UNLV vs. Utah State: position-by-position breakdown
A look at who has the advantage at each position when UNLV hosts Utah State for its homecoming game at 3 p.m. on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
QUARTERBACKS
Senior Kent Myers has been Utah State’s primary passer this season and has thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (7). UNLV freshman Armani Rogers hasn’t been a very efficient passer either but he’s been effective as a dual-threat playmaker (248 total yards per game).
Advantage: UNLV
RUNNING BACKS
The Aggies have leaned on senior LaJuan Hunt and junior Eltoro Allen this season, but neither running back is averaging more than 4 yards per carry. Rebels running back Lexington Thomas is averaging 7.2 yards per carry and ranks 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (119.3).
Advantage: UNLV
RECEIVERS
UNLV’s Devonte Boyd continues to have an impressive senior year with 20 catches for 415 yards. Utah State’s receiving corps is much deeper though, as eight Aggies have more than 100 receiving yards so far this season.
Advantage: Utah State
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Rebels offensive line, led by senior tackle Kyle Saxelid, has paved the way for UNLV’s strong rushing attack and allowed 11 sacks so far this season. Utah State has given up 23 sacks through seven games, tied for fifth-most in the country with Texas State.
Advantage: UNLV
DEFENSIVE LINE
There’s really no way around how poor the Rebels have been up front on defense. UNLV is seventh-worst in the FBS in rushing yards allowed per game (245.33) and tied for dead last in sacks (5). The Aggies have a respectable 12 sacks so far this season.
Advantage: Utah State
LINEBACKERS
Utah State junior linebacker Suli Tamaivena has done just about everything for his team: he leads the Aggies with 68 tackles, three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. UNLV junior Bailey Laolagi is close to Tamaivena’s totals with 60 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack.
Advantage: Utah State
SECONDARY
Utah State Aggies senior cornerback Jalen Davis was selected to The Associated Press’ midseason All-America team after picking off five passes in his team’s first seven games. The Rebels as a whole have five interceptions as a team this year.
Advantage: Utah State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Aggies sophomore Dominik Eberle and UNLV junior Evan Pantels have each attempted 14 field goals this season, but Eberle has made 13 and Pantels has made 10. Rebels freshman Riley Erickson, who has taken punting duties over from Pantels, has the second-worst average punt distance (38.1 yards) in the Mountain West.
Advantage: Utah State
INTANGIBLES
UNLV is coming off a devastating loss, falling 34-30 at Air Force after running out to a 27-0 lead against the triple-option team. After the Rebels’ last horrible loss, their opener against Howard, the team bounced back to beat Idaho on the road. The team will need a similar response to keep its bowl hopes alive. UNLV is 2-1 after losses this season.
Advantage: UNLV
HANDICAPPER’S TAKE
Bruce Marshall (goldsheet.com): Utah State 29, UNLV 27 — Even by UNLV’s dubious standards, finding a way to blow a 27-0 lead at Air Force qualifies as a new and creative way to manufacture another defeat. I’m reluctant, then, to trust the Rebels as chalk, even though visiting Utah State is shuffling QBs again and its bowl hopes are now in jeopardy after back-to-back losses.
More Rebels: Follow all of our UNLV coverage online at reviewjournal.com/Rebels and @RJRebels on Twitter.
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow@BenSGotz on Twitter.
