LAS VEGAS — Jackson Arnold and Micah Alejado will get most of the attention when UNLV and Hawai‘i meet Saturday in Honolulu. Around them, both teams have players stepping into larger roles after their openers.
UNLV will be without starting center Austin Boyd and defensive lineman Poe Purcell, while Cohen Fuller remains out indefinitely as the Rebels work through his waiver for a fifth year of eligibility. Boyd’s absence comes after Memphis recorded all six of its sacks in the second half of a 27-21 win over UNLV, while Purcell’s absence cuts into a defensive-line rotation that will face an offense designed to get the ball out of Alejado’s hands quickly.
Hawai‘i had its own problems in a 37-27 loss at Stanford. The Rainbow Warriors trailed 23-7 after three quarters before scoring touchdowns on three straight possessions and briefly taking a 27-23 lead with 4:06 remaining.
UNLV coach Dan Mullen expects a different defensive challenge from the one his offense saw against Memphis.
“They’re fast,” Mullen said of Hawai‘i. “They’re not quite as big, but they have quick guys all over. They have returning starters, and they play really hard.”
Here are three players to watch from each team and two sleepers from both sides.
BJ Tolo, OL, UNLV
Tolo entered the Memphis game as part of UNLV’s offensive-line rotation and finished it as one of the options to replace Boyd. He handled the final 11 offensive snaps after Boyd suffered a leg injury in the fourth quarter, giving the Rebels some experience with a different combination before heading to Honolulu.
Tolo also brings considerably more experience than his role against Memphis suggested. He played 854 offensive snaps for New Mexico State last season and has logged nearly 1,500 over the last two years. Griffin Scroggs and Joe Metzger have also worked at center, giving offensive line coach Louie Addazio several options without asking one player to replace Boyd by himself.
The change comes after Memphis took over the game with its pass rush. UNLV allowed six sacks for 47 yards, all after halftime, and four came during a fourth quarter in which the Rebels managed only 25 yards of offense.
Tolo does not have to become a permanent answer at center Saturday. He does have to help UNLV settle the position quickly enough that the protection problems from the Memphis game do not follow the Rebels to Hawai‘i.
Lucas Conti, DL, UNLV
Conti started against Memphis and was already one of the primary pieces in UNLV’s defensive front before Purcell was ruled out for Hawai‘i. The Rebels now need more from that group without one of the linemen who was part of the opening-week rotation.
Conti handled 26 pass-rush snaps against Memphis, the most among UNLV’s defensive linemen, and PFF credited him with two pressures, including a quarterback hit and a hurry. Kal-El Togafau had 23 pass-rush snaps and Purcell had 20.
Hawai‘i presents a different problem because Alejado did not need to hold the football for the offense to move. He completed 30 of 50 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns against Stanford, with 11 different players recording a reception.
Mullen knows that familiarity matters with a Timmy Chang offense. Chang played in the same system he now coaches and became one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football history while doing it.
“He played in their offense,” Mullen said. “He was one of the most successful players ever in that style. There’s a familiarity, comfort and ability to make changes.”
Conti’s best snaps may not end with a sack. Getting through the middle quickly enough to move Alejado off his spot or disrupt the timing of the first read would give the rest of UNLV’s defense a better chance to handle Hawai‘i’s short passing game.
Jake Pope, S, UNLV
Photo source: Lucas PeltierPope was UNLV’s leading tackler against Memphis with 12 and left the opener focused on the explosive plays the Rebels allowed.
“We let up some explosives,” Pope said. “That really is what it came down to, on the defensive side.”
Memphis produced a 48-yard touchdown pass to Stonka Burnside and a 32-yard completion to Jemyri Davis. Hawai‘i showed against Stanford that it can create similar problems without relying entirely on the deep ball.
Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho had a 32-yard reception, while DeVon Rice turned a completion into a 29-yard touchdown during Hawai‘i’s fourth-quarter comeback. The Rainbow Warriors finished with 132 yards after the catch, including 30 from Rice and 46 from Carvalho.
Chang expects UNLV to make the picture difficult for Alejado before the snap after seeing several different fronts against Memphis.
“They threw a lot of different looks,” Chang said. “It was seven-man, it was six-man, it was three-man, it’s four-man. There’s a lot of different looks that they threw at us.”
Pope will have a role in making those looks work after the ball is snapped. If Alejado continues getting the football out quickly, the secondary has to close underneath and keep routine completions from turning into the explosives that hurt UNLV against Memphis.
Micah Alejado, QB, Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i spent most of its opener searching for offense before Alejado finally got it moving in the fourth quarter.
The Rainbow Warriors entered the period trailing 23-7 before scoring touchdowns on drives of 80, 63 and 90 yards. Alejado threw touchdown passes to Tama Uiliata and Rice during the run, with Rice’s 29-yard score putting Hawai‘i ahead 27-23 with 4:06 remaining.
Alejado finished 30-of-50 for 269 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Hawai‘i spread those completions throughout the offense, with Uiliata catching eight passes, Carvalho five and Rice four.
Chang knows UNLV can change the picture from what it showed Memphis.
“They played Memphis one way, but there’s great coaches over there, from offense, defense and special teams,” Chang said. “They do a great job of getting their guys ready, and scheme is really good for them. We just really got to get ready, just prepare.”
UNLV’s defensive front may not have long to reach Alejado if Hawai‘i continues leaning on the short passing game. The Rebels have to make him hold the football just long enough for the pressure to matter.
