UNLV football coach Tony Sanchez heads into his fifth season at the helm of the long-suffering program and the pressure for the Rebels to win is at an all-time high. While athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois recently axed the school’s head men’s basketball coach after just three seasons, Sanchez was given a fifth year to right the ship. The time has finally come as the Rebels open up their 2019 season Saturday night in their final home opener at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Needless to say, the pressure to win is at a fevered pitch for Sanchez, who is most likely coaching for his job after four seasons and just 16 wins over that span. The new practice facility is finished and the Rebels are moving into their new $1.9 billion home at Allegiant Stadium in 2020. If Sanchez wants to roam the sidelines next year, the UNLV Football team must reach a bowl game this season and — if all goes as planned — it should.
UNLV Football enters the 2019 season with as talented a squad as Sanchez has led during his tenure. With a healthy program quarterback in place, some playmakers on offense and a defense many expect to improve after four seasons of porous play, UNLV could finally reach the short-term goal of bowl eligibility. Of course the hometown sportsbooks have the Rebels favored in just two of their 12 games so there are plenty of doubters expecting more of the same.
As the season opens, let’s take a look at what to expect from UNLV Football in the 2019 season.
Offense
With junior quarterback Armani Rogers returning under center, the Rebels have one of the nation’s top rushing quarterbacks. The only signal-caller in school history to rush for at least 100 net yards in a game more than three times during his career, Rogers is healthy again after being forced to the bench after just four games. The son of former NFL linebacker Sam Rogers rushed for 488 yards before the foot injury ended his season.
The only knock on his game has been his passing efficiency. While a prolific runner, he has only completed 49% of his career attempts. Combine that with a historically bad defense and Rogers has been forced to play a style he hasn’t, thus far, proven he’s adept at. So goes the defense, so goes Rogers’s effectiveness. Can run the ball when you’re down multiple scores.
Rogers will have some weapons on offense and some protection on the offensive line, but he lost one of his best — Brandon Presley — in spring practices and another when Jordan McCrae decommitted from UNLV to leave for Oklahoma State. Rogers will rely on young pass-catchers Randall Grimes and Jacob Gasser as well as Tyleek Collins and Mekhi Stevenson.
The running game is looking to Charles Williams, Chad Magyar and Courtney Reese to help replace Lexington Thomas, who rushed for more than a thousand yards in both of his final seasons. The big question mark is former Gorman standout and Cal transfer Biaggio Ali Walsh, who was recently ruled eligible by the NCAA after a months-long waiver process.
NCAA granted my eligibility.
I am able to play this season! #GoRebels
— Biaggio (@BiaggioAli1234) August 20, 2019
Ali-Walsh, boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s grandson, could very well take the lead. The sophomore redshirted in 2017 during his first year with Cal and, in 2018, had just four carries for nine yards. While he didn’t get many touches at Cal, Ali Walsh rushed for 4,508 yards (an average of 11.5 yards per carry) and 65 touchdowns as a standout with local powerhouse high school program Bishop Gorman.
While the offense lost its coordinator Barney Cotton, who stepped aside from coaching as he awaits a heart transplant. Sanchez will now rely on offensive line coach Garin Justice to handle the play-calling duties. If Justice can continue what Cotton used so well, the offense should be able to put up plenty of points this year, even if the defense fails to perform at an acceptable level.
Defense
While the offense has shown flashes of scoring ability, it’s been forced to go away from its strengths thanks to the defensive effort on the other side of the football. Under Sanchez, the defense has gotten worse. Last year’s squad allowed 37.2 points per game and, as a whole, Sanchez’s defenses have allowed 34.9 points per game in his first four seasons.
Avert your eyes.
UNLV football points per game allowed:
2018 – 37.2
2017 – 31.8
2016 – 36.8
2015 – 33.7
2014 – 38.5
2013 – 31.8
2012 – 32.6
2011 – 40.1
2010 – 39.7
2009 – 32.4
2008 – 32.6
2007 – 28.6
2006 – 31.8
2005 – 34.6
2004 – 32.5
2003 – 22.7— Mike Grimala (@MikeGrimala) August 22, 2019
The front seven of the defense has depth and will rely on players like Gabe McCoy, Kolo Uasike, and Javin White to create havoc in the trenches. Riverside City College transfer Vic Viramontes is expected to partner up with White at middle linebacker, which could make a huge difference in the performance of the defense. Viramontes is one of the highest rated transfers in program history and was a force at Riverside. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound California native recorded 66.0 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception last year.
The biggest question mark is the defensive secondary, which has been an issue for most of the Sanchez Era. The secondary consistently gave up big plays last year, forcing the offense to play catchup far too frequently. If it can play even average defense against the pass, the UNLV defense should be adequate, which would be a massive step up considering its putrid history under Sanchez.
Can the Rebels win enough to be bowl eligible?
This will be the biggest storyline all season. Sanchez was given another year, but barely. After horrible losses to Howard (where a $100 bet for Howard to win paid out $55,000) in 2017 and another embarrassing loss to winless San Jose State in 2019, there were whispers Sanchez might not even finish the season.
Reed-Francois didn’t really give him a ringing endorsement after the season ended and even was forced to explain her decision after she fired Menzies after just three seasons.
UNLV Basketball coach Marvin Menzies was fired after his 3rd season. He finished 48-48. UNLV Football coach Tony Sanchez will coach a 5th season after finishing 16-32 over 4 years. Here’s how UNLV’s athletic director explained this. @News3LV pic.twitter.com/hOkrkDbij2
— Amber Dixon (@AmberNews3LV) March 16, 2019
If Sanchez and his staff can reach a bowl this season, he will have saved his job. It’s hard to believe it’s not going to be a coveted position, if he fails, considering the new stadium and practice facility. This is the make-or-break season for the program. Course change is a last resort, and Sanchez knows this.
Come Saturday, it’s time to win or go home. Let’s hope Sanchez and Co. shine in their final season out at Sam Boyd Stadium.
