RJ compiles UNLV’s all-time football depth chart

As UNLV prepares to open its 50th football season against Howard at 6 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium, the Review-Journal is taking a look at who would make up the ideal Rebels team.

Here is our historic two-deep depth chart:

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Randall Cunningham, 1982-84

Inducted into College Football Hall of Fame last year and into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997. Holds numerous school records, including career passing yards (8,020) and touchdown passes (59).

Running back

Tim Cornett, 2010-13

All-time leading rusher with 3,733 yards. One of two Rebels to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season twice.

Running back

Mike Thomas, 1973-74

His 1,741 rushing yards in 1973 still stands as the school record, and he is second in career rushing yards (3,149). Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989.

Wide Receiver

Ryan Wolfe, 2006-09

All-time leader in receptions (283) and receiving yards (3,495). Tied for single-season high in catches with 88 in 2008.

Wide Receiver

Keenan McCardell, 1987-90

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004. Played on teams that won a combined 17 games but still caught 141 passes for 2,189 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Tight End

Greg Estandia, 2003-05

After missing almost all of 2004 to a knee injury, he responded as a senior by leading the Rebels in receptions (49), receiving yards (563) and touchdown catches (seven).

OFFENSIVE LINE

Joe Hawley, 2006-09

Most recent UNLV NFL draftee, going in the fourth round in 2004 to the Atlanta Falcons, for whom he has made 52 career starts. A three-year starter at guard and center.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Brett Boyko, 2011-14

Second-team All-Mountain West his final two seasons. Started 43 career games, mostly at left tackle. Allowed just one sack in each of his final two seasons.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Tony Terrell, 1999-2002

Four-year starter who once started 40 games in a row. Was first-team All-Mountain West as a senior. Inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in May.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Lonnie Palelei, 1991-92

First-team All-Big West Conference as a senior. Drafted in fifth round in 1993 by the Pittsburgh Steelers and started 26 games in seven NFL seasons.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Art Plunkett, 1977-80

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. Was drafted in the eighth round in 1981 by the Los Angeles Rams and played six NFL seasons.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Joe Ingersoll, 1973-75

First-team All-American by American Football Coaches Association in 1975 and Associated Press second-teamer in 1974. Led team with 105 tackles in 1974. Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987.

Defensive line

Aaron Moog, 1981, 1983-84

Pacific Coast Athletic Association Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1984 after making six tackles for loss, six sacks and three pass breakups. First-team all-conference in each of his final two seasons.

Defensive line

Talance Sawyer, 1995-98

Named to Western Athletic Conference’s Pacific Division first team in 1997 and Mountain Division in 1998. Sixth in UNLV history with 15.5 sacks.

Defensive line

Doc Wise, 1986-89

First-team All-Big West Conference in each of his final two seasons. Tied for ninth in Rebels history with 280 career tackles.

Linebacker

Beau Bell, 2004-07

Named 2007 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year after making 126 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, with team-high four interceptions. Fourth with 320 career tackles.

Linebacker

Adam Seward, 2001-04

First- or second-team All-Mountain West from 2002 to 2004. All-time leader in tackles with 433, 99 more than the next highest.

Linebacker

Mark Byers, 1993-94

First-team All-Big West Conference as a senior. Holds single-season sacks record with 20.5 in 1994, and the same number ranks third on the career list.

Cornerback

Aaron Mitchell, 1977-78

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. Intercepted six passes in 1978, tied with three others for second best all time.

Cornerback

Kevin Thomas, 1998-2001

Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. Owns several records, including for career pass breakups (55) and single-season interceptions (seven).

SAFETY

Jamaal Brimmer, 2001-04

Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003. Received All-America honors in 2003 and 2004. Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in May.

SAFETY

Sam Brandon, 1998, 2000-01

First-team All-Mountain West as a senior. Led the Rebels in tackles in each of his final two seasons, totaling 181.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKER

Nick Garritano, 1991-94

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. First-team All-Big West Conference as a senior. Holds record with 78.6 career field-goal percentage and twice made 54-yarders to tie record.

PUNTER

Randall Cunningham, 1982-84

His 45.6 career average ranks first in UNLV history. Has two of the top four single-season averages, including the record 47.5 set in 1984.

KICK RETURNER

Marcus Sullivan, 2010, 2012-14

All-time leader with 26.5 yards per return. Has two of the top four seasons in average kick return yardage.

