UNLV Football Holds First Spring Scrimmage

Head coach Dan Mullen sees room for improvement on both offense and defense

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:48am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a UNLV football practice or game, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team's colors of scarlet red, gray, and black, conveying the energy and intensity of the spring workouts.UNLV's spring football scrimmage showcases the team's progress as they work to establish consistency and identify player strengths ahead of the upcoming season.Las Vegas Today

The UNLV Rebels football team held its first spring scrimmage on Friday, April 10, 2026, with head coach Dan Mullen noting that neither the offense nor defense has jumped ahead of the other at this stage of the offseason. Mullen emphasized the importance of consistent execution and effort from the players, as the team continues to evaluate its personnel and identify each player's strengths.

Why it matters

UNLV is looking to build on the progress made last season under Mullen's leadership, and the spring scrimmage provides an early glimpse into the team's development. With a mix of returning players and new faces, the Rebels are working to establish a strong foundation on both sides of the ball ahead of the upcoming season.

The details

During the scrimmage, both the offense and defense showed flashes of good and bad play, which Mullen said is typical for this time of year. The Rebels are still learning to execute the system and are working to identify each player's strengths and weaknesses. Quarterback Jackson Arnold, a transfer from Auburn, had some strong throws, while returning Michigan transfer Alex Orji also took reps. Senior running back Jaylon Glover is looking to complement the offense's lead back, Jai'Den 'Jet' Thomas, and the defense has shown signs of improvement from the second half of last season.

  • The Rebels held their first spring scrimmage on Friday, April 10, 2026.
  • UNLV is scheduled for one more scrimmage on April 17, 2026 before the spring game on April 25, 2026.

The players

Dan Mullen

The head coach of the UNLV Rebels football team, who is in his second year leading the program.

Jackson Arnold

A quarterback transfer from Auburn who is competing for the starting job.

Alex Orji

A returning quarterback transfer from Michigan who is also competing for the starting role.

Jaylon Glover

A senior running back who is looking to complement the lead back, Jai'Den 'Jet' Thomas.

Jai'Den 'Jet' Thomas

The lead running back for the Rebels.

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What they’re saying

“I don't see it as if one side is ahead. It's about the execution, the consistency of execution and the effort we play with. That's what I'm really looking at right now.”

— Dan Mullen, Head Coach

“I want to be more polished and complement the offense and Jet. Everything will come. If I'm a team guy, I'm sure my role will increase if I continue to get better.”

— Jaylon Glover, Senior Running Back

“It looks like they're ahead of schedule right now. They're flying around. Guys we brought in from the portal look ready to play. It looks promising, I hope they keep it up.”

— Jaylon Glover, Senior Running Back

What’s next

UNLV is scheduled for one more scrimmage on April 17, 2026 before the spring game on April 25, 2026, where the team will look to continue its progress and evaluation of the roster.

The takeaway

While neither the offense nor defense has jumped ahead of the other at this early stage, UNLV is showing signs of improvement from last season under Coach Mullen. The Rebels are focused on consistent execution and identifying each player's strengths as they work to build a strong foundation ahead of the upcoming season.