Preseason publications see cellar-dwelling season for UNLV football
The college football preview magazines are clear concerning their expectations for UNLV this season.
Of the six major publications, five predict the Rebels to finish last in the West Division. Only Lindy’s holds some hope for the hometown team, forecasting a fourth-place finish.
So it won’t be a shock if UNLV is picked last in the West when the conference preseason poll is revealed this morning as Mountain West media days begin at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Low expectations are hardly a surprise to those who even remotely follow the Rebels. First-year coach Tony Sanchez has brought plenty of pizzazz to the program, but what he lacks — for now, at least — is a solid complement of players.
That’s what happens when a program is coming off its eighth two-victory season in 11 years. A turnaround could occur under Sanchez, but he’ll likely need time to pull it off. His task this season is made even more difficult by a schedule that opens at Northern Illinois on Sept. 5 and is followed by a home game against UCLA and a trip to Michigan.
He’s trying to address the program's shortcomings, and has secured eight commitments for the 2016 recruiting class, adding two more in recent days.
Quarterback Jack Smith of Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix committed Monday. Smith (6 feet 1 inch, 185 pounds) passed for 4,052 yards the past two seasons, with 46 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions at Bloomington (Ind.) North High School.
He singled out Sanchez, offensive coordinator Barney Cotton and quarterbacks coach Ron O'Dell as key reasons for choosing the Rebels.
"That's something that couldn't be overlooked for a player preparing for his future," Smith said. "People make a great program. It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down."
Also, defensive end Rodney Jones (6-4, 225) of Lincoln High in Stockton, Calif., committed to the Rebels, according to Rivals.com.
Those players help represent UNLV's future. Today and Wednesday at The Cosmo are about the present, and if the voting by Mountain West media reflects the various magazines, it's clear which teams will be the favorites.
Defending conference champion Boise State is picked in all six publications to win the Mountain Division, and San Diego State is the unanimous selection to take the West.
The Mountain Division is the more predictable side among the publications, with Utah State and Colorado State consensus choices to finish second and third, respectively. Air Force, Wyoming and New Mexico are expected to occupy the bottom half of the division, the order varying by magazine.
There isn’t nearly the same consensus in the West other than San Diego State. UNR is picked to finish second by four publications, third by Sporting News and fifth by Lindy’s. Fresno State and San Jose State also are contenders to finish in the top half.
UNLV is expected to battle Hawaii to stay out of the cellar.
Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him: @markanderson65
