UCLA is coming home after a season-opening loss to Texas A&M and will UNLV at the Rose Bowl on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Todd Dewey answered some questions about UNLV, and what the Rebels have in store for the second year under head coach Tony Sanchez.
1. It’s year two of the Tony Sanchez era, how does the mood around the program compare to last year and what’s the next step for the Rebels under Sanchez?
Following the lead of the high-energy Sanchez, the mood around the program is upbeat and expectations are higher this season despite the team winning only three games last year. That’s because the 3-9 mark was an improvement after UNLV won only two games in eight of the previous 11 seasons. The Rebels are hoping to take another big step this year and go to a bowl game for only the fifth time in school history.
2. What does Johnny Stanton bring to the offense that made him the right choice at quarterback?
A former Nebraska product, Stanton is built like a linebacker at a solid 6-feet, 2-inches and 245 pounds and brings a strong arm to the offense that was lacking one in junior returnee Kurt Palandech, who is a better runner than a passer.
3. Stanton quickly built a connection with Devonte Boyd, throwing him three touchdowns last week, but what other weapons do the Rebels have on offense that could pose problems for UCLA?
Besides Boyd, who has 14 touchdowns and 2,019 receiving yards in 26 career games at UNLV, the Rebels feature redshirt freshman wideout Darren Woods Jr., who they expect to have a big season, and a talented corps of young running backs led by sophomore Lexington Thomas and true freshman Charles Williams, a Fresno, Calif., product who was one of the top prep sprinters in the state last year.
4. UNLV has three returning starters at linebacker in Tau Lotulelei, Ryan McAleenan and Matt Lea, but needed to replace its top two tacklers. After facing lower-division Jackson State in the season opener, what do you expect to see from the defense for the rest of the season?
The UNLV defense, which has struggled for years, missed a lot of tackles and gave up three long scoring drives in the team’s season-opening 63-13 rout of Jackson State but also scored two touchdowns. It has a lot more depth than last season, when it finished last in the nation in sacks with nine, and should improve, but the Rebels might have to win some shootouts.
5. Sanchez signed arguably the best recruiting classes in school history last year. What kind of mark could that class make this year and beyond for the program?
Sanchez has brought in a school-record 10 three-star recruits this year, led by 6-5 Armani Rogers, who is being hailed as the quarterback of the future. Several true freshmen will be on the field Saturday, including Williams, who led the team in rushing with 96 yards and a touchdown in the opener. Other true freshmen expected to contribute include receiver Mekhi Stevenson and offensive linemen Jaron Caldwell and Julio Garcia, who both played for Las Vegas’ national prep power Bishop Gorman, which Sanchez guided to six straight state titles before leaving for UNLV.