Camp Rebel continued with a half pads session Friday morning at Rebel Park, where it was a lighter day as the team prepares for its first scrimmage Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium (all practices are closed to the public). The majority of Friday's work was focused on what Sanchez calls the unscripted situations that may come up in a game such as the two-minute drill or the time-expiring hail mary.

One group that has to stay on its toes at all times and be ready when their numbers are called are the kickers. With the graduation of three-year starter Evan Pantels, there will be a new number one place kicker on the depth chart, but he is no stranger to the program. Junior walk-on Daniel Gutierrez entered his third fall camp with the job as his to lose, but how he's prepared since he arrived on campus hasn't changed. 

"My mindset has always been the same no matter where I am on the depth chart," said Gutierrez. "Coach Sanchez always tells us to be ready when your time comes so I'm ready for that now." 

Gutierrez has some big shoes to fill as Pantels made 36 of 46 field goals and only missed one extra point during his three-year career, but he's up to the challenge. Unlike a lot of backup kickers who rarely see the field, the Los Angeles native was able to get some game experience as a freshman in 2017 when he had to step in after Pantels was hurt in game three that year. He made five of his six field-goal attempts and 10 of his 11 extra-point tries in relief of Pantels, even earning a Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week nod after tying for fifth in school single-game history with 14 total points scored in UNLV's 26-16 upset victory at first-place Fresno State.

Now his focus is on doing whatever he needs to do to stay in that top spot.

"Being No. 1 on the depth chart is a big responsibility," he said. "You've got to approach every day working hard and trying to get better." 

Gutierrez will have a familiar face with punter Hayes Hicken returning as the holder, but the long snapper position will be new, so meshing with the new group has been an important goal in camp as well.

"It's all about trust and I trust my holder and my long snapper to do their jobs," he said. "We try to get as many reps as we can and we just keep getting more comfortable each day."

RISE AND GRIND

Episode 7 - Team Photo Day
 

Rise and Grind Episode 7 - Picture Day pic.twitter.com/3ilPqFjZvi

— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) August 8, 2019

Episode 8 - Rebel Drill
 

Rise and Grind Episode 8 - The Rebel Drill pic.twitter.com/okjL814ZaX

— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) August 8, 2019

Episode 9 - Quarterbacks
 

Rise and Grind Episode 9 - Quarterbacks pic.twitter.com/S8vJ0WsGfR

— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) August 9, 2019

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.