UNLV: The quick and dirty

UNLV Rebels:

Location: Las Vegas

Conference: Mountain West

2005 Record: 2-9

Last Game: UNLV 54, Idaho State 10

MUGS

Hinds:

Wolf:

Wright:

Sanford:

Toledo players to watch:

Rocky Hinds

Quarterback

The transfer from USC had a big day in his Rebel debut, completing 34-of-42 passes for 322 yards and one touchdown. Hinds looked comfortable in the shotgun spread offense that UNLV employs and will have the chance to put up big numbers this year.

Ryan Wolf

Wide receiver

Wolf set a UNLV freshman record against Idaho State last week with 160 receiving yards on six catches and one touchdown. Look for the Rebel coaches to try and get him involved early and often by throwing deep to test the young ISU secondary.

Eric Wright

Cornerback

Wright is another Trojans transfer. He picked off a pass in USC’s national championship victory over Oklahoma in the 2005 Orange Bowl, but off-field troubles forced him away from Southern Cal and into his second chance at UNLV.

About the coach:

Mike Sanford

Head coach

UNLV is coached by Mike Sanford. Sanford has been an assistant at USC and Notre Dame in the college ranks, as well as the San Diego Chargers in the NFL. He was also the offensive coordinator at Stanford and Utah. This is Sanford’s second year at UNLV. The Rebels went 2-9 in their first year under Sanford.

Last time they met:

Iowa State jumpstarted its 2000 season with 37-22 win over the Rebels in Ames. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns as the Cyclones put up more than 430 yards of total offense. The win spearheaded a season that saw the Cyclones win a school record nine games and win their first-ever bowl game.

UNLV Roster:

Offense

LT – Chris Bowser, 6-6, 290, Sr.

LG – Tim Goins, 6-4, 285, Jr.

C – Aaron Mueller, 6-2, 290, Sr.

RG – Mike McKiski, 6-6, 310, Jr.

RT – Marco Guerra, 6-5, 335, Sr.

WR – Aaron Straiten, 6-3, 205, Jr.

WR – Ryan Wolfe, 6-1, 190, Fr.

WR – Casey Flair, 6-1, 190, So.

HB – Justin Marvel, 6-0, 180, So.

QB – Rocky Hinds, 6-5, 220, So.

– Spent one season backing up Matt Leinart at USC before transferring to UNLV. Threw for more than 300 yards in his first game with the Rebels.

TB – Erick Jackson, 5-6, 185, Sr.

Defense

DE – Jeremy Geathers, 6-2, 245, So.

NG – Howie Fuimaono, 6-0, 335, Sr.

DE – Faauo Faga, 6-2, 260, Jr.

LB – Beau Bell, 6-3, 6-3, 245, Jr.

LB – K.C. Asiodu, 6-3, 240, So.

LB – Jason Beauchamp, 6-3, 215, Fr.

CB – Eric Wright, 5-11, 190, Jr.

– Another transfer from USC, Wright was named a preseason MWC all-conference selection.

S – Jay Staggs, 6-1, 225, Sr.

S – Daryl Forte, 5-10, 185, Fr.

NB – Nate Kenion, 5-10, 200, Sr.

CB – John Guice, 5-9, 180, Sr.

Also in Gridiron:

Just for kicks

Week two figures to be uneventful

Point/Counterpoint

UNLV: The quick and dirty

ISU Players to watch

Alvin Bowen: It’s just begun

Big 12 coaches aim for improvement during second week

A look at last week