Know the Opponent: UNLV Running Rebels

Moving along in our know the opponent countdown we move on to the UNLV Running Rebels who’s number 30 on the list. The Rebels are an opponent that seems to pop up yearly on Pac-12 schedules given the location. Bobby Hauck begins his third year in Vegas with a 4-21 record, after a successful run at the University of Montana.

Hauck’s team will host Mike Leach and the Washington State Cougars on September 14 at 6 pm at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Friday night contest will also be televised nationally on ESPN. Last year UNLV suffered through a 2-10 which included a 59-7 defeat in Pullman to Wazzu.

The Running Rebels beat Hawai’i 40-20 the week after losing to Washington State and then defeated Colorado State 38-35. Both wins came at home with UNLV averaging 39 points per win, in their 10 losses they scored 12.9 points. Last season they were tied with Colorado State and New Mexico for sixth played in the Mountain West Conference with a 1-6 record.

Junior Caleb Herring who had the best statistical numbers of Rebel QB’s is back and figures to start the season. He threw for 1,004 yards, eight touchdowns with a 54.9 completion percentage in addition he ran for 119 yards with two TD’s.

For the running game two of the three leading rushers return with Tim Cornett and Bradley Randle who are both juniors. Cornett led the team with 761 in net yards that lead the team his seven rushing scores were also tops on the team as was a 5.6 yards-per-carry average. Randle had 489 yards which was second on the team he found the end zone twice and had a 4.4 YPC average.

Receiving wise the team returns very little and will be relying on new comers to the program to help with the losses to graduation.

On defense UNLV will need to replace its too leading defensive players in terms of tackles made. Senior John Lotulelei is the leader in tackles made last season with 60. Junior Tani Maki contributes 54 tackles from last year. Lotulelei had 24 solo tackles and Maki made 25 on his own with both having three tackles for loss.

2012 UNLV Running Rebels Schedule –

Minnesota 8/30
Northern Arizona 9/8
Washington State 9/14
Air Force 9/22
@Utah State 9/29
@Louisiana Tech 10/6
Nevada 10/13
@Boise State 10/20
@San Diego State 10/27
New Mexico 11/3
@Colorado State 11/10
Wyoming 11/17
@Hawai’i 11/24

Previous Previewed Teams –
July 2 – Nicholls Colonels, July 6 – Northern Colorado

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