PUNT RETURNER

Troy Mason, 1999-2002

Averaged 12.6 yards over his career, tied for second highest. Has two of the top five, including a record 16.4 average in 2000.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Sam King, 1979-81

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. Threw for UNLV-record 3,778 yards in 1981. Is fourth in career passing yardage (5,393).

Running back

Ickey Woods, 1984-87

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998. Was 1987 Pacific Coast Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,658 yards. Ranks eighth in career rushing yards (1,925).

Running back

Dominique Dorsey, 2001-04.

First-team All-Mountain West as a senior after rushing for 1,261 yards. Ranks third in career rushing yards (2,834 yards) and fourth in all-purpose yardage (4,267).

Wide Receiver

Jim Sandusky, 1981

Named Associated Press second-team All-American for lone season, catching then-record 68 passes for 1,346 yards, which remains the school record.

Wide Receiver

Devonte Boyd, 2014-present

Heads into senior season third in career receiving yards (2,630) and seventh in catches (164). His 11 100-yard receiving games is one shy of school record.

Tight End

Reggie LaFrance, 1980-82, 84

First-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association as a senior. Caught 78 passes for 955 yards in his career.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Matt Murphy, 2007-10

Played in every game and made 46 consecutive starts at left tackle. Was a Freshman All-American in 2007.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Dominic Furio, 2000-03

Second-team All-Mountain West as a senior and played every snap that season. Allowed only one sack in 2003 and had 24 career starts.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Jerry Reynolds, 1990-93

Two-time honorable mention All-Big West Conference. Drafted in the sixth round in 1994 by the Cincinnati Bengals and played five NFL seasons.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Blanchard Carter, 1974-76

Anchored a line that helped the Rebels average more than 30 points in two of his three seasons. Drafted in the seventh round in 1977 by the Baltimore Colts and played one NFL season.

OFFENSIVE LINE

John Greer, 1997-2000

First-team All-Mountain West as a senior. A former walk-on who became a four-year starter and played both tackle spots.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Anton Palepoi, 2000-01

Received first- and second-team All-Mountain West honors both seasons, leading the Rebels in sacks each year with a total of 12.5. Drafted in the second round in 2002 by the Seattle Seahawks.

Defensive line

Todd Liebenstein, 1978-81

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. His 22 career sacks ranked second, and his 10 sacks in 1980 is tied for fourth for a single season.

Defensive line

Tommy Rowland, 1968-71

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. Was a four-year starter as the Rebels launched their program.

Defensive line

Keith Washington, 1991-94

First-team All-Big West Conference his final season. Played 10 seasons in the NFL.

Linebacker

Ken Mitchell, 1970-71

Inducted into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989. As a senior, totaled 11 sacks, which ranks third in school history.

Linebacker

Ryan Claridge, 2000-01, 2003-04

Seventh in all-time tackles with 293 and fifth in sacks with 18.5. Forced a school-record 10 career fumbles.

Linebacker

Darryl Knox, 1984-85

First-team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association as a senior. Career leader in sacks with 28, second in a single season with 20 in 1984.

Cornerback

Eric Wright, 2006

Few opposing quarterbacks threw his way because he locked down receivers. Second-team All-Mountain West Conference.

Cornerback

Marlon Beavers, 1973-76

Career leader in interceptions with 17. Had 367 yards in interception returns, which ranks second all time.

Safety

Randy Black, 1997-2000

Second-team All-Mountain West by the media in 2000. His 294 career tackles is the sixth highest, and he is tied for second with 27 pass breakups.

SAFETY

Rodney Mazion, 1991-94

Second-team All-Big West Conference in 1994. Sixth with nine career interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKER

Nolan Kohorst, 2010-13

All-time leading scorer with 247 points. First-team All-Mountain West in 2012. His 39 career field goals rank fourth.

PUNTER

Joe Kristosik, 1995-98

Consensus first-team All-American as a senior. Inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. Career 42.0 average ranks seventh.

KICK RETURNER

Henry Bailey, 1991-94

Received All-Big West Conference recognition three of his seasons, including making the first team in 1992. UNLV’s all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 4,889 and averaged 23.2 yards on kickoff returns.

PUNT RETURNER

Hunkie Cooper, 1990-91

First-team All-Big West Conference both seasons. Career 11.6 average ranks third. His 1,705 all-purpose yards in 1990 is third all time.