Early Opponent Preview: UNLV

Memphis opens the season this year in week zero with a massive non-conference game against UNLV. Both the Tigers and the Rebels enter the season with a ton of excitement, and most people predict UNLV to win the Mountain West following Boise State’s departure to the PAC-12.

Dan Mullen enters his second season as the Rebels’ head coach, and he’ll look to build off a 10-4 inaugural campaign. 

According to 247Sports, Mullen brought in the best transfer portal class in the Mountain West and the No. 82 transfer portal in the country. The Rebels brought in several players from Power Four programs, including quarterback Jackson Arnold, who spent last season at Auburn.

Arnold started his collegiate career at Oklahoma, where he recorded 1,984 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in two seasons. 

In his lone year at Auburn, he recorded 1,309 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

The receiver room doesn’t return any starters, but they brought in several weapons from the transfer portal and have a few young receivers ready to step into starting roles. Junior DeAngelo Irvin Jr. returns after recording 188 yards and a touchdown on 18 receptions last season.

The big weapon returning for UNLV is running back Jai’den Thomas. The running back ran for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns on 148 carries last season, and he ran for a season-high 131 yards on seven carries against Colorado State last year.

The offensive line only returns two starters, and it will be interesting to see how it meshes, especially early in the year. All-Mountain West lineman Austin Boyd is back, but he’ll make the move from tackle to center.

The defense returns three starters from last year’s team. Defensive lineman Lucas Conti, linebacker Blessing Alualu-Tuiolemotu and safety Jack Pope are all back and will look to lead a defense that allowed 28 points per game last season.

Pope spent time at Alabama and Georgia before starting all 14 games last year for the Rebels, and he will look to lead the secondary in his senior season.

UNLV brought in several defensive weapons from Power Four programs, including defensive linebacker Dee Crayton and linebacker Mark Iheanachor. They also added Holy Cross linebacker Cam Santee, who was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year last season.

Santee recorded 110 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and forced five fumbles as a junior at the FCS level.

There are high expectations for the Rebels this season, and they have a tough schedule ahead of them. UNLV will play Memphis, North Texas and Cal in non-conference games, and they will travel to Hawaii and New Mexico in conference play.