Rick Scuteri/AP
UNLV head coach Barry Odom reacts to his defense during the second half of the Guaranteed Rate Bowl NCAA college football game against Kansas Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, in Phoenix. Kansas won 49-36.
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 | 2 a.m.
The UNLV football season last far longer than anyone could have reasonably expected, but after 14 games and a bowl berth that kept the team alive through the holidays, it finally came to an end on Tuesday in a 49-36 loss to Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl.
With the bowl game wrapped, here’s where the program stands heading into an exciting offseason:
Run it back
UNLV may have come up short in Phoenix, but it was a successful trip for the program even before the game even kicked off. That’s because on media day, we got confirmation that all the big pieces will be back for another run in 2024.
Junior receiver Ricky White announced he is passing on the NFL Draft to return for his senior year, while quarterback Jayden Maiava — the Mountain West Freshman of the Year — batted down rumors of entering the transfer portal and indicated he’ll be at UNLV next year, too.
White also said offensive coordinator Brennan Marion will be back next year, which is a coup for the Scarlet and Gray after Marion interviewed for several head coaching jobs in recent weeks.
UNLV’s explosive, consistent run-based offense was key to the program’s turnaround in 2023. Now that we know all the key contributors will be back next year, expectations for UNLV should ascend to new heights.
Portal already adding
Head coach Barry Odom has said he doesn’t want to rely on the transfer portal to build his rosters, but he does want the flexibility to bring in select veterans to strengthen certain positions and provide immediate impact. Those efforts are already underway, as UNLV has three commitments from portal prospects — all on offense.
UNLV is losing running backs Donavyn Lester and Vincent Davis to graduation, so it makes sense that they targeted NC State transfer Michael Allen in the portal. Allen averaged 4.9 yards per carry in two years with the Wolfpack, and as a former 4-star recruit, he’s got the talent to produce in UNLV’s runner-friendly system.
The Scarlet and Gray also got commitments from Texas receiver Casey Cain and Kansas State tight end Christian Moore. Cain played under Marion when he was the receivers coach at Texas, and Moore is a hybrid tight end who could bring an added dimension to that position for the Scarlet and Gray.
And subtracting
In Phoenix, Odom reiterated he expects more defections via the portal. The team has already lost change-of-pace back Courtney Reese and promising freshman cornerback Cameron Jenkins, and the day after the bowl game defensive tackle Naki Fahina reportedly entered the portal as well.
The biggest blow came on Thursday, when senior defensive back Jerrae Williams put his name into the portal. Williams excelled early in the season as an all-purpose playmaker at the slot corner position, racking up 3.0 sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss, an interception and a fumble return for a touchdown through the first four games. A foot injury sidelined him through the rest of the regular season, and though he suited up in the Mountain West title game and the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, he clearly wasn’t back to 100%. UNLV got along without him while he was injured, but that is still a huge loss for the defense heading into 2024.
Williams’s departure highlights just how important player retention is going to be this offseason. A lot of UNLV players raised their profiles in 2023 and would draw interest in the portal, but the roster isn’t deep enough that it could sustain a flood of departures. It’s up to Odom and his staff to convince them that Las Vegas is the best place to continue their development while winning on the field.
Coaching tree
Fans fretted all season about the future of Odom and his assistants. With immediate success, there were worries that Odom would jump to a higher paying job or that his key assistants would be poached. None of that has happened — yet.
The fears were not entirely unfounded. Odom was a hot name on the coaching carousel, and Marion did interview at several spots (including Mountain West rival San Diego State). But as of now, the only loss is safeties coach Damon Magazu, a holdover from Marcus Arroyo’s staff who is leaving for the same job at East Carolina.
Staffs can shuffle throughout the offseason — just look at UNLV’s late addition of Marion last year, which happened in mid-January — but at this point, Odom’s tree appears to be stable.
Internal improvements
UNLV will return a lot of talented, productive players in 2024. With guys like White and receiver Jacob De Jesus and linebacker Jackson Woodard (all rising seniors), we pretty much know what to expect.
Beyond that, however, there is a core of younger talent that is still developing. Maiava was a first-year starter, as was sophomore linebacker Marsel McDuffie. Freshman offensive linemen Austin Boyd and Will Thomas are set to see expanded roles next year, as is freshman linebacker Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu. Running back Jai’Den Thomas scored 12 touchdowns as a freshman.
That’s a lot of up-and-comers, but Odom warned against taking their development for granted. Players generally do improve from year to year, but it takes hard work in the offseason program, so the winter and spring will be important for the next wave of stars.
“We’ve all got to get better,” Odom said. “That’s the challenge and the opportunity. You look at the guys who played meaningful snaps this year, however many they played, it’s our job as coaches to get them to play better the next opportunity out. That’s how good programs continue to build their teams.”
Bring in the rooks
The 2024 class was Odom’s first full recruiting cycle at UNLV, and the early reviews have been great, with most rankings putting the Scarlet and Gray’s incoming group at No. 1 or No. 2 in the Mountain West.
There are potential impact players on offense and defense, and even on special teams. With Lou Groza Award finalist Jose Pizano graduating, there is an opening at kicker and UNLV landed one of the top prep prospects in the nation in Faith Lutheran’s Caden Chittenden. How many games did the Scarlet and Gray win because they could count on Pizano to come through? That’s the kind of impact Chittenden could have next year. He’ll get an early jump on the job, too, as Chittenden is one of eight freshmen who will enroll early and take part in spring practice.
Four-star recruit Melvin Laster and Bishop Gorman product Charles Correa should bolster the linebacking corps, and Desert Pines running back Greg Burrell is likely to compete for carries in a rebuilt backfield.
Between the new kids and the core already in place, UNLV’s roster hasn’t looked this good in a long time.
“We’re going to have a phenomenal class,” Woodard said.“And we’re also returning a ton of guys, so next season is something I’m looking forward to, for sure.”
Schedule still in flux
UNLV’s slate for 2024 has not been finalized yet. The team knows its Mountain West opponents, including home dates with Boise State and San Diego State (two teams UNLV did not face in 2023) and a trip to Pac-2 partner Oregon State, but the non-conference portion is not yet locked in.
UNLV had previously announced games against Houston and Kansas for 2024, but that deal was made before Odom’s hiring and the dates have not been announced, so we’ll still have to wait for confirmation on the non-conference opponents.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
