Our QB Situation

[Boston Rebel 2]

Don’t want to get down on Hajj too much because ultimately we wouldn’t be here if Friel was our QB. He showed a lot of physical and mental toughness and coming off the bench in the middle season like he did and delivering he deserves a lot of credit for that. Just ultimately he’s more of a Campbell QB.

This shows how tough it is to get a QB out of the portal because half the teams in the country wants one and you’ll have to pay through the nose for one otherwise you’ll ultimately end up with someone who has some flaws.

Hopefully, in the long run, Odom is going through the high school route to develop a QB. Anyone have a feel if either of the ones we have landed including his son project as starters?

 

[LocoRebel]

HMW had an awesome year and was fun to watch beginning with day 1 vs Fresno State. By all accounts, he's an excellent young man. Really glad we had this season with him and our team was lead by and influenced by him.

Moving forward, I feel Gael Ochoa I have anecdotally heard is doing well in his red shirt season. Not sure what it means for next year, with the likely weeks of speculation for who our OC and HC will be next season. If there's a change in staff, extremely possible that the QB starting week 1 2025 isn't on the roster and maybe isn't even on our current recruiting board

 

[j. spilotro]

Don’t want to get down on Hajj too much because ultimately we wouldn’t be here if Friel was our QB. He showed a lot of physical and mental toughness and coming off the bench in the middle season like he did and delivering he deserves a lot of credit for that. Just ultimately he’s more of a Campbell QB.

This shows how tough it is to get a QB out of the portal because half the teams in the country wants one and you’ll have to pay through the nose for one otherwise you’ll ultimately end up with someone who has some flaws.

Hopefully, in the long run, Odom is going through the high school route to develop a QB. Anyone have a feel if either of the ones we have landed including his son project as starters?

I do believe Ochoa (Rs freshman this year) has a chance in a couple of years. I don’t think any freshman QB that we can get is day one starter material when there is some seasoned talent in the portal.

I can see it going transfer qb/Ochoa back up, mop up snaps as fr, transfer qb (or Ochoa if he’s good enough, then that’d be for 3 years)/ochoa back up … Ochoa start, Ochoa start.

But you really can’t tell. If they’re good enough when they are young, they’re going to get poached. We could not come close to paying Maiava what he was seeking, for instance.

It’s almost like you get stuck in a cycle where you keep needing transfer qbs (if you have limited nil funding).

 

[rebel5280]

The same was said before Maiava so if Ochoa has what it takes why wait?

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

The same was said before Maiava so if Ochoa has what it takes why wait?

He was a pretty lean dude. Kinda like Doug. Needed to fill out a bit. Plus with Sluka, Hajj and Friel never thought he would be needed.

I don't think he was quite as polished a passer as Maiva was, at same point.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

I do believe Ochoa (Rs freshman this year) has a chance in a couple of years. I don’t think any freshman QB that we can get is day one starter material when there is some seasoned talent in the portal.

I can see it going transfer qb/Ochoa back up, mop up snaps as fr, transfer qb (or Ochoa if he’s good enough, then that’d be for 3 years)/ochoa back up … Ochoa start, Ochoa start.

But you really can’t tell. If they’re good enough when they are young, they’re going to get poached. We could not come close to paying Maiava what he was seeking, for instance.

It’s almost like you get stuck in a cycle where you keep needing transfer qbs (if you have limited nil funding).

Yeah the secret I guess is good but not too good. When it lens to high school QB’s. Transfer guys looking to get paid too.

 

[Rosegreen1]

He was a pretty lean dude. Kinda like Doug. Needed to fill out a bit. Plus with Sluka, Hajj and Friel never thought he would be needed.

I don't think he was quite as polished a passer as Maiva was, at same point.

Ochoa has put on some pounds, not a lot but in the scrimmage game he looked different than a HS kid. So he’s got a shot.

But it’s hard to project any kind of lineup with this climate of uncertainty in the offseason. Odom is currently being pursued by middling P5 programs and Marion is being looked at as well. These guys have families and they want to be able to take care of them the best way they can, as anyone would.

The question for me is whether UNLV will play ball and actually up the ante. What is the point of a 30-40 million dollar facility if you are just going to pay a peanuts for someone to lead the program. Makes no sense and it’s the same thing that killed the BBall program. Harper NEEDS to solidify the staff NOW.

