Position-by-position breakdown for UNLV, Howard game

A look at who has the advantage at each position when UNLV hosts Howard for a 6 p.m. game Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

QUARTERBACKS

Two first-year starters will be making their college debuts in this game in UNLV redshirt freshman Armani Rogers and Howard freshman Caylin Newton (Cam Newton’s younger brother). While no one knows how either will play until the lights come on, Rogers has better size, was more touted coming out of high school and has a year of college under his belt.

Advantage: UNLV

RUNNING BACKS

The Bison boast the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference preseason offensive player of the year in senior Anthony Philyaw, who rushed for 1,230 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Philyaw averaged 4.1 yards per carry last year though, while Rebels returners Charles Williams and Lexington Thomas averaged more than 5 yards per carry.

Advantage: UNLV

RECEIVERS

Howard returns its two top receivers from last season, sophomore Kyle Anthony (535 yards) and senior Guy Lemonier Jr (278 yards). One of UNLV’s top returning players is senior Devonte Boyd, who had 746 yards in 10 games last year, and the team also brings back four pass catchers who had at least 100 yards in 2016 (though one, Jericho Flowers, moved to cornerback).

Advantage: UNLV

OFFENSIVE LINE

The Rebels’ starters on the offensive line weigh an average of 308 pounds while the Bison’s average just 293. UNLV returns four starters from a stout front last season that only allowed 10 sacks in 12 games, tied for third best in the nation. The team also collectively finished 13th nationally in yards per carry last year at 5.56.

Advantage: UNLV

DEFENSIVE LINE

Just like on the offensive side of the ball, the Rebels have a major size advantage on the line of scrimmage on defense. The players listed on UNLV’s depth chart outweigh the defensive linemen on Howard’s by an average of more than 30 pounds. Opponents averaged 5.7 yards per carry against the Bison last season.

Advantage: UNLV

LINEBACKERS

Howard carries an experienced linebacker corps, with two seniors and two juniors listed as starters in its 3-4 defense. Senior Elijah Anglin had 46 tackles and four sacks in 2016 for the Bison. The Rebels have three new starters in sophomore Gabe McCoy, senior Brian Keyes and junior Bailey Laolagi, but the group outweighs Howard’s slightly and should be more athletic.

Advantage: UNLV

SECONDARY

Howard has three senior starters in a secondary that allowed opponents to average 7.7 yards per pass attempt last season. UNLV’s secondary had major struggles last season but the team added Syracuse graduate transfer Chauncey Scissum at free safety and Flowers returns to corner after his time at receiver.

Advantage: UNLV

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Rebels return kicker and punter Evan Pantels, who only missed one kick in 14 attempts last season. Pantels also averaged 41.7 yards per punt and pinned 12 punts inside the 20-yard line. The Bison made 6 of 11 field goal attempts last year and the team’s punting average was only 31.6 yards.

Advantage: UNLV

INTANGIBLES

UNLV will want to get the Rogers era off to the right start. If all goes as planned, the QB will be pulled well before the end of his first college game.

Advantage: UNLV

HANDICAPPER’S TAKE

Bruce Marshall (goldsheet.com): UNLV 52 - Howard 13 — Tony Sanchez has been able to relive his Bishop Gorman days against FCS opposition the past two seasons, running up scores vs. Idaho State and Jackson State by a combined 143-21. With prospects for last year’s 32 points per game offense even better with touted new QB Rogers, Sanchez ought to be able to bully another outmanned foe, especially one which does not seem to have the personnel to take advantage of the biggest annual question (defense) on the Rebels’ side. The Bison, however, might be less apt to be roadkill under new head coach Mike London, who once coached an FCS champion at Richmond before a six-season stint at Virginia, where London’s Cavs covered 18 of their last 26 point spreads. Whatever, it’s hard to imagine a rebuilding Howard side staying with earshot.

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow@BenSGotz on Twitter.