Camp Rebel rolled on with a second straight day of shoulder pads at Rebel Park Monday, where coach
Tony Sanchez and the Rebels ramped up the intensity with a pair of long team sessions to wrap up the morning. UNLV will hold its first full-pads practice Tuesday evening at Sam Boyd Stadium (all camp practices closed to the public.)
While junior
Armani Rogers has the stronghold on QB1, the backup role was more murky heading into camp. Last fall, junior
Max Gilliam stepped in when Rogers missed six games with an injury, filling in admirably and even leading the Rebels to their first win at San Diego State since 2000. Gilliam was set to compete with redshirt freshman
Kenyon Oblad for the No. 2 spot this year, but a late summer training injury to Gilliam has forced Oblad squarely into the QB2 role until Gilliam returns.
Oblad, a highly decorated local product out of Liberty High School who finished his prep career as the state's all-time leading passer, made one appearance and completed a pass against Fresno State as a true freshman in 2018 (NCAA allows a redshirt season if competed in four games or fewer). After graduating high school early in December of 2017, he now has two full springs and a season with the program under his belt, allowing him to enter his second fall camp with more confidence than his first.
"I definitely feel a lot more comfortable with the process and daily grind of fall camp this year compared to last," said Oblad. "I know what to expect and I'm ready to come in and work everyday. That has helped me be a lot more confident in running the offense and focusing on things that I can get better at everyday."
Gilliam going down adds an extra layer of urgency for Oblad as he knows he will be the guy if anything happens to Rogers.
"We always have the next man up mentality, but knowing that you are one play away from going in changes your mindset and open your eyes," he said. "It motivates you to get a little extra work after practice and watch a little more film so if that time comes I know I'll be prepared for it."
Oblad's role as QB2 isn't the only new look this fall. When the Las Vegas native arrived on campus, he was hard to miss with his California long bleach blond hair, but Oblad has left that look behind with a recent chop to his locks. Why the change to his signature look?
"I first grew it out because I thought it always looked cool when quarterbacks had their hair coming out of the back of their helmet," he said. "But then it became too much work to take care of and it was getting in the way so I just had to let it go."
RISE AND GRIND: Attitude and Effort: The Tony Sanchez Way
UNLV opens its season August 31 by hosting Southern Utah at 7 pm. Season tickets, which start as low as $99, are available now and as part of UNLV's Faithful Fan Pricing initiative, fans purchasing season tickets this year may purchase season tickets for the same per-game price in the new Las Vegas Stadium opening in 2020.
Season ticket mini-plans for UNLV football recently went on sale. This year's mini-plan allows fans to purchase tickets for the games vs. Boise State, San Diego State and Hawai'i for one low price that includes a meal combo and the commemorative giveaway T-shirt each week. Prices for the mini-plan are $99 for end-zone locations and $150 for sideline seats. Mini-plans, as well as full season tickets are available now by calling (702) 739-3267 (FANS) or visiting
unlvtickets.com.