 

[lvrebalum2012]

If Marion leaves, so does Ochoa. IMO

 

[LVRebel2000]

If Marion leaves, so does Ochoa. IMO

I could see that. Depending on where Marion goes and who replaces him at unlv

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

Ochoa has put on some pounds, not a lot but in the scrimmage game he looked different than a HS kid. So he’s got a shot.

But it’s hard to project any kind of lineup with this climate of uncertainty in the offseason. Odom is currently being pursued by middling P5 programs and Marion is being looked at as well. These guys have families and they want to be able to take care of them the best way they can, as anyone would.

The question for me is whether UNLV will play ball and actually up the ante. What is the point of a 30-40 million dollar facility if you are just going to pay a peanuts for someone to lead the program. Makes no sense and it’s the same thing that killed the BBall program. Harper NEEDS to solidify the staff NOW.

I think UNLV will be able to offer enough to where if Odom does leave fans won't be like 'How could we not match that!'.

And if he does leave the job is far more attractive now than ever.

I hate even going down this road but...Jim Mora Jr would be somebody I'd look at. Can recruit. Knows the West Coast. Has done well at Uconn of all places playing an independent schedule.

Oklahoma State is safe for at least one more year.

UNC is in heavy talks with Bill Belichek.

WVU is interviewing Rich Rod

Purdue...I would have said no before but with what Cignetti did at Indiana, that job might be more attractive now than you would think. Plus Odom has a big block head like the Boilermaker mascot. 🙂

UCF? They have some money. Feels like an odd fit for some reason to me..Nothing tangible..Definitely on their radar.

 

[RebelinWA]

He was a pretty lean dude. Kinda like Doug. Needed to fill out a bit. Plus with Sluka, Hajj and Friel never thought he would be needed.

I don't think he was quite as polished a passer as Maiva was, at same point.

Maiava was always a decent passer. He has plenty of arm talent. The issue with him wasn’t talent, it was that he would try to force plays into existence and put the ball in too much danger. I wish we could have kept him around. If he continued to develop and stayed healthy he would have had a monster Jr and Sr year.

I definitely wasn’t as afraid of freshman Maiava getting hit, vs freshman Gael. Maiava at 6’4, 220ish pounds is roughly the same size as Jackson Woodard. Gael is built like a safety at 6’2 185 pounds. For context, Charles Williams at 5’9 has 15 pounds on Gael.

 

[j. spilotro]

Maiava was always a decent passer. He has plenty of arm talent. The issue with him wasn’t talent, it was that he would try to force plays into existence and put the ball in too much danger. I wish we could have kept him around. If he continued to develop and stayed healthy he would have had a monster Jr and Sr year.

I definitely wasn’t as afraid of freshman Maiava getting hit, vs freshman Gael. Maiava at 6’4, 220ish pounds is roughly the same size as Jackson Woodard. Gael is built like a safety at 6’2 185 pounds. For context, Charles Williams at 5’9 has 15 pounds on Gael.

I liked his arm, strength, accuracy.

Didn’t like his lack of mobility.

Wasn’t crazy about his reads or management all the time, ball security when running, I could chalk that up to being a freshman.

I thought he made some really dumb plays at times and thought overall, just a low IQ.

Didn’t like his toughness/heart. Hajj is tougher in that respect. Extra yards, tougher to bring down, Hajj doesn’t sideline mope and cry.

I’d rather have had him, I think … I think this particular team would have been better with him … but can’t cry over the NIL stuff either.

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

I think UNLV will be able to offer enough to where if Odom does leave fans won't be like 'How could we not match that!'.

And if he does leave the job is far more attractive now than ever.

I hate even going down this road but...Jim Mora Jr would be somebody I'd look at. Can recruit. Knows the West Coast. Has done well at Uconn of all places playing an independent schedule.

Oklahoma State is safe for at least one more year.

UNC is in heavy talks with Bill Belichek.

WVU is interviewing Rich Rod

Purdue...I would have said no before but with what Cignetti did at Indiana, that job might be more attractive now than you would think. Plus Odom has a big block head like the Boilermaker mascot. 🙂

UCF? They have some money. Feels like an odd fit for some reason to me..Nothing tangible..Definitely on their radar.

