Quarterback job still not settled, as UNLV releases depth chart

The UNLV football team released its two-deep depth chart Tuesday, and it’s pretty similar to the one the Rebels revealed after their spring game more than four months ago.

Four players have climbed the charts and won starting jobs in fall camp: cornerback Darius Mouton, left guard Michael Chevalier, defensive end Iggy Porchia and place-kicker Evan Pantels, who also will handle the punting duties. But the most important position on the field remains unsettled, as juniors Kurt Palandech and Johnny Stanton are still listed as co-starters at quarterback.

The two have been locked in a close race for the job the entire offseason, and after each of them threw red-zone interceptions in Friday’s scrimmage, UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said both will play in the Sept. 1 season opener against Jackson State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

“It’s one of those deals that if you need to let it play itself out and wait, then you wait,” Sanchez said. “You don’t rush the decision, because the decision’s going to have a major impact on the season.

“I’ll be honest with you … both guys are going to play in Game 1. I think one guy’s going to be named the starter, and he’ll start to get the majority of the reps. But you’re going to see whoever the No. 2 is at some point in the first half.”

Chevalier, a junior college transfer, will replace Chris Lopez, who is no longer with the program. Porchia, a senior returnee, leapfrogged junior Antonio Zepeda.

Mouton, a sophomore who made five starts at nickelback last season, beat out Tim Hough, a Desert Pines High School product who was named the starting nickelback over junior college transfer Robert Jackson.

Pantels, a junior college transfer from Georgia Military College, earned the starting nod over senior returnee Nicolai Bornand, who missed his final three field-goal tries last season. Pantels also will replace three-year starter Logan Yunker at punter.

One other notable change to the depth chart is true freshman running back Charles Williams ascending to the No. 2 spot over sophomore returnee Xzaviar Campbell behind sophomore starter Lexington Thomas.

Several other true freshmen are expected to contribute, as local products Jaron Caldwell (Bishop Gorman), Julio Garcia (Bishop Gorman) and Donovan Outlaw (Coronado) are listed as backup offensive linemen and Mekhi Stevenson is listed as a backup wide receiver and punt returner.

UNLV​ ​DEPTH​ ​CHART

OFFENSE

LT Kyle​ ​Saxelid​ ​(6-7,​ ​290,​ ​JR-2L)

​​Jaron​ ​Caldwell​ ​(6-4,​ ​315,​ ​FR-HS)

LG​ ​​ ​​Michael​ ​Chevalier​ ​(6-3,​ ​300,​ ​JR-TR)

Zack​ ​Singer​ ​(6-2,​ ​320,​ ​SO-TR)

C Will​ ​Kreitler​ ​(6-0,​ ​295,​ ​SR-1L)

​​​J’Ondray​ ​Sanders​ ​(6-5,​ ​260,​ ​JR-1L)

RG Justin​ ​Polu​ ​(6-4,​ ​315,​ ​FR-RS)

Julio​ ​Garcia​ ​(6-3,​ ​305,​ ​FR-HS)

RT Nathan​ ​Jacobson​ ​(6-5,​ ​290,​ ​SO-1L)

Donovan​ ​Outlaw​ ​(6-4,​ ​285,​ ​FR-HS)

TE Andrew​ ​Price​ ​(6-6,​ ​255,​ ​SR-1L)

Trevor​ ​Kanteman​ ​(6-4,​ ​240,​ ​JR-TR)

Tim​ ​Holt​ ​(6-2,​ ​230,​ ​JR-TR)

WR​ ​(X)​ ​​ Devonte​ ​Boyd​ ​(6-1,​ ​180,​ ​JR-2L)

Brandon​ ​Presley​ ​(6-0,​ ​180,​ ​SO-1L)

WR​ ​(A)​ ​​ ​Darren​ ​Woods​ ​Jr.​ ​(6-0,​ ​215,​ ​FR-RS)

Mekhi​ ​Stevenson​ ​(6-0,​ ​180,​ ​FR-HS)

WR​ ​(Z)​ ​​ ​Kendal​ ​Keys​ ​(6-4,​ ​200,​ ​JR-2L)

Brandon​ ​Presley​ ​(6-0,​ ​180,​ ​SO-1L)

QB Kurt​ ​Palandech​ ​(6-2,​ ​185,​ ​JR-1L)​ ​-or-

Johnny​ ​Stanton​ ​(6-2,​ ​245,​ ​JR-TR)

