Grading College Football Hires

[Boston Rebel 2]

2025 college football coaching carousel grades: Rich Rodriguez's return to West Virginia earns perfect mark

Bill Belichick's foray into college football at North Carolina also received an 'A-' grade

www.cbssports.com

Dan Mullen

B

I'm sure Mullen has plenty in the tank, but I'm not sure he knows what he got himself into. The Mountain West isn't what it used to be. Realignment has made the reassembled Pac-12 the best of the Group of Five conferences terms of CFP access. (At least beginning in 2026.) Traditionally, Mullen isn't the most rabid recruiter; his first class was sixth in the MWC, per 247Sports. The school has poured a load of cash into its NIL bucket after losing quarterback Matthew Sluka. Mullen better get aggressive in recruiting -- fast.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

Our recruiting class ranking was only 6th in the conference?

 

[WarthogRebel]

https://247sports.com/season/2025-football/compositeteamrankings/?Conference=MWC

2025 College Football Recruiting Rankings: Mountain West

Which teams have the best recruiting classes in the Mountain West? Find out which ones are ranked the highest right now.

herosports.com

 

[LocoRebel]

Whatever the dynamic between Odom/Scherer on defense and Marion on offense, it clearly worked as a whole. Truly not sure if there is another candidate more in line with a UNLV job other than retaining staff from last 2 seasons than Dan Mullen. Not even 100% sure Odom with new coordinators would work as well (acknowledging that the offensive play calling seemed... surprising in 2024). Rich Rod would have been great, obviously can't compete. I'd rather have Mullen than Billie B though.

 

[WarthogRebel]

Our recruiting class ranking was only 6th in the conference?

Boise blew us away in most all reports. Some only included h.s. recruits but others include all recruits. Boise is best in each.

 

[Rosegreen1]

That was the worst article I’ve ever read this week.

In terms of Xs and Os, nobody is better than Mullen. Dodd glossed over the staff, the returning players in addition to transfers etc.

Just a terrible and lazy article. How do these people get paid to write that kind of garbage?

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

Boise blew us away in most all reports. Some only included h.s. recruits but others include all recruits. Boise is best in each.

6th is a bit disappointing but I guess hard to say without transfers included.

 

[RebelScrub]

I see a lot of student body left, student body right with our current QB crop..

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

6th is a bit disappointing but I guess hard to say without transfers included.

With transfer portal the way it is now, it's extremely lazy to not include it.

 

[rebelzzz]

Very misleading. go to the links UNLV was 6th for hs players. Then go to the transfer link and UNLV is first in the MWC then go to the overall combined and ince again UNLV is first overall in the MWC

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

With transfer portal the way it is now, it's extremely lazy to not include it.

Very true

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

Very misleading. go to the links UNLV was 6th for hs players. Then go to the transfer link and UNLV is first in the MWC then go to the overall combined and ince again UNLV is first overall in the MWC

Oh wow so combined first ok that is a lot better. Surprised we jump that much but I guess it makes sense when you think of all the transfers we got.

 

[hrz702]

Oh wow so combined first ok that is a lot better. Surprised we jump that much but I guess it makes sense when you think of all the transfers we got.

Our high school class was mostly Odom guys and Mullen had like 5 weeks to re-recruit them and add a few guys. I wouldn’t take too much away from that

 

[rebel5280]

Oh wow so combined first ok that is a lot better. Surprised we jump that much but I guess it makes sense when you think of all the transfers we got.

Also the “kind” of transfers helps the ranking too.. big O and D lineman, pass rushers, receivers and the db’s look intriguing too!

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Our high school class was mostly Odom guys and Mullen had like 5 weeks to re-recruit them and add a few guys. I wouldn’t take too much away from that

I was just going to say that. The first signing date was way before Mullen ever knew he was going to be here. Odom had two years to establish HS relationships. Take it for what it is worth.

 

[WarthogRebel]

Probably the best "COMBINED" rating. Also shows H.S. and Transfer separated.

2025 Mwest Football Comprehensive Team Rankings

2025 mwest football comprehensive team rankings by Rivals.com

n.rivals.com

 

[dcut03]

The last I checked 247 (Monday) It only included 26 total incoming players, I thought we were well over 40 at this point. FWIW

 

[bergemj]

Our recruiting class ranking was only 6th in the conference?

That rating does not include the transfers.

 

[ckfitz]

Our recruiting class ranking was only 6th in the conference?

I don't think that includes anyone from the portal. The list referenced only shows 18 recruits. We nearly had twice that amount. Anyone can verify that?

 

[bergemj]

I don't think that includes anyone from the portal. The list referenced only shows 18 recruits. We nearly had twice that amount. Anyone can verify that?

If you click on UNLV on that page it will show a national transfer ranking and an overall national ranking. You can compare that to our other MW members. We outrank them.

 

[InZoneU]

If you click on UNLV on that page it will show a national transfer ranking and an overall national ranking. You can compare that to our other MW members. We outrank them.

National guys like Dodd don't know shit outside the P programs, they just wing it on the G programs with bad third party links and info. UNLV is #1 recruiting class overall in MWC.

https://247sports.com/season/2025-football/overallteamrankings/?Conference=MWC

 

[rebel5280]

So recruiting has not dropped off and if Mullen and Company are player development guys too, the UNLV football machine will just keep moving along and build momentum for conference realignment!

 

[InZoneU]

So recruiting has not dropped off and if Mullen and Company are player development guys too, the UNLV football machine will just keep moving along and build momentum for conference realignment!

Also, what is the point of a HS recruit anymore? It's like a 1-2 year car lease that'll just get traded in.