If you lost jobs as grades and we are a “C” job then UCF is a B. If he leaves for them then he clearly feels us moving to the Big12 isn’t happening anytime soon since moving would make us a B job as well.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Last night @Jason Kelly mentioned a banger of a HC candidate with SEC chops and pedigree of winning in the MWC... plus it would piss off the Boise folks..
Bryan Harsin

 

[LocoRebel]

Last night @Jason Kelly mentioned a banger of a HC candidate with SEC chops and pedigree of winning in the MWC... plus it would piss off the Boise folks..
Bryan Harsin

That would be miserable existence.

Every BSU fan I know, 8 years worth if living in Idaho, dislikes him as a coach

 

[Rebelbacker]

Last night @Jason Kelly mentioned a banger of a HC candidate with SEC chops and pedigree of winning in the MWC... plus it would piss off the Boise folks..
Bryan Harsin

Jason Kelly doesn’t know anything. He’s just dude trying to get clicks. He can’t even pronounce our players names correctly when he goes on other teams podcasts. He’s never been ti a practice but claims he’s an “insider”.

 

[Jason Kelly]

Jason Kelly doesn’t know anything. He’s just dude trying to get clicks. He can’t even pronounce our players names correctly when he goes on other teams podcasts. He’s never been ti a practice but claims he’s an “insider”.

As much as you might like to believe that I have ever claimed to be an "insider", I haven't. I went on another podcast and said that I had heard good things out of practice, referring to a report made by Mike Grimala. I am just a dude trying to get clicks for my podcast, wont deny that one.

 

[LocoRebel]

As much as you might like to believe that I have ever claimed to be an "insider", I haven't. I went on another podcast and said that I had heard good things out of practice, referring to a report made by Mike Grimala. I am just a dude trying to get clicks for my podcast, wont deny that one.

Whatever folks have to say, it's content around the school and athletics programs I'm most passionate about. Sometimes I fully agree with your takes, sometimes I think they're a little much, but I'm not gonna not intake the content!

 

[reblife702]

If Marion leaves, so does Ochoa. IMO

Don't think Ochoa was ever going to play a snap here one reason or another. But also..does Marion love Ochoa enough to bring him along to his new spot?

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

Don't think Ochoa was ever going to play a snap here one reason or another. But also..does Marion love Ochoa enough to bring him along to his new spot?

Good question.

Might depend on where he landed

I dont think he's getting an HC gig even at a G5 yet.

And not sure Ochoa is a 'p4' talent, in the sense that he wasn't heavily recruited out of HS and has zero college tape yet. So if Marion does get a P4 OC gig I don't know if they would want or need Ochoa.

Not saying he may not develop into something. Just as of now.

 

[Rosegreen1]

Malik Murphy in the portal again. Unlv was close to landing him last year. I’m assuming if Marion is named HC, this will be one of our QBs.

 

[XFactorRebel]

As much as you might like to believe that I have ever claimed to be an "insider", I haven't. I went on another podcast and said that I had heard good things out of practice, referring to a report made by Mike Grimala. I am just a dude trying to get clicks for my podcast, wont deny that one.

I'll second this, Jason has also mentioned he is just a fan, trying to start a podcast.

 

[reagan21]

Could be worse. All 4 QBs at Utah announced yesterday they’d be transferring. They currently have 0 QBs on the roster.

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Could be worse. All 4 QBs at Utah announced yesterday they’d be transferring. They currently have 0 QBs on the roster.

They better get a great punter.

 

[Gator 82]

Could be worse. All 4 QBs at Utah announced yesterday they’d be transferring. They currently have 0 QBs on the roster.

Might be a good landing spot for some of the higher profile QB’s in the portal now.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Could be worse. All 4 QBs at Utah announced yesterday they’d be transferring. They currently have 0 QBs on the roster.

They're the leader for Dampier though right. But yeah, imagine everyone leaving.. ouch

 

[Bullmastiff 1]

Could be worse. All 4 QBs at Utah announced yesterday they’d be transferring. They currently have 0 QBs on the roster.

Well based on how they played this year will anybody notice?

 

[bcvegaspt2]

Even that one guy who is probably older than I am? The QB who's been there since before Urban?

 

[Rebel1986]

Even that one guy who is probably older than I am? The QB who's been there since before Urban?

Coach I still have one more year of eligibility under my social security benefits!

 

[reagan21]

Even that one guy who is probably older than I am? The QB who's been there since before Urban?

Cam Rising. Yes.

 

[dcut03]

Cam Rising. Yes.

More like Cam Rising from the dead