.
The 5-9, 185-pounder is hardly a thumper, but he’s a dangerous back who finished third on the team with 332 yards averaging over five yards per play. In 2016, he led the team with 763 yards and three scores, and now he has to do it again.
Key Game To The UNLV Season
at Wyoming, Sept. 28
2003. That was the last time UNLV beat Wyoming in Laramie, and this year it has to happen again, or else there’s going to be a big problem in the Mountain West.
It’s the conference opener for the Rebels, and up next is Boise State followed by three road games in four dates – but one of those is at Vanderbilt – with a trip to Fresno State and a home game against San Diego State. If that wasn’t enough, they have to go to Colorado State and Nevada, too. In other words … beat Wyoming.
– UNLV Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 UNLV Fun Stats
– Field Goals: Opponents 22-of-27 – UNLV 6-of-11
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 11-of-16 (69%) – UNLV 17-of-31 (55%)
– Red Zone TDs: UNLV 31-of-41 (76%) – Opponents 33-of 57 (58%)
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. UNLV WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
It’s the slot machine that’s not paying off.
Head coach Tony Sanchez has been able to bring in some decent players, and he has a good offensive scheme, but the wins aren’t there.
The defense has too much experience and too many options to be so awful again – the Rebels have allowed 400 points or more in eight of the last nine seasons – and it should be a bit more effective.
But the offense will have to do more to keep up.
The Rebels lost three games by a touchdown or less in the last nine dates, but it also won two of its four games in close calls. That’s been UNLV football – it’s been so close to being good, but extremely close to total disaster, too.
As long as QB Armani Rogers and the key parts in the starting 22 can stay in one piece, and if the JUCO transfers can come in and shine early on, this really, truly, surely should be the year when the program takes a big step forward under Sanchez.
But …
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 5
There can’t be any misfires in the 50/50 games – UNLV lost at Arkansas State, got blown away by New Mexico, and got whacked around by San Jose State. It has to beat Arkansas State in Vegas this time around, and it’s going to need an upset or three to get to six wins.
At Northwestern, at Wyoming, Boise State, at Vanderbilt, at Fresno State, San Diego State, at Colorado State.
The team might be better, but with that stretch of games, and with a trip to Nevada in the rivalry date, it’s going to be way too tough to get to six wins.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
