LAS VEGAS — Joe Metzger did not start UNLV’s opener against Memphis, but he ended the night playing more than half of the Rebels’ offensive snaps.
Metzger played 41 snaps while UNLV rotated the interior of its offensive line. He worked 32 snaps at left guard, where he split time with Colton Thomasson, and another nine at right guard.
Moving around the line is nothing new for the Holy Cross transfer.
Metzger played 749 offensive snaps during the 2025 season. PFF charted 395 of them at right tackle, 329 at left guard and another 25 at left tackle. He started all 12 games he appeared in, with six starts at right tackle and six at left guard.
His workload was split between two positions the year before as well. Metzger played 480 offensive snaps in 2024, with 282 at left guard and 197 at left tackle before a season-ending injury.
That gave UNLV a transfer who had already accumulated significant college work at three positions before arriving in Las Vegas. His first game with the Rebels added right guard.
Offensive line coach Louie Addazio pointed to Metzger’s background during fall camp while UNLV worked through different combinations up front.
“You’re talking about a guy at Holy Cross who started over three years at three or four different positions,” Addazio said. “So, he can do a lot of different things and he’s competing here at different spots. So, that’s what we’re really excited about Joe.”
Metzger was part of a larger effort to cross-train the line throughout spring and fall camp. Will Thomas received work on both sides at tackle, Thomasson took reps at both guard positions and UNLV gave multiple players work at center.
Addazio said the movement was part of finding the group he wanted on the field.
“You’re always looking to put the best five on the field,” Addazio said. “I’m a big believer in make it work to get the best five guys on the field. So, in order to do that, guys got to play different positions. I just think that’s critical.”
UNLV opened against Memphis with Thomas at left tackle, Thomasson at left guard, Austin Boyd at center, Amare Taase at right guard and Jackson Brown at right tackle. Metzger did not start, but he became a significant part of the rotation once the game began.
Thomasson played 50 offensive snaps, while Metzger received 32 at left guard. Metzger also moved across the formation for nine snaps at right guard behind Taase.
Metzger allowed two pressures over 23 pass-blocking snaps in PFF’s charting. UNLV’s offensive linemen were charged with 21 pressures overall, including six sacks, four quarterback hits and 11 hurries.
The protection problems became more severe after halftime. Memphis recorded all six sacks in the final two quarters, although the Tigers had already started getting to Jackson Arnold before UNLV was forced to make another change along the interior.
Boyd left in the fourth quarter after playing 71 snaps at center. BJ Tolo replaced him for the final 11.
Dan Mullen said Monday that UNLV was still waiting on the results of Boyd’s MRI. The Rebels listed Boyd and Tolo together at center on the depth chart for Hawai‘i.
Boyd had transitioned to center this season and became one of the veteran voices in the middle of Addazio’s line. Addazio praised the way he handled the communication required at the position during fall camp.
“Austin’s a really smart guy,” Addazio said. “He’s played a lot of football, lined up at different spots. So, he’s a great, just very definitive, direct guy in the middle.”
Addazio also pointed to Boyd’s work identifying protections.
“He’s smart. He can identify it, and that gives great stability to the middle of our pocket,” Addazio said.
Tolo was the first player UNLV turned to after Boyd went down, but the Rebels prepared more than one option at center before the season. Tolo, Griffin Scroggs and Metzger all took snaps there during spring and fall camp, although Metzger has not played center in a game for UNLV.
That leaves Tolo as the most obvious option if Boyd cannot play after he finished the Memphis game and appeared alongside him on the Hawai‘i depth chart. Metzger’s camp work gives UNLV another player who has at least been prepared at the position if the Rebels need to make additional changes along the interior.
Hawai‘i presents a different matchup up front than the one UNLV saw against Memphis.
“You watch them defensively, they’re fast on defense,” Mullen said. “Memphis, very good defense. Memphis big, physical defense. This team, not quite as big, but they’re really fast, quick guys all over the field.”
