First look UNLV
Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2014 11:38 am
The Star is going to look at all 12 scheduled opponents over the next 6 weeks. Berk's first article is on UNLV. Highlights:
Projections: Athlon Sports ranked UNLV 101st nationally and fourth in the Mountain West’s West Division. Lindy’s Sports ranked UNLV No. 83 and gave the Rebels a decent chance at finishing at or above .500. USA Today, counting down all 128 FBS teams, ranked UNLV 111th, one spot behind New Mexico and one spot ahead of Kansas.
Position to watch in fall camp: This one’s easy: quarterback. The Rebels were struggling last year when they hosted Arizona and lost 58-13. But quarterback Caleb Herring took over as quarterback two weeks later. The Rebels won seven of their last 10 games and played in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Herring graduated after the season, and the Rebels are hoping they won’t take a step back without him.
Wide receiver Devante Davis: A legitimate NFL prospect, Davis caught 87 passes for 1,290 yards and 14 touchdowns last season as a junior. He had three catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Arizona.
Safety Peni Vea: The junior from Hawaii led the team with 111 tackles last season and added a pair of interceptions.
215.5: The Rebels ranked 107th nationally last season, giving up 215.5 rushing yards per game. It’s anybody’s guess who will get the first crack at replacing Ka’Deem Carey for UA, but this should be a good first game to break into.
4,241: Decker, who the Rebels are hoping is the real deal, threw for 4,241 yards and 47 touchdowns last season for Scottsdale Community College, where he was teammates with Arizona’s Patrick Glover and Antonio Smothers.
45: UNLV gave up 45 points in the first half against Arizona last season and trailed 45-6 at half.
How they’re different than last time: They’re better. The Rebels were probably the worst FBS team the Wildcats faced last season, and that includes UTSA and Cal. But they really improved as the year went on, and even without Herring, the Rebels still have more talent at all positions than they did last season.
Sports Insights has Arizona a 25.5 point favorite over UNLV.
Projections: Athlon Sports ranked UNLV 101st nationally and fourth in the Mountain West’s West Division. Lindy’s Sports ranked UNLV No. 83 and gave the Rebels a decent chance at finishing at or above .500. USA Today, counting down all 128 FBS teams, ranked UNLV 111th, one spot behind New Mexico and one spot ahead of Kansas.
Position to watch in fall camp: This one’s easy: quarterback. The Rebels were struggling last year when they hosted Arizona and lost 58-13. But quarterback Caleb Herring took over as quarterback two weeks later. The Rebels won seven of their last 10 games and played in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Herring graduated after the season, and the Rebels are hoping they won’t take a step back without him.
Wide receiver Devante Davis: A legitimate NFL prospect, Davis caught 87 passes for 1,290 yards and 14 touchdowns last season as a junior. He had three catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Arizona.
Safety Peni Vea: The junior from Hawaii led the team with 111 tackles last season and added a pair of interceptions.
215.5: The Rebels ranked 107th nationally last season, giving up 215.5 rushing yards per game. It’s anybody’s guess who will get the first crack at replacing Ka’Deem Carey for UA, but this should be a good first game to break into.
4,241: Decker, who the Rebels are hoping is the real deal, threw for 4,241 yards and 47 touchdowns last season for Scottsdale Community College, where he was teammates with Arizona’s Patrick Glover and Antonio Smothers.
45: UNLV gave up 45 points in the first half against Arizona last season and trailed 45-6 at half.
How they’re different than last time: They’re better. The Rebels were probably the worst FBS team the Wildcats faced last season, and that includes UTSA and Cal. But they really improved as the year went on, and even without Herring, the Rebels still have more talent at all positions than they did last season.
Sports Insights has Arizona a 25.5 point favorite over UNLV.