UNLV Rebels quarterbacks Cameron Friel, left, and Doug Brumfield practice at Rebel Park Tuesday, April 6, 2021.
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 | 2 a.m.
As the final whistle sounded on UNLV’s 31-28 loss at Hawaii on Dec. 12 to wrap up the 2020 season, it was known then that returning quarterbacks Doug Brumfield and Justin Rogers would battle for the starting job in 2021.
When spring practice opened, it was Brumfield and Rogers splitting reps at the top of the depth chart. When spring ball ended, those two were still listed as co-starters.
When training camp opened a month ago, it was again Brumfield and Rogers vying to be the man. A curveball was thrown into the mix when Tate Martell transferred in from Miami, but an injury ultimately kept him from mounting any real pursuit of the No. 1 gig. It was always Brumfield and Rogers.
And yet, just days before the scarlet and gray open the 2021 campaign with an absolute must-win game against FCS opponent Eastern Washington, it seems UNLV isn’t any closer to having an answer at the sport’s most important position.
Despite Marcus Arroyo’s continued assertions that he wants one player to claim the job outright and become the unquestioned leader of the offense, that just has not happened, not at any point during the last eight months that the position has been up for grabs. On Sunday, the team released its depth chart for Week 1 and Brumfield and Rogers were listed in a tie for the top spot.
On Monday, Arroyo still held out hope that one of them would play well enough in practice this week to make his decision obvious.
“We’re going to see if one guy can go out and go by the time we get to kickoff,” Arroyo said. “They’ve both done a fantastic job in camp. If one guy gets a hot hand, that’s ideal.”
Neither quarterback showed much in limited action last year. Brumfield got into two games as a true freshman and completed 9-of-21 passes for 151 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, and he ran for one TD. Rogers, a junior transfer from TCU, played in two contests and hit on 14-of-22 for 161 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions.
With such small sample sizes, the entirety of the QB battle has taken place on the practice field this offseason. And as training camp sessions were closed to the media there’s really no way of knowing how either QB has looked.
One of them has to start Thursday, however, and that young man will be under tremendous pressure to play well. Eastern Washington may be an FCS opponent but the Eagles are no pushover; UNLV’s starter will have a short leash because this is a game Arroyo knows he has to win.
Arroyo said he would ideally like one quarterback to start the game and play well enough to take every snap, but the coach is prepared to step in and make a substitution if his passer falters.
“I think we’ll go out there with a starter and see how it goes,” Arroyo said. “There’s not real rotation set like there was like at some point when you might do it and you plan on it.”
Brumfield is no doubt hoping to get his number called as the starter, but he said he’d have no problem working within a set rotation if Arroyo were to have him split drives with Rogers.
“A rotation is something I’m accustomed to,” Brumfield said. “Coming from high school and even last year we had a little bit of a rotation, so I’m definitely comfortable with that.”
As for whether Arroyo chooses him or not, Brumfield knows the only way to make his case is to perform.
“Coach is going to put the best man out there, so on Thursday you’ll see whoever the best man is,” Brumfield said.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
