(RB Jai’Den Thomas – 247Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Jai’Den Thomas, WR/RS Jacob De Jesus, WR Ricky White III, OC Jack Hasz, OG Jalen St. John, OT Tiger Shanks, DE Jalen Dixon, DT Cooper Webb, DT Alexander Whitmore, LB Marsel McDuffie, LB Jackson Woodard, CB Cameron Oliver, NB Jett Elad, SS Johnathan Baldwin, and PT Marshall Nichols.
Key Players Departing:
QB Jayden Maiava (USC transfer), RB Vincent Davis Jr., RB Donavyn Lester, WR Senika McKie (Coastal Carolina transfer), OG Alani Makihele (UCLA transfer), OG Amani Trigg-Wright, DE Keith Conley Jr., DE Elijah Shelton, DT Darius Johnson, LB Fred Thompkins, CB Ricky Johnson (Michigan transfer), NB Jerrae Williams (Washington State transfer), FS Jaxon Turner, DB Cameron Jenkins (Baylor transfer), and PK Jose Pizano.
(QB Matthew Sluka – Holy Cross Athletics)
Top 10 Recruits:
4 Star Recruits: LB Melvin Lester (Liberty, Missouri).
3 Star Recruits: QB Matthew Sluka (Holy Cross transfer), DS Jadon Catalon (Texas transfer), QB Hajj-Malik Williams (Campbell transfer), WR Casey Cain (Texas transfer), RB Kylin James (Central Arkansas transfer). DT Clay Patterson (Yale transfer), CB Tony Grimes (Texas A&M transfer), LB Koi Pa’ao’ao (Henderson, Nevada), and ATH Damien McDaniel (Hitchcock, Texas).
2023 Results:
G01 BRYANT W 44-14
G02 @ #2 Michigan L 7-35
G03 VANDERBILT W 40-37
G04 @ UTEP W 45-28
G05 HAWAII W 44-20
G06 @ Nevada W 45-27
G07 COLORADO STATE W 25-23
G08 @ Fresno State L 31-34
G09 @ New Mexico W 56-14
G10 WYOMING W 34-14
G11 @ Air Force W 31-27
G12 SAN JOSE STATE L 31-37
MWC BOISE STATE L 20-44
BOWL vs. Kansas L 36-49
Team Info:
2023 Record: 9-5 (3rd in MWC)
Home: 5-2
Away: 4-2
Neutral: 0-1
MWC: 6-2
Non-MWC: 3-2
Head Coach: Barry Odom
UNLV: 9-5
Career: 34-30
Bowls: 0-3
(WR Ricky White III – University of Nevada Las Vegas Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Ja’Den Thomas (108 car., 503 yards, 4.7 avg., 12 TD)
Receiving: Ricky White III (88 rec., 1483 yards, 16.9 avg., 8 TD)
TDs Scored: Jai’Den Thomas (12)
Sacks: Alxander Whitemore/Jackson Woodard (2.5)
Tackles: Jackson Woodard (117)
Interceptions: Cameron Oliver (5)
Pass Deflections: Jett Elad (6)
Tackles For Loss: Jackson Woodard (9)
Forced Fumbles: Cameron Oliver (2)
Kick Returns: Jacob De Jesus (32 ret., 822 yards, 25.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Jacob De Jesus (16 ret., 257 yards, 16.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Andre Meono (0-0 fg/fga., 0%, 1-1 xp/xpa., 1 point)
Punting: Marshall Nichols (51 punts, 2400 yards, 47.1 avg., 18 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 3 Matthew Sluka (RS SR/TR)
RB: 9 Jai’Den Thomas (RS FR)
WR: 1 Casey Cain (RS JR/TR)
WR: 11 Ricky White III (RS SR/TR)
WR: 21 Jacob De Jesus (SR/TR)
TE: 19 Kaleo Ballungay (RS SR)
LT: 75 Anton Ambuehl (RS JR)
LG: 74 Jalen St. John (RS SR/TR)
OC: 65 Jack Hasz (SR/TR)
RG: 79 Austin Boyd (SO)
RT: 70 Tiger Shanks (RS SR)
KR: 21 Jacob De Jesus (SR/TR)
PK: 45 Caden Chittenden (FR)
Projected Starting Defense:
DE: 2 Antonio Doyle Jr. (RS SR/TR)
NT: 91 Cooper Webb (SR/TR)
DT: 98 Tatuo Martinson (RS SR/TR)
DE: 50 Jalen Dixon (RS SR)
LB: 38 Marsel McDuffie (RS JR)
LB: 7 Jackson Woodard (RS SR/TR)
NB: 9 Jett Elad (RS SR/TR)
CB: 5 Cameron Oliver (SR)
CB: 4 Malik Chavis (RS SR/TR)
FS: 1 Jalen Catalon (RS SR/TR)
SS: 3 Johnathan Baldwin (SR)
PR: 21 Jacob De Jesus (SR/TR)
PT: 90 Marshall Nichols (RS JR/TR)
(LB Jackson Woodard – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: A
Kickers: C
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/31 @ Houston Cougars | UNLV trails the series 0-3. The Rebels lost (14-47) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
09/07 UTAH TECH TRAILBLAZERS | First meeting between schools.
09/13 @ Kansas Jayhawks | UNLV trails the series 1-2. Last season’s 36-49 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2003.
09/28 FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS | UNLV trails the series 6-20. The Rebels are 7-3 since 2014, and their last series win (26-16) was in 2017.
10/05 SYRACUSE ORANGE | First meeting between schools.
10/11 @ Utah State Aggies | UNLV trails the series 7-19. The Rebels are 1-4 since 2014, and they won (34-24) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/19 @ Oregon State Beavers | UNLV leads the series 3-2. The Rebels lost (21-23) the last meeting between schools in 2009.
10/25 BOISE STATE BRONCOS | UNLV trails the series 3-9. Last season’s 20-44 loss was the first meeting between schools since 2019.
11/09 @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | UNLV trails the series 14-19. The Rebels are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (25-31) was in 2022.
11/16 SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS | UNLV trails the series 9-23. The Rebels are 1-8 since 2014, and they lost (10-34) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/22 @ San Jose State Spartans | UNLV trails the series 6-21-1. The Rebels are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (38-35) was in 2019.
11/30 NEVADA WOLF PACK | UNLV trails the series 21-28. The Rebels are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (20-51) was in 2021.
Predictions:
Home: 6-0
Away: 6-0
Neutral: 1-1
MWC: 8-0
Non-MWC: 5-1
Overall: 13-1 (1st in MWC/MWC Champions/9th Seed – Eliminated in First Round)
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