Offense
The quarterback position will belong to Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea. His mobility and ability to extend plays will be very beneficial. Losing Dylan Raiola hurts, but Colandrea is no slouch and should have a big year.
The running back room returns a very productive trio from the Las Vegas Bowl in Mekhi Nelson, Isaiah Mozee, and Kwinton Ives. These three combined for 228 all-purpose yards in that game. Ives is the power back, Mozee is a converted receiver with good hands and speed, and Nelson is a combination of the two.
The wide receiver room returns production in Nyziah Hunter, Jacory Barney Jr., Janiran Bonner, Cortez Mills Jr., Quinn Clark, and tight ends Luke Lindenmeyer and Carter Nelson. The additions of Kwazi Gilmer (UCLA) is huge. He was a solid player for the Bruins over the last two seasons.
The offensive line room returns experience in Justin Evans, Elijah Pritchett, Gunnar Gottula, Tyler Knaak, and Sam Sledge. The additions of Paul Mubenga (LSU), Brendan Black (Iowa State), Tree Babalade (South Carolina), and true freshman Claude Mpouma are exactly what this unit needs.
Defense
The defensive line room returns experience in Cameron Lenhardt, Williams Nwaneri, Kade Pietrzak, Sua Lefotu, and Riley Van Poppel. The additions of Owen Stoudmire (Boston College), Jahsear Whittington (Pittsburgh), Anthony Jones Jr. (UCLA), and Gabe Moore (Mississippi State) provide even more depth to an already deep unit.
The linebacker room returns experience in Vincent Shavers Jr., Dylan Rogers, Dawson Merritt, and Willis MaGahee IV. The additions of Will Hawthorne (Iowa State), Owen Chambliss (San Diego State), and Dexter Foster (Oregon State) are massive. Chambliss and Foster have proven production.
The secondary returns production in Andrew Marshall, Donovan Jones, Rex Guthrie, Jamir Conn, Jeremiah Charles, and Caleb Benning. The additions of Jasin Shiggs (Towson), Dwayne McDougle (San Diego State), and Victor Evans III (Florida International) provide this unit with a solid two deep at all five positions.
Specialists
Both kicker Kyle Cunahan and punter Archie Wilson return. Cunahan was very solid last season, only missing three kicks. Wilson performed well as a true freshman. Jacory Barney Jr. is productive as a return man.
2026 Schedule
- 9/5 Ohio
- 9/12 Bowling Green
- 9/19 North Dakota
- 9/26 at Michigan State
- 10/3 Maryland
- 10/10 Indiana
- 10/17 at Oregon
- 10/31 Washington
- 11/6 at Illinois
- 11/14 at Rutgers
- 11/21 Ohio State
- 11/28 at Iowa
Final Analysis
Back-to-back bowl games show progress under Matt Rhule, but there are changes to the coaching staff (again) and new pieces on the roster. Anthony Colandrea at quarterback being one of them. The Big Ten schedule is brutal and will be difficult to manage. Returning to another bowl game should absolutely be the goal.
