Could latest recruiting class signal new offensive philosophy for UNLV football?

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 | 4:44 p.m.

Marcus Arroyo officially announced UNLV’s second wave of incoming recruits on Wednesday, welcoming seven new additions — all college transfers — into the program on national signing day.

None of the names were a surprise, as all the commitments were made public as they occurred over the past few weeks. But more than any single player, what the signing period may have represented is a shift in Arroyo’s offensive philosophy moving forward.

A look at what we learned:

Bailey is headliner

The jewel of the late signing period is quarterback Harrison Bailey, a former 4-star recruit who transferred from Tennessee. The Georgia native comes to UNLV with a ton of talent and four remaining years of eligibility, and Arroyo said he’ll jump right into the competition to be the No. 1 quarterback.

In six games as a freshman at Tennessee Bailey hit 48-of-68 passes (70.6%) for 578 yards while tossing four touchdowns and two interceptions. He looked to be the future of the Volunteers program until a coaching change brought a new system and a transfer quarterback ahead of Bailey on the depth chart.

It’s rare for UNLV to land a player with Bailey’s upside. Now Arroyo is hoping he’ll be UNLV’s QB of the future — and present.

“Good skill set, delivery pace, arm level, anticipation, strength, some other macro-level stuff at that position,” Arroyo said, rattling off his scouting report on Bailey. “Exciting to have him here and to have the years he’s got left in that [QB] room.”

New weapon

Bailey isn’t walking through the door empty-handed, as UNLV also landed a commitment from one of his former high-school teammates, wide receiver Ricky White.

White washed out at Michigan State due to off-field issues, but there’s no denying he is talented; as a true freshman in 2020 he caught eight passes for 196 yards and a touchdown in a win over Michigan.

Arroyo said UNLV vetted White, checking in with his former high school coaches and trainers and others who had personal relationships with him, and that he came away satisfied White is ready to contribute at UNLV.

The former 3-star recruit has four years of eligibility remaining, and his addition gives UNLV another big-play receiving threat to go along with returning playmakers Kyle Williams and Steve Jenkins. It should be as good a pass-catching crew as the Scarlet and Gray have fielded in a long time.

No Chuck replacement

One conspicuous hole in the incoming 2022 class is at running back. Arroyo has yet to add a ballcarrier, which is strange considering UNLV is losing workhorse back Charles Williams to graduation.

Actually, “workhorse” is underselling Williams. As a senior in 2021, Williams carried 253 times; UNLV’s second-leading rusher was quarterback Cameron Friel, who ran 46 times. Third was quarterback Justin Rogers, who ran 25 times. Fourth was QB Doug Brumfield with 19 carries. The next running back on the list was Courtney Reese with a measly 14 attempts in 12 games.

So, yeah, UNLV desperately needs a running back — now.

And yet the first signing period passed without an RB, and none were added on Wednesday, either. Arroyo said UNLV will maintain roster flexibility, keep an eye on the transfer portal throughout the spring and look to add a plug-and-play running back later in the process.

Offensive shift

Based on all of the above — a hotshot quarterback, an explosive receiving corps, a serious hole at running back — it would make sense for UNLV to shift to a more pass-centric offense in 2022.

Arroyo didn’t outright commit to throwing the ball all day, but on Wednesday it sounded like he’s open to the idea.

“We’ve got a pretty effective young quarterback group, and we had the opportunity to go in and find some really effective wide receivers,” Arroyo said. “We’re not afraid to spin the ball around and be effective. This game is an explosive game now. You win the explosive play battle, you win those big plays, you’re able to play catch, you’ve got a chance.”

It actually wouldn’t be that dramatic of a change for UNLV. Despite their reliance on Williams to carry the offense last year, the Scarlet and Gray actually threw the ball on 49.6% of their offensive snaps (not including designed dropbacks that became sacks or scrambles). That ranked UNLV 50^th in the nation in pass-play percentage; it just may not have appeared that way, as the Mountain West featured four other teams in the top 50 in pass ratio.

Given that Bailey has four years of eligibility and UNLV’s playmakers are on the perimeter, don’t be surprised if Arroyo adapts the offense to take advantage of his players’ strengths.

“It’s developed around who you’ve got,” Arroyo said. “At the end of the day, I’m not from the [coaching] tree where’s it’s a square peg in a round hole. You’ve got to make sure you’ve got the weaponry and people you’ve got and build it around them.”

Earlier this week UNLV lost offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas, who accepted the OC job at Arizona State. Arroyo said he’s looking to hire a new coordinator who brings “fresh eyes” and new ideas, but made it clear the overall system and play-calling responsibility will still lie with the head coach.

Right now, eight months from Week 1, that looks like a pass-first attack.

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.