5 players to watch in UNLV vs. Hawaii on Saturday

Five players to watch as UNLV's football team prepares to play Hawaii at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium:

1. Keith Whitely, RB, UNLV: Add fellow running backs Lexington Thomas and Xzaviar Campbell to the list, too. Hawaii allows 258.4 yards rushing per game, and especially given the Rebels' uncertainty at quarterback with Blake Decker nursing a shoulder injury, UNLV needs to dominate on the ground.

2. Ikaika Woolsey, QB, Hawaii: He replaces Max Wittek, a highly touted Southern California transfer who struggled this season. The Rebels are familiar with Woolsey because he was the quarterback who beat them last season.

3. Blake Richmond, S, UNLV: He has 55 tackles and five pass breakups and needs to help anchor a secondary that should get tested.

4. Jerrol Garcia-Williams, LB, Hawaii: The Palo Verde High School graduate leads Hawaii with 81 tackles, which includes 3½ for loss and 1½ sacks.

5. Will Kreitler, C, UNLV: If the Rebels are to get a push up the middle, Kreitler must do his part to create that room for the running backs.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65