2026 UNLV Rebels

Since 2006, the Rebels have started 9, 6, 9, 8, 8, 5, 6, 7, 9, 8, 7, 7, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3 , 6, 4
In 2026 they possibly Start ...9...most since 2014??

Players to watch Clemson/Kentucky transfer WR Troy Stellato (2nd team?); TE Matt Brynes ; WR Vincent Carner (Fr)

A bit of a surprise Vegas with the Snow Patrol O-Line...(Athlon's)
Hopefully former 5 star HS recruit QB Jackson Arnold has a solid season
Safety Jake Pope makes things interesting in the Secondary

OFFENSE (6)
QB Jackson Arnold
LT Will Thomas
LG Colton Thomasson
C Austin Boyd
RG Griffin Scroggs
RT Jackson Brown

DEFENSE (3)
DT Lucas Conti
LB Cam Santee (battle for position) FCS Holy Cross transfer
S Jake Pope

2nd team...S Logan Christensen
Others to watch...DE/OLB Cole Albrecht (Fr) ; LB Tate Matthews (Fr) ; DL CJ Besser (Fr)

Didn't realize Stellato was still around. Rooting for Jackson Arnold too. Certainly a favorite in the MWC!

Good write-up, Twenty-Two. I did a Nevada at Las Vegas write-up last week but it wasn't posted, yet. Glad you did it and posted it. We got the same results, except I had only 4 White starters on the O-Line, so I like yours better.

Reason I bring this up, is I want to share with you (and others) a new site posting depth charts: https://www.puntandrally.com/teamroster.php?team=UNLV

At puntandrally, Cam Santee is considered a lock to start and listed as their top LB. And is their only defensive player that got an "A" against the "run" and (A-) for the "rush". Ourlads also has Santee starting. <link

As far as Ourlads is concerned, I did Florida State jointly with Leonardfan. I was, also, surprised Blake Nichelson wasn't listed as a starter by Ourlads.

Very important point regarding Ourlads depth charts: For the vast majority of teams they list only 2 starting LB's and 5 starting DB's....actually, to be more accurate, Ourlads lists only 2 starting LB's and 3 starting CB's for most teams.

Right there, three starting CB's (instead of 3 LB's) is going drop the numbers of White defensive starters for about 35 to 45 of the 135 F.B.S. schools, I assume?

TT. Yes with most schools playing 5DBs these days, going to skew the starting numbers. Especially when maybe 20 schools in the country play White DBs!

Pretty good lookin team in the desert though!

Bucky, did an A.I. check on how to combat 5 DB's in college football (below)? Answer was obvious, get bigger players and run right at the (allegedly) more "athletic" defenses.

This might be why the Big 10 is currently dominating the SEC (<link), in addition to the Big 10 schools being more White friendly. Although BSPN and others are dismissing this, claiming the historically bigger and more physical Big Ten schools are simply buying better players via N.I.L.!

This is also happening at mid-level schools, where the Whiter mid-west and mountain region programs beat up on the deep Southern teams in early FBS bowl games. Obviously, this is very true at the FCS level, were the Dakota and Montana schools wipe the floor with the darker Southern teams.

AI Overview

The best way to counter a five-defensive-back setup (like a Nickel or Dime defense) is to exploit lighter personnel in the box by running the ball with heavy formations or creating physical mismatches with tight ends and big slot receivers.

Run the Ball Out of Heavy Sets

Line up in "12" or "21" personnel (two tight ends or two running backs).
Force the defense to defend the run with lighter, smaller defensive backs instead of traditional linebackers.
Run gap schemes or power runs right at the middle of the defense to gain positive yardage. [1]


Exploit Mismatches in the Passing Game

Move a physical tight end or big wide receiver into the slot.
Attack smaller defensive backs or hybrid safeties with intermediate crossing routes and seam attacks.
Use play-action passes to freeze the secondary and take advantage of the light box count.

Seems like common sense to me! They want to play light in the box, punish them!

Truthteller said:

Bucky, did an A.I. check on how to combat 5 DB's in college football (below)? Answer was obvious, get bigger players and run right at the (allegedly) more "athletic" defenses.

This might be why the Big 10 is currently dominating the SEC (<link), in addition to the Big 10 schools being more White friendly. Although BSPN and others are dismissing this, claiming the historically bigger and more physical Big Ten schools are simply buying better players via N.I.L.!

This is also happening at mid-level schools, where the Whiter mid-west and mountain region programs beat up on the deep Southern teams in early FBS bowl games. Obviously, this is very true at the FCS level, were the Dakota and Montana schools wipe the floor with the darker Southern teams.

AI Overview

The best way to counter a five-defensive-back setup (like a Nickel or Dime defense) is to exploit lighter personnel in the box by running the ball with heavy formations or creating physical mismatches with tight ends and big slot receivers.

Run the Ball Out of Heavy Sets

Line up in "12" or "21" personnel (two tight ends or two running backs).
Force the defense to defend the run with lighter, smaller defensive backs instead of traditional linebackers.
Run gap schemes or power runs right at the middle of the defense to gain positive yardage. [1]


Exploit Mismatches in the Passing Game

Move a physical tight end or big wide receiver into the slot.
Attack smaller defensive backs or hybrid safeties with intermediate crossing routes and seam attacks.
Use play-action passes to freeze the secondary and take advantage of the light box count.

Click to expand...

It will be interesting to see if the game pivots away from the spread option garbage that has played a huge role in diluting the sport over the past 20 or so years. The QB position has been simplified and dumbed down at the HS level which of course leads to magical affletes overtaking the position so their is a "brain drain" when it comes to the recruiting pool which is filtered even moreso through all of these arbitrary camps that select only the players they deem worthy of exposure which of course partner up with the monopolized scouting racket (24/7, BSPN300, on3/rivals) they use for the data. All of the younger head coaches seem to be complete adherents to the spread option style of offense.