UNLV was already a stable program earlier than Dan Mullen arrived, however this yr’s roster has a novel look.
With Mullen because the lead insurrectionist, the Rebels (10-2) have used a distinct type of technique to construct a loaded roster, raiding the perfect packages within the nation and banding collectively a gaggle set on beating Boise State (8-4) within the Mountain West Championship on Friday.
This roster wasn’t constructed from the bottom up, as some may count on from a Group of 5 workforce. As an alternative, it was constructed from the highest down by pillaging Energy 4 packages of former four- and five-star recruits. Mullen himself was the primary instance.
When he was employed on Dec. 12, 2024, Mullen got here with a monitor report of success, having beforehand coached at Florida, the place he led the Gators to an look within the SEC Championship Recreation and three New Yr’s Six bowl video games, albeit with a 34-15 report in 4 seasons.
Earlier than that, the 52-year-old spent 9 up-and-down seasons (69-46 report) on the helm of the Mississippi State Bulldogs, with the height of a No. 1 rating in 2014.
Mullen has seen the kind of gamers competing on the prime of he sport, and he needed that very same caliber of athlete with him in Sin Metropolis.
Mullen is much from the primary Group of 5 coach to attempt to load his treasure chest with the perfect loot, although the speed and caliber he gathered was staggering.
By the summer season, UNLV had signed 33 gamers with Energy 4 expertise, totaling 37 on the roster, which is greater than double the next-closest Mountain West faculty. Twenty-one newcomers got here from the Massive Ten or SEC, and 16 have been former four- or five-star recruits. They’ve discovered houses in Mullen’s renegade band, one which has produced the perfect report within the convention.
When in Vegas, go massive or go dwelling.
“You possibly can’t take everyone that could be a ‘Final Likelihood U’ man,” Mullen advised CBS Sports activities in August. “You possibly can’t have a roster the place everyone hasn’t performed a lot. You must get the fitting mixture.”
You could have heard of many of those gamers earlier than. Some have been previously thought of the recruiting-class jewels of main packages. Perhaps you’ve since forgotten them as they’ve moved to their second or third act. Listed below are among the notable gamers main the Rebels into Boise on Friday.
Security Jake Pope
Pope initially dedicated to Alabama in 2022 as a four-star security from Buford, Ga. He redshirted his freshman yr in 2023 earlier than leaving and committing to Georgia in January 2024. Now a junior, he’s UNLV’s second-leading tackler with 72. He’s additionally recorded two cross deflections, an interception and 1 1/2 sacks.
Linebacker Justin Flowe
Flowe was a consensus five-star center linebacker (No. 1 in his place) within the class of 2020 and a top-12 participant total. He was recognized for his aggressive play and eccentric character. His senior yr mixtape at Upland Excessive in Southern California had 750,000 views. In it’s a once-viral clip of him tackling a working again by flipping him over his head and tossing him apart like a rag doll. His Instagram account presently has greater than half 1,000,000 followers.
In 2020, Flowe turned the second-highest rated recruit in Oregon’s historical past however missed virtually all of his freshman season with a torn meniscus. Additional accidents plagued his second and third years in Eugene, and he by no means fairly met the heights of his recruiting rankings, solely tallying 50 tackles in three seasons with the Geese. He spent a yr with the Arizona Wildcats in 2024 and transferred to the Rebels forward of the 2025 season.
UNLV Rebels linebacker Justin Flowe (36) was as soon as a prime recruit at Oregon. (Stephen R. Sylvanie/ Imagn Pictures)
DB Laterrance Welch
In 2022, Welch dedicated to his hometown LSU as a four-star, top-25 nook within the nation. He didn’t play a lot in his first two seasons within the Bayou, tallying 14 tackles and two cross deflections. He transferred to Arizona State and recorded two interceptions for the reigning Massive 12 champions.
Nonetheless, he was dismissed from the workforce forward of its Peach Bowl Faculty Soccer playoff loss to Texas as a result of a guidelines violation. He was arrested after being accused of stealing a teammate’s watch and making an attempt to pawn it, in response to authorities.
Welch has stepped into the Insurgent protection and been considered one of its finest contributors. His 4 interceptions this season are tied with Aamaris Brown for the workforce’s finest. That’s tied for second within the convention.
WR JoJo Earle
Earle was a 247 Sports activities four-star recruit for Alabama in 2021, considered one of 4 top-100 broad receivers within the Tide’s class that yr. Accidents and an incapability to crack the beginning lineup led him to tally simply 24 receptions for 303 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He then spent two seasons at TCU and is now with UNLV.
QB Alex Orji
Orji was solely a three-star recruit when he dedicated to Michigan within the class of 2022. Nonetheless, he began three video games for the then-defending champion Wolverines in 2024, together with a win over No. 11 USC.
Though Orji isn’t the starter for the Rebels, former Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea has led the workforce below middle. In two seasons with the Cavaliers, he began in 17 of his 19 video games performed and logged 4,083 passing yards and 26 TDs by means of the air. This season, Colandrea has thrown for 3,050 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Quarterback Alex Orji began three video games for the defending champion Michigan Wolverines in 2024. (Matt Pendleton / Imagn Pictures)
DB Denver Harris
Harris was a 247 Sports activities composite five-star prospect and the fourth-ranked cornerback prospect within the 2022 recruiting class popping out of Houston North Shore Excessive. He dedicated to Texas A&M earlier than leaping for LSU and UTSA, finally touchdown with the Rebels. He has not performed since Aug. 23.
Defensive analyst Vontaze Burfict
The redemption with UNLV isn’t unique to gamers. Burfict was an eight-year NFL linebacker who was recognized for his aggressive play and a penchant for violating participant security guidelines. Over the course of his profession, he was suspended for 22 video games throughout 14 separate incidents, accumulating extra $5 million in fines and forfeited wage. His 12-game suspension in 2019 for an unlawful hit was the longest-ever for an on-field act in NFL historical past.
