CAMP PRACTICE NUMBER: 7
DAYS UNTIL KICKOFF: 22
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I had no idea this was coming. It felt amazing. It's life-changing. Helps me and helps my family."
-Senior place-kicker Daniel Gutierrez about being awarded a scholarship at the end of practice
Wednesday was a big day for the Rebels:
Take team photo - Check.
Pull on full pads for the first time in the preseason - Check.
Hold first scrimmage of camp - Check.
Do it all inside UNLV's new home at the state-of-the-art Allegiant Stadium just off the World Famous Las Vegas Strip - Check!
A week into camp and the Rebels finally were able to pull on full pads and go full force during a closed, two-hour scrimmage at their home stadium. That took place after the squad set up for its first-ever team photo inside Allegiant Stadium. UNLV will back at Rebel Park Thursday morning before an off-day from practice on Friday.
SCHOLARSHIP TIME FOR GUTIERREZ
The final play of Wednesday's scrimmage was a field-goal attempt by veteran place-kicker
Daniel Gutierrez. As expected, the senior nailed it with ease but then something unexpected happened as he was surprised with a highlight video on the stadium's big screen that closed with a special message that he was being put on full scholarship this fall.
A two-year returning starter who has earned three letters after walking onto the squad out of Granada Hills Charter High School in California, Gutierrez's combined field goal numbers of 21-of-27 see him enter this campaign ranked third in school history with a career percentage of .777. The two-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree finished last year an impressive 16-of-17 all-time from 39 yards or closer and rebounded from missing his first field goal and extra-point attempt in the season opener at San Diego State to make the all 16 of his remaining attempts on the year as a junior.
Gutierrez was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week way back in 2017 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. That's the night he tied an overall school record and set a UNLV freshman record by making four field goals in one game.
Now, he's a scholarship player for the Rebels.
"I've been here a long time and have seen this program change so much," he said. "It's just a blessing to be here."
Asked about his goals as a senior, Gutierrez said he strives to be perfect.
"My goal is to go 100 percent this season on all kicks. I'm trying to help my team be the best it can be."
