5 players to watch in UNLV-New Mexico game

Here are five players to watch when UNLV’s football team plays New Mexico at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium:

1. UNLV sophomore LB Tau Lotulelei. He and the Rebels’ other outside linebackers are going to have to keep New Mexico’s quarterbacks from getting outside on option plays. Lotulelei is having a strong season, leading UNLV with 69 tackles, including seven for loss.

2. New Mexico junior QB Cole Gautsche. He shares the position with Lamar Jordan, but Gautsche is the starter. How Gautsche runs the triple option offense and establishes the running attack could dictate how the game plays out.

3. UNLV sophomore RB Keith Whitely. Like UNLV, the Lobos have struggled to stop the run, giving up 284.3 yards per game. This is a great opportunity for Whitely, who averages 4.7 yards per carry, to pick up lots of yards and perhaps even his first 100-yard performance.

4. New Mexico sophomore LB Dakota Cox. He has been all over the field, and leads the Lobos with 95 tackles. His 13.6-per-game average also ranks second nationally.

5. UNLV junior PK Jonathan Leiva. Oddsmakers call this game even, and if they’re right, then the outcome could be decided by a field goal. With Nicolai Bornand dealing with a mystery injury, the burden could be on Leiva to deliver in the clutch. He is just 6 of 11 on field goals and missed the winner against Fresno State on Oct. 10, but if the Rebels knew going in they would have a kick to win the game, they probably would take it.