Dalton​ ​Sneed​ ​(6-0,​ ​195,​ ​FR-RS)

RB Lexington​ ​Thomas​ ​(5-9,​ ​170,​ ​SO-1L)

​Charles​ ​Williams​ ​(5-9,​ ​175,​ ​FR-HS)

Xzaviar​ ​Campbell​ ​(5-11,​ ​215,​ ​SO-1L)

David​ ​Greene​ ​(6-0,​ ​210,​ ​SR-3L)

FB Marc​ ​Philippi​ ​(5-10,​ ​225,​ ​SR-2L)

Tim​ ​Holt​ ​(6-2,​ ​230,​ ​JR-TR)

DEFENSE

DE Iggy​ ​Porchia​ ​(6-2,​ ​240,​ ​SR-3L)

Dominic​ ​Baldwin​ ​(6-5,​ ​270,​ ​SR-3L)

DT Salanoa-Alo​ ​Wily​ ​(6-0,​ ​280,​ ​SO-1L)

Nick​ ​Dehdashtian​ ​(6-1,​ ​290,​ ​FR-RS)

NT Mike​ ​Hughes​ ​Jr.​ ​(6-2,​ ​315,​ ​JR-2L)

Jason​ ​Fao​ ​(6-0,​ ​300,​ ​JR-1L)

REBEL​ (DE) Jeremiah​ ​Valoaga​ ​(6-6,​ ​255,​ ​SR-3L)

Mark​ ​Finau​ ​(6-3,​ ​230,​ ​JR-1L)

SLB Matt​ ​Lea​ ​(5-10,​ ​220,​ ​JR-2L)

LaKeith​ ​Walls​ ​(6-3,​ ​235,​ ​SR-TR)

Gabe​ ​McCoy​ ​(6-2,​ ​210,​ ​FR-RS)

MLB Ryan​ ​McAleenan​ ​(6-2,​ ​220,​ ​SR-SL)

Brian​ ​Keyes​ ​(6-1,​ ​255,​ ​JR-TR)

WLB Tau​ ​Lotulelei​ ​(6-1,​ ​235,​ ​SR-3L)

Bailey​ ​Laolagi​ ​(6-1,​ ​210,​ ​SO-1L)

CB Darius​ ​Mouton​ ​(5-10,​ ​170,​ ​SO-1L)

Tim​ ​Hough​ ​(5-11,​ ​195,​ ​SO-1L)

SS Troy​ ​Hawthorne​ ​(6-3,​ ​210,​ ​SR-3L)

Dalton​ ​Baker​ ​(5-11,​ ​185,​ ​SO-1L)

FS Kenny​ ​Keys​ ​(6-4,​ ​200,​ ​SR-3L)

Evan​ ​Austrie​ ​(6-0,​ ​200,​ ​FR-RS)

CB Torry​ ​McTyer​ ​(6-0,​ ​195,​ ​SR-3L)

Jay’Onn​ ​Myles​ ​(5-8,​ ​165,​ ​SR-1L)

NB Tim​ ​Hough​ ​(5-11,​ ​195,​ ​SO-1L)

Robert​ ​Jackson​ ​(6-2,​ ​205,​ ​JR-TR)

​SPECIALISTS

PK Evan​ ​Pantels​ ​(5-10,​ ​180,​ ​SO-TR)

Nicolai​ ​Bornand​ ​(6-1,​ ​225,​ ​SR-3L)

P Evan​ ​Pantels​ ​(5-10,​ ​180,​ ​SO-TR)

Nicolai​ ​Bornand​ ​(6-1,​ ​225,​ ​SR-3L)

LS Joe​ ​Lang​ ​(6-2,​ ​210,​ ​SO-TR)

HOLD​ ​Troy​ ​Hawthorne​ ​(6-3,​ ​210,​ ​SR-3L)

KR Torry​ ​McTyer​ ​(6-0,​ ​195,​ ​SR-3L)

Charles​ ​Williams​ ​(5-10,​ ​175,​ ​FR-HS)

PR Brandon​ ​Presley​ ​(6-0,​ ​180,​ ​SO-1L)

Mekhi​ ​Stevenson​ ​(6-0,​ ​180,​ ​FR-HS)

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow him on Twitter: @tdewey33.