Luther McCoy, DL, Hawai‘i
McCoy gets one of the more interesting individual matchups in the game after UNLV lost Boyd in the middle of its offensive line.
The Hawai‘i defensive lineman generated four pressures against Stanford on 22 pass-rush snaps, according to PFF, with two quarterback hits and two hurries. Stanford still threw for 310 yards, but McCoy provided the Rainbow Warriors with pressure from the interior.
UNLV showed against Memphis what its offense can look like when Arnold has time. He completed 17 of 21 passes for 203 yards before halftime and finished with 291 yards and two touchdowns.
Chang came away impressed with the personnel Hawai‘i will face.
“They’re an athletic team in the skill areas,” Chang said. “Big in the areas where they need to be big, especially offensive line. Quarterback is really exceptional. Their skill guys are really exceptional on both ends.”
Memphis eventually changed the game by winning up front. Hawai‘i does not need McCoy to duplicate six second-half sacks, but a few early wins inside would test UNLV’s new center combination and could force the Rebels to adjust how they protect Arnold.
Kona Moore, DB, Hawai‘i
Moore was everywhere for Hawai‘i against Stanford.
The defensive back finished with 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops and two tackles for loss. No other Hawai‘i defender finished with more than five tackles.
UNLV gives him plenty to handle. Arnold completed passes to 11 different players against Memphis, while the Rebels also produced several chunk plays on the ground. Jaylon Glover broke a 44-yard run, and Kayden McGee added an 18-yard carry.
Mullen’s description of Hawai‘i’s defense fits Moore’s opener. The Rainbow Warriors do not have to overwhelm UNLV with size if their speed allows them to get multiple defenders to the ball and finish plays in space.
Moore’s tackle total against Stanford was partly a product of how often the Cardinal reached the second level. Stanford rushed for 173 yards and threw for another 310, averaging 6.7 yards per offensive play.
Hawai‘i would prefer not to need another 12 tackles from Moore. If UNLV gets its backs and receivers into space, however, he will again be one of the defenders responsible for keeping those plays from getting any larger.
Sleeper: Griffin Scroggs, OL, UNLV
Scroggs did not play against Memphis, but Boyd’s injury could put him on the field immediately in Honolulu.
He worked at center during camp and brings experience from Georgia and Appalachian State. Scroggs logged 971 offensive snaps over the previous three seasons while playing both guard spots and right tackle, giving Addazio another experienced player who can move around the line.
UNLV does not have to decide that Tolo, Scroggs or Metzger is the new full-time center before kickoff. The Rebels can move among combinations depending on how the group performs, and Scroggs gives them another way to do it.
His first snaps of the season could come at the position where UNLV can least afford another breakdown.
Sleeper: Elias Rudolph, DL, UNLV
Rudolph played a limited role against Memphis but now has an opening for more work with Purcell unavailable.
He rushed the passer nine times against Memphis and produced a quarterback hit, according to PFF. Purcell had 20 pass-rush snaps in the opener, leaving UNLV with a meaningful portion of the defensive-line workload to redistribute.
Rudolph gives the Rebels another option off the edge while Conti, Togafau and the other interior linemen handle their normal work. Hawai‘i’s quick passing game could make those snaps frustrating because Alejado has shown he can get the ball out before the rush has time to develop.
Chang also expects the matchup to be physical despite UNLV’s changes up front.
“They play hard on defense,” Chang said. “They’re physical. Special teams is sound. They’re a great team.”
The Rebels do not need Rudolph to suddenly become their primary pass rusher. A productive increase from nine pass-rush snaps would help keep the rest of the front from absorbing all of Purcell’s missing work.
Sleeper: DeVon Rice, RB, Hawai‘i
Rice entered the Stanford game as part of Hawai‘i’s backfield rotation and left it with two touchdowns.
He carried 11 times for 35 yards and scored Hawai‘i’s first touchdown on a 3-yard run. Rice also caught four passes for 25 yards, including the 29-yard touchdown that put the Rainbow Warriors ahead late in the fourth quarter.
Chang said Hawai‘i had already seen flashes of what Rice could do when given the football.
“We saw some of the things when he touched the ball, how dynamic he was,” Chang said. “Him having a game like that is just kind of the confirmation that he’s a good player. You put the ball in his hands and he can do some special things.”
Cam Barfield’s ankle injury created additional work for Rice and Sitani Mikaele against Stanford. Chang expects both to keep building from it.
“I expect Devon to kind of take off where he left,” Chang said. “And then Sitani to continue to grow.”
Rice gives Alejado another answer when UNLV brings pressure or takes away something downfield. His 60 yards from scrimmage against Stanford were modest, but both touchdowns came from touches Hawai‘i can easily build back into the offense.
Sleeper: Kainoa “Kaikai” Carvalho, WR, Hawai‘i
Carvalho did not lead Hawai‘i in receptions against Stanford. He did the most with the ones he caught.
He finished with five receptions for a team-high 72 yards, including a 32-yard gain. Carvalho also produced 46 yards after the catch, the most among Hawai‘i’s receivers.
Hawai‘i spread the football enough that Carvalho does not need double-digit targets to become a problem. Uiliata received 10 targets against Stanford, while Carvalho had seven and Rice had five.
Chang’s offense began looking much more comfortable once Alejado found those options consistently in the fourth quarter. Carvalho was part of that stretch, and his 32-yard reception came during Hawai‘i’s run of three straight touchdown drives.
If UNLV gives him space underneath or misses the first tackle, Carvalho has already shown he can turn a limited number of targets into the kind of explosive play Pope said the Rebels have to eliminate.
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