LAS VEGAS — UNLV entered the season without needing Jackson Arnold to identify one receiver and spend the night feeding him the football. His first start showed why.
Eleven Rebels caught at least one pass against Memphis, including five wide receivers who finished with at least 20 yards. Kayden McGee and Tavian McNair caught touchdowns, Taz Reddicks supplied a 33-yard reception and Jai’Den Thomas led the team with six catches out of the backfield. Arnold finished 25 of 37 for 291 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
No UNLV wide receiver was targeted more than five times. Reddicks and DeAngelo Irvin Jr. had five targets apiece, McGee had four and Taeshaun Lyons caught both passes thrown his way.
Lyons felt the receivers were asked to carry more of the offense at different points throughout the night.
“I feel like it got to a point where there were times where they were relying on us to move the ball, and I believe that we did so when they counted on us and called our name,” Lyons said.
McNair’s first college reception became UNLV’s first touchdown of the season. Arnold found the redshirt freshman for 38 yards in the second quarter, giving the Rebels a 7-0 lead after neither offense scored in the opening period.
McNair appeared in three games last season without recording a catch. His only target against Memphis went for the touchdown.
McGee followed in the third quarter. His 22-yard touchdown gave UNLV a 21-14 lead with 9:55 remaining and completed a three-catch, 48-yard night.
Reddicks caught three passes for 45 yards, including the 33-yarder, while Irvin finished with three for 30. Lyons played the most snaps of any UNLV receiver and added two catches for 23 yards.
“A lot of great playmakers in that room made great plays when their name was called,” Lyons said. “Me being someone that just wants to encourage them, I’m just happy that everybody made a play when their name was called.”
Thomas caught all six of his targets for 54 yards. Tight ends Matt Byrnes and Keyan Burnett combined for four receptions, while Peyton Zachary, Jae Beasley II and Jaylon Glover also caught passes.
Arnold was at his best before halftime. He completed 17 of 21 attempts for 203 yards during the first two quarters, and UNLV went into the locker room leading 14-7.
Dan Mullen had expected to use Alex Orji more than he ultimately did. Orji played one offensive snap, with Arnold’s performance keeping Mullen from making the planned change.
“That was the playing plan, but Jackson Arnold was playing really well,” Mullen said. “I thought he was getting the ball out of his hands, making some quick reads, was accurate, making good decisions out there on the field.”
Photo source: Lucas PeltierMemphis eventually slowed the entire offense. The Tigers recorded six sacks after halftime, and UNLV did not score again after McGee’s touchdown.
Hawai‘i’s secondary had an uneven opener at Stanford. PFF charted Jaylon Edmond with 81 yards allowed in coverage, including a 57-yard gain, while Elijah Palmer gave up three catches for 49 yards. Matagi Thompson went 39 coverage snaps without allowing a completion.
Mullen said earlier in the week that Hawai‘i’s defense presents a different challenge than the Memphis group UNLV just faced, particularly because of its speed.
“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.”
Lyons said the receivers are not spending much time worrying about how the opportunities will be divided against Hawai‘i.
“Maybe we get a bigger role, maybe we don’t,” Lyons said. “But nonetheless, we’re going to execute the same.”
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