As we come out of fall camp and into game prep, UNLV’s quarterback battle isn’t just about who can make the throws. It’s about who can run this offense. Because let’s be clear, Dan Mullen isn’t just installing a playbook. He’s installing pressure. Stress. Tempo. Read rules. It’s a quarterback-driven system; not every QB is wired to survive.
The guy who wins this job doesn’t just need to manage the game. He needs to own it pre-snap to post-whistle. So let’s talk fit.
Anthony Colandrea – The Rhythm Thrower with Underrated Mobility
Stats at a Glance (2023–24):
4,019 yards, 25 TD, 20 INT
61.9% completion, 7.1 YPA
PFF Grades (2024): 64.2 Off | 58.5 Pass | 69.2 Run
Colandrea brings something Mullen hasn’t had in a while: a true rhythm passer with tempo control and timing. He ran a pro-style spread at UVA that asked him to read leverage and throw on rhythm exactly the kind of processing Mullen values in the RPO/quick game menu.
Where he really fits is with Mullen’s “tagged” passing system where bubble, hitch, slant, or fade concepts are built into the backside of the run. Colandrea has the rep volume and pocket awareness to punish light boxes with quick throws. He’s got solid placement on outbreaking routes, especially to his right, and the confidence to rip the dig against zone.
But don’t get it twisted, he’s not just a statue. Colandrea logged 128 rushing attempts in 2024. He’s a willing runner who fits into the zone-read world well enough. You’re not building the run game around him, but he won’t break it either. His 69.2 run grade proves he can keep the backside honest.
How He Wins in Mullen’s System:
Efficient with post-snap reads
Handles tempo and protection adjustments
Can work quick-game RPOs and attack leverage
Gets the ball out before pressure hits
What Needs to Improve:
Turnover tendency (20 INTs in 2 seasons)
Deep ball placement outside the numbers
Pocket footwork under blitz looks
If Mullen wants clean drives and pre-snap control, Colandrea’s the better fit today. He gives you a point guard with functional legs and a ton of starting experience (17 starts). But his ceiling is more Kyle Trask than Tim Tebow.
Alex Orji – The Sledgehammer with Untapped Upside
Stats at a Glance (2022–24):
44 pass attempts | 153 yards | 3 TD, 1 INT
392 rushing yards, 4 TD
PFF Grades (2024): 63.0 Off | 44.7 Pass | 71.7 Run
Orji’s not here to win with timing routes and three-step dropbacks. He’s here to break the system in the best way. At 6’3”, 240, he’s built like a linebacker but runs like a running back. His 71.7 rushing grade and four career touchdowns came on limited usage, but he showcased real burst and power. The numbers don’t lie his tape screams designed QB run packages.
This is where things get interesting. Mullen’s track record with dual-threat QBs Tebow, Prescott, Fitzgerald proves he can tailor the offense to a raw but violent runner. With Orji, the call sheet changes: QB power, bash read, counter-trey, inverted veer, maybe even the full Urban Meyer gap-option spread.
Passing-wise, Orji is green. His 44.7 passing grade is the lowest among the position group, and the sample size is small. But Quincy Avery, his private QB coach, has raved about his mechanics coming together and his football IQ catching up to his raw tools.
How He Wins in Mullen’s System:
Forces defenses to dedicate numbers to QB run
Unlocks explosive red zone packages
Breaks structure and generates chaos with his legs
Creates the most “Mullen-like” offense
What Needs to Improve:
Consistent footwork and base mechanics
Progression timing in the passing game
Ball security under pressure
Orji doesn’t just fit Mullen’s archetype he is the archetype. He’s got the Tebow build, the Nick Fitzgerald downhill speed, and a Dak-level voice in the locker room. The question is whether he can process and execute the full menu by Week 2 against UCLA.
Who’s the Better Fit?
