Quarterback battles in college football are rarely simple, and at UNLV in 2025, the depth chart is anything but quiet. With a mix of returning veterans, high-profile transfers, and a pair of promising freshmen, the Rebels head into fall camp with talent, questions, and some tough decisions ahead.
Anthony Colandrea The Experience and the Upside
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The Virginia transfer brings the most Power Five experience to the room. In two seasons with the Cavaliers, Colandrea threw for over 4,000 yards, 25 touchdowns, and completed 61.9% of his passes. His 2023 PFF offensive grade was a solid 71.7, followed by a slightly lower 64.2 in 2024. While turnover issues remain (20 career INTs), Colandrea’s arm talent and mobility (69.2 rushing grade in 2024) make him a legitimate contender to start in Week 1.
He’s not flashy but confident and efficient when in rhythm. His experience against ACC defenses gives him a leg up in reading complex coverages, and if he cuts down on the mistakes, Colandrea could be the most complete quarterback on the roster.
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Alex Orji, The Athlete With Untapped Potential
At 6’3”, 240 pounds, Alex Orji looks like he was built in a lab to play quarterback in Dan Mullen’s system. A transfer from Michigan, Orji saw limited action in Ann Arbor, but his 71.7 rushing grade in 2024 paired with elite top-end speed makes him a nightmare on designed runs and zone reads.
The concern? His passing. Orji completed 52.3% of his throws last year and finished with a PFF passing grade 44.7. But Mullen has a track record of maximizing dual-threat QBs (Dak Prescott, Nick Fitzgerald, Tim Tebow). If Orji sharpens his accuracy, he could take the job and never look back.
Cameron Friel, The Veteran Who’s Still Here
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Remember him? Friel is entering his senior year and somehow still hasn’t entirely faded from the QB picture. The Hawaii native has thrown over 2,000 yards in his career and showed flashes of improvement in limited 2024 reps, completing 83.3% of his passes in mop-up duty.
Still, Friel’s ceiling appears limited. His PFF passing grade in 2022 was 56.8, and it dipped below 60 in 2023. His lack of mobility (run grades in the 30s and 40s) makes him an awkward fit for Mullen’s offensive preferences. However, as a steady backup or bridge option, Friel offers value.
The Freshmen Gael Ochoa and Sebastian Circo
Neither freshman have taken a collegiate snap, but both are long-term investments.
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From El Paso, Gael Ochoa enters his RS Freshman year as a raw but athletic 6’2” quarterback with a quick release and dual-threat traits. He’ll need time to adjust to the college speed, but early signs suggest upside. ( Via - )
Out of Fort Lauderdale, Sebastian Circo was a late riser in the recruiting cycle. He brings a pocket-passer profile with clean mechanics and the kind of confidence that could eventually blossom into a real QB1 candidacy, though likely not in 2025.
Who Has the Edge?
Dan Mullen hasn’t tipped his hand, but the battle likely comes down to Colandrea’s arm vs. Orji’s legs.
If the staff values consistency and experience, Colandrea feels like the safe pick. But if they want to build around explosiveness, the Orji experiment could become a full-on project. Friel remains the steady fallback, while Ochoa and Circo are being groomed for the future.
One thing is clear: UNLV hasn’t had this much quarterback talent or this many options in a long time. And with a Mountain West title run in play, the right decision under center could define the season.