UNLV adds weight to make beefier offensive line

Adhering to an offseason regimen that included consuming a daily 2,000-calorie lunch of rice, chicken and eggs, UNLV left tackle Kyle Saxelid entered spring practice with 290 pounds on his 6-foot-7-inch frame after finishing last season at 270.

“I added that (lunch) to my diet and I just ate a ton,” the junior from Elk Grove, Calif., said. “At first, it was a little rough to adjust to the weight because I put a lot on real quick. But I’ve been getting used to it and I’m playing with it pretty well.

“I noticed a huge difference with my blocking and being able to actually hit guys off the line with my added weight now.”

Saxelid’s transformation is one of the reasons the Rebels’ offensive line expects to be much improved over last season, when it was undersized and undermanned.

“That’s really where we’ve got to show the most improvement and we’ve already seen it,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said. “We’re a better group, we’re a more intelligent group. We’re bigger, stronger, more athletic and more physical, and if we keep that trend, that bodes well for us.”

Despite being undersized last season, when the Rebels started three offensive linemen in their finale under 270 pounds, UNLV finished 36th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense, with 193.7 yards per game, and averaged 4.65 yards per rush.

On the flip side, the Rebels finished 106th out of 127 FBS teams in sacks allowed, giving up 2.75 per game and 33 overall.

“We did pretty good on the run game last year and I think that’s going to improve a lot,” Saxelid said. “As for pass protection, we’re definitely going to bring down those 33 sacks.”

The Rebels also feature returning starters in center Will Kreitler (6-foot, 300 pounds) and right tackle Nathan Jacobson (6-5, 290), who has gained 10 pounds since last season, along with newcomer Justin Polu (6-4, 325), a highly-touted redshirt freshman right guard from Silverado High School.

“He might be the most talented of the group, if he keeps his head on right and continues to grind,” Sanchez said of Polu.

Zack Singer (6-2, 330), a redshirt sophomore transfer from Kent State and Bishop Gorman, ran laps at practice Monday as he continues to rehab a serious knee injury suffered last year but is expected to be ready for fall camp.

“He’s coach Singer right now. He’s my right-hand man in the meeting room,” UNLV offensive line coach John Garrison said. “He’s really a great football mind and he really loves the game.

“He’s a big nasty that would fit into that (left) guard spot. He’ll be able to compete for a position, I’m hoping, this fall camp.”

Kreitler, who earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors last season after transferring from Scottsdale Community College, has quickly established himself as a team leader.

“I feel a lot more like a leader than I was last year,” he said. “And knowing the system more, I feel like I can be more of a coach out there as well as a player.”

Kreitler and Saxelid each said the line is in perfect sync in its second year in the system.

“We’re really coming together a lot better than last year. We just have really good communication. I think that’s the biggest thing,” Kreitler said. “And we’re finally comfortable with the system so you can just go out there and play fast.”

Not even a 2,000-calorie lunch can slow them down.

NOTE — UNLV will practice at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday and Friday at Rebel Park. All practices are open to the public.

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