When John Robinson’s UNLV team arrives at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, it will feature a drastically revamped roster from last season’s team that finished 3-8 (1-6 conference). Expectations in Las Vegas are high for Robinson’s second season as head coach, due in large part to the addition of many new transfers and a new offensive coordinator. The most notable changes from last season will be on Robinson’s offense. Newcomers Jason Thomas and Kevin Brown headline a Rebel attack that looks to put up significantly more points than last year’s team that finished 106th in the nation in scoring (14.6 ppg), yet was the most efficient with only 11 turnovers. “Last year we had the most efficient offense in the country. We didn’t fumble, didn’t throw an interception. Of course, we didn’t get any first downs either. It’s not that were going to scrap that. It’s just that we will risk a little more with a more wide-open attack. It should be a little more entertaining of a game,” Thomas said. Thomas, a former high school All-American and preseason all-Mountain West Conference (MWC ) quarterback, hasn’t played in a game in two years; since his days at USC, where Robinson recruited him. Despite the fact that Thomas lacks experience, Robinson feels he can step in and immediately make an impact. “Jason Thomas brings almost stunning physical gifts to the position and appears to have a lot of the intangibles as well,” said Robinson. Thomas will take the first snap at quarterback for the Rebels, with last year’s starter Jason Vaughan backing him up. Vaughan threw for 1,043 yards and 9 touchdowns last season. The Rebel backfield returns starting running back Jeremi Rudolph, another preseason all-MWC honoree. Rudolph racked up 693 yards and 4 touchdowns before an injury cut his 1999 campaign short. Joining Rudolph will be Brown, who makes his debut as the MWC’s preseason offensive newcomer of the year. Brown rushed for 1,046 yards at Washington State in 1998, including 599 yards in his last five games of PAC-10 competition. Wide receivers senior Nate Turner and sophomore Troy Mason will be Thomas’ main targets in the new, wide-open Rebel offense. Turner, considered to be an NFL prospect, paced UNLV with 45 receptions for 627 yards and 6 touchdowns a year ago. DeJhown Mandley will start at tight end with James Wofford rounding out the Rebel backfield at fullback. Little is known about the UNLV offensive line that will be so pivotal in Rudolph and Brown’s success. Brandon Bair and John Greer start at the tackles, Greg Hulett and Tony Terrell start at the guards, and Peter Tramontanas will start at center. On defense, cornerback Kevin Thomas and linebacker James Sunia lead the way. Thomas is considered the MWC’s best defensive player and Sunia is well on his way to become UNLV’s all-time leading tackler in just his third season in Las Vegas. Thomas is a preseason second team all-American that broke up 24 passes, made 52 tackles, and had 5 interceptions a year ago. Sunia needs just 56 tackles to break the Rebel record of 289, a feat that is very attainable for a player that made 119 tackles a year ago. UNLV’s four-man front starts ends Scott Parkhurst and Anton Palepoi, defensive tackle Ahmad Miller, and noseguard Anthony Suggs. Pairing up at linebacker with Sunia will be Tyler Brickell and Shanga Wilson. Thomas’ partner-in-crime in the secondary is strong safety Randy Black. Punter Ray Cheetany, a native of Cedar Rapids, is the nation’s top punter, and also the Rebels’ kicker. Of his 65 punts last season, 25 were at least 50 yards and 6 went more than 60 yards. Cheetany’s average of 45.4 yards per kick ranked fourth nationally, and he landed 41% of his kickoffs for touchbacks. He will take on even more responsibility this season handling field goals and PATs, something Robinson is confident he can do. “He has one of the big challenges on this team by taking on even more responsibility. Kickers don’t automatically have great years every year but I am so confident about him as a player. He has a tremendous personality and is very competitive for a kicker,” Robinson said. Returning punts and kicks for the Rebels will be Rudolph, with Ryan Hanson undertaking the long snapping duties.