UNLV REBELS 2017 PREVIEW - OBinKC's Dynasty

OBinKC's Dynasty Blog

UNLV REBELS 2017 PREVIEW

Posted on August 6, 2017 at 02:49 PM.

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Another football season is just days away and it's time to preview the 2017 season for the Rebels. We' e got a new head coach which shows a lot of upside for this team. Let's breakdown the roster.

Offense

Redshirt freshman Armani Rogers leads this offensive squad and by all indications, there will be a lot of inexperience. Having said that, he has unseated senior Kurt Palandech as the starting quarterback, so we could be looking at a major upgrade at that position. But the brightest spot is senior wide receiver Devonte Boyd. He is one of the best receivers in the Mountain West, and he fits the mold of what head coach Sean O'Bannion looks for.

"He runs routes well and he can catch the ball in traffic", said O'Bannion. "He's also got the speed to get out in space. And he works like a mad man."

Brandon Presley and Mekhi Stevenson will be the other receivers getting a lot of Rogers' throws.

Lining up in the backfield is Lexington Thomas. He's the most explosive back out of the bunch, but look for Charles Williams to spell him often.

The offensive line looks capable of holding up against the conference. Center Zack Singer is probably the best offensive lineman in terms of overall ability, while right tackle Nathan Jacobson has the most strength and raw talent.

Defense

Middle linebacker and defensive captain Brian Keyes Jr. is a speedy and smart guy in the middle of this defense. But the best player on this side of the ball is Darius Mouton. He can cover as well as tackle, and I look for him to have a big year.

The defensive line had a lot of trouble getting off their blocks last year, and it's hard to imagine anything has changed. This is something that's going to need to be addressed through O'Bannion's recruiting process.

Another area of concern is the strong safety position. We only have two on the roster, and Dalton Baker is the only halfway decent one. O'Bannion wants to run a 3-3-5 defense, which requires two good safeties to play a hybrid linebacker/defensive back position. He already had to change to a 4-2-5 for this year because of personnel fit, so it's certain that there is a huge recruiting challenge ahead of him.

Special Teams

Punter Evan Pantels will need to pull double duty as both punter and place kicker for the Rebels, as there is no other kicker on this roster that gives us a better chance to win. That should tell you all you need to know about the kicking game this year.

Backup runningback Charles Williams will handle the return duties for now. O'Bannion said that's not set in stone, though. There are a lot of players with similar talent, and there will be a continuing evaluation of performance.

Overall Grade: C-

Based on the strength of the O'Bannion hiring alone, I think this team pulls off at least two unexpected wins. My prediction is 7-5 for this team. I know it's bold considering the installation of a whole new system. But it really feels like a change is going to happen.