LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — UNLV football held its first full-pads practice of the season Tuesday as the battle for starting positions heats up, particularly at quarterback where two transfer students are vying for the top spot.
Michigan transfer Alex Orji and Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea are both competing for the starting quarterback role, bringing significant experience to the Rebels offense.
Rather than viewing the competition as divisive, the two quarterbacks see it as an opportunity to build camaraderie and push each other to excel.
WATCH | UNLV QBs Orji and Colandrea build camaraderie while competing for starting position
"Alex is the man, he's super positive, even after a good play, a bad play, he's even keel," Colandrea said.
"No matter what we push each other to be the best, Anthony has that dog in him…it's good to have that guy in the locker room," Orji said.
Orji brings championship pedigree to the team as the only player with a national championship under his belt, while Colandrea contributes the most starting experience among this year's quarterback group.
WATCH | Head coach Dan Mullen on the status of the team
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
-
UNLV Rebels will enter the season with new head coach Dan Mullen
The UNLV Rebels will enter the new season with a new head coach. Dan Mullen was hired in hopes of continuing the past two years of making history on the field.
Dan Mullen to become UNLV's next football coach, AP sources say
The 52-year-old Dan Mullen replaces Barry Odom, who left for Purdue on Sunday after going 19-8 and helping the Rebels receive back-to-back bowl invitations for the first time in program history.
Here are the Mountain West teams UNLV football will face in 2025
UNLV football will play four Mountain West teams in 2025 that it did not face this season, as the conference announced future opponents on Tuesday.
UNLV players and students react to Barry Odom taking the Purdue job
Odom spent the last two seasons leading the Rebels to a historic turnaround. He went 19-8 at UNLV, and the Rebels had only won 20 games total in the five seasons prior.
