UNLV lands ex-Auburn quarterback out of transfer portal

Dan Mullen doesn’t know if he has a prototypical quarterback.

He likes tough guys. Those with versatile skills. Those who are great leaders.

And thinks he has found another in Jackson Arnold.

UNLV’s football team has its quarterback out of the transfer portal. The Rebels signed Arnold, a former Oklahoma and Auburn signal-caller.

“I’m really excited,” said Mullen, who in his first season as UNLV coach led the Rebels to a 10-4 record and Frisco Bowl appearance. “He was a guy last year who we paid really close attention to. When I got hired here, he was at the top of our list and ended up going to Auburn.

“Talk about a guy with great experience and an unbelievable skill set. He’s a tough, physical runner who can really throw the ball.”

UNLV found itself in need of competition at the position once starter Anthony Colandrea entered the portal.

He committed to Nebraska on Tuesday.

Comparing quarterbacks

Arnold is the kind of dual-threat quarterback — much like Colandrea — who has flourished under Mullen.

The 6-foot-1-inch, 220-pound Arnold was a five-star prospect out of high school in Denton, Texas, who played two seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to Auburn.

“It’s funny,” Mullen said. “I remember watching him as a freshman at Oklahoma, and they used him in running packages. He would come in to run the ball, and I was like, ‘This guy must be really tough.’ And then you watch him, and he’s actually a great passer, more of a passer than runner. He has that ability to do both.”

In two seasons at Oklahoma, Arnold combined to throw for 1,984 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. At Auburn, he threw for 1,309 yards and six scores.

He has also rushed for 871 yards and 12 touchdowns in college.

Mullen has coached some of the finest collegiate quarterbacks in history. Many had different skill sets but, he said, one thing remained consistent: They were winners.

“I don’t know if I lined my guys up, there is a prototypical ‘Mullen quarterback,’” he said. “Is (Arnold) more like Kyle Trask or Tim Tebow? Is he more like Dak Prescott or Nick Fitzgerald? Is he more like Chris Leak? I don’t know.

“He’s mentally and physically tough, and that puts him more into the category for me than a skill set.”

UNLV also has quarterback Alex Orji, the transfer from Michigan who suffered a season-ending leg injury against UCLA in September. Orji is progressing well.

“He’s doing great; he’s back,” Mullen said. “He should be able to throw at some point during spring ball. He’s working hard at the rehab to get his movement. We expect him to be 100 percent healthy by the summer.”

So there will be a competition at quarterback?

“You know it,” Mullen said. “We always have competition. We’re competing every day in our program.”

Also, linebacker Justin Flowe, who made previous stops at Oregon and Arizona but struggled to make an impact with the Rebels, will enter the transfer portal.

Contact Ed Graney at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.