By Michael Cooper | The Scarlet Standard
The drought is over — and it ended in bold, undeniable fashion.
Ricky White III was drafted.
Four more Rebels signed NFL deals.
And after 13 years without a single player selected, UNLV Football is officially back on the league’s radar.
This isn’t just a feel-good moment. It’s a program milestone.
One that shows player development is real. The talent is rising. The brand is building.
Let’s break down every Rebel making the jump to the NFL — and why this weekend might mark the start of a new era.
Ricky White III – WR – Seattle Seahawks (Pick 238, Round 7)
This is the pick that ended the silence.
Ricky White becomes:
The first UNLV player drafted since 2010
The first Rebel WR drafted since 1995 (Henry Bailey)
One of the most productive receivers in school history
And somehow, he fell to pick No. 238 — which is comical when you look at the résumé:
2,524 receiving yards over 2 seasons
19 touchdowns
15.1 yards per catch
Back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons
4 blocked punts in 2023 — with 2 returned for touchdowns
Yes, you read that right.
He wasn’t just the best receiver in the Mountain West — he was an elite special teams weapon, too.
White put up numbers on a Top 25 team, helped carry UNLV to its first bowl win since 2000, and was the most consistent offensive threat on the field.
Seattle got a steal. And the NFL just got its first taste of #RickyMode.
Jackson Woodard – LB – Seattle Seahawks (UDFA)
Ask anyone around the program: Woodard was the heart of UNLV’s defense.
Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year (2024)
135 total tackles, 4 INTs, 16 PBUs
3-year Arkansas vet who became the vocal leader of a Top 25 defense
FOX analyst Brock Huard called him “the kind of guy who elevates everyone around him.”
And now he joins White in Seattle — a perfect fit for a no-nonsense, high-IQ, all-ball locker room.
Jonathan Baldwin – DB – Green Bay Packers (UDFA)
Baldwin is a rare hybrid:
Can cover in the slot
Crash down vs the run
Blitz off the edge
Lead in the locker room
He earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors and racked up 128 career tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and 3 INTs.
Green Bay knows how to develop smart, physical DBs — and Baldwin fits that mold.
He’ll contribute on special teams early, but don’t be surprised if he fights his way onto the 53.
Hajj Malik Williams – QB – Las Vegas Raiders (UDFA)
From a 0-star recruit to a local NFL shot, Hajj’s story is wild:
Took over midseason after Sluka’s NIL saga
Led UNLV to its first 11-win season in 40 years
Delivered its first bowl win since 2000
17 TD, 4 INT, 1,735 pass yards, 68.4% comp.
680 rush yards, 9 TDs
5-year starter at Campbell (FCS), all-time leader in yards & TDs
And now he signs with the Raiders — staying home and bringing his dual-threat leadership to the Silver and Black.
No flash. No ego. Just wins. The city should rally around this one.
Cameron Oliver – DB – New York Giants (Rookie Mini-Camp Invite)
Quietly one of the most productive Rebels in recent memory:
150 total tackles
13 interceptions
30 pass deflections
2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Oliver has the ball skills, the physicality, and the résumé to make noise at Giants camp. If he impresses early, he could be one of those classic “how did this guy go undrafted?” stories.
Final Word: This Weekend Was Bigger Than Just One Name
Ricky White got drafted.
Woodard got praised by national analysts.
Four other Rebels are in NFL buildings right now — working, earning, building futures.
This is how it starts.
The next recruiting pitch just got easier.
The next NFL hopeful at UNLV just got proof.
And the next chapter of Rebel football — one built on development, discipline, and upside — just turned the page.
This program is producing again.
And it’s time for the Mountain West — and the NFL — to take notice.
Subscribe to The Scarlet Standard for full coverage of UNLV football’s rise, NFL player development, and the program Dan Mullen is now poised to elevate. The Rebels are making noise again — and it’s only the beginning.