UNLV Football: Ranking 2022’s Opposing Quarterbacks

The Rebels will have to tangle with a few talented quarterbacks in their climb back to respectability.

Not an easy slate to deal with.

12. Idaho State – Hunter Hays or Tyler Vander Waal or Sagan Gronauer

A messy quarterback situation was just one reason why head coach Rob Phenicie lost his job. The trio above combined to complete just 52.8% of their passes in 2021, averaging a mere 6.1 yards per attempt while throwing 13 interceptions and just 11 touchdowns, so whether it’s good news or bad news that all three are back to compete under new coach Charlie Ragle might depend on who you ask.

11. New Mexico – Miles Kendrick or Isaiah Chavez or CJ Montes

The Rebels had little trouble dispatching the Lobos in 2021 and a major reason for that was a quarterback room that had no reliable answer once Terry Wilson was lost to injury. Will that be the case again this fall?

Both Chavez and Montes could improve if they can stay healthy and upright behind a retooled offensive line, but Kendrick has a real chance to win the job after doing decent work in his time at Kansas. Whoever comes out on top is almost guaranteed to improve upon the 5.3 yards per attempt New Mexico averaged a year ago.

10. Hawaii – Brayden Schager or Cammon Cooper

It seems likely that the Warriors offense under new head coach Timmy Chang and offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker will be a wide-open one, but the operator of said offense remains to be seen. Schager had his moments in three weeks as a starter last year, but Cooper has the more extensive background in a run-and-shoot from his time at Washington State.

9. Nevada – Nate Cox or Shane Illingworth

The Wolf Pack are certainly fond of tall quarterbacks, huh? The 6-foot-9 Cox and 6-foot-6 Illingworth figure to battle it out throughout fall camp, but both will have a high standard to meet following Carson Strong’s departure: In three career games against UNLV, Strong threw for 1,118 yards and seven touchdowns.

8. Cal – Jack Plummer

The Golden Bears haven’t exactly been known for explosive offenses in recent years, but the Purdue transfer Plummer might actually change that. In three seasons with the Boilermakers, he completed 319 of 492 attempts for 3,405 yards and 26 touchdowns, adding a reasonable 2.0% interception rate that Cal head coach Justin Wilcox surely appreciates.

7. San Diego State – Braxton Burmeister

Burmeister’s lone full season as the starter at Virginia Tech was definitely a mixed bag. On the one hand, he finished second on the team with 514 rushing yards and chipped in two touchdowns on the ground while also averaging 7.7 yards per attempt through the air with a 1.5% interception rate, but he also completed just 55.7% of his passes, too. The potential to lead the Aztecs back to another Mountain West championship game is there, but it could just as easily be a frustrating offense to watch.

6. North Texas – Austin Aune

Aune has tantalized in 12 career starts for the Mean Green, but he hasn’t yet put it all together after two years. He completed 60% of his passes in just two games last season and averaged only 6.8 yards per attempt while throwing nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, so it isn’t out of the question he gets pushed for the QB1 job by incumbent backup Jace Ruder or Memphis transfer Grant Gunnell.

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