The UNLV football team opens its season Saturday, Aug. 27, at home against Idaho State, a team with a new head coach and staff after finishing last season 1-10 and tied for last in the Big Sky Conference.
This offers Rebel head coach Marcus Arroyo a little bit of a challenge in that any film work on the Idaho State offense won’t really offer any information as far as creating a scouting report.
“There’s gonna be some live football and there will be some adjustments I’m excited about making,” Arroyo said. “As we get close to that first game, you lead into it the core principals and foundations of what you do situationally and what you do assignment and technique-wise. There’s gonna be some things you have to change because they have a new staff there as well.”
On the other hand, the Idaho State coaching staff may not be able to glean much about the Rebels either, with 30 new players on the roster and a depth chart that doesn’t list a starting quarterback.
Right now, sophomore Doug Brumfield and Tennessee transfer Harrison Bailey are vying for the starting position. Last year’s Freshman of the Year Cameron Friel is listed as third.
“We don’t know (who will start) yet,” Arroyo said. “Once we get to Saturday at kickoff you’ll have a guy out there in the game. Both will continue to share reps (in practice).”
Wide receiver Kyle Williams, also a former Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West Conference, said he has confidence in any of the quarterbacks chosen to start.
“Each quarterback has the potential to be a starter,” Williams said. “They compete every day and all show traits and characteristics of being a starter.”
Another transfer expected to make a big contribution is running back Aiden Robbins, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound back who played three years at Louisville.
“He’s a big guy who’s more explosive than we anticipated,” Arroyo said. “He has nice traits with what he can do in open space. He’s an experienced guy.”
Game time is 12:32 at Allegiant Stadium. It will be televised on CBS-Sports Network and broadcast on radio on ESPN 1100 AM and 100.9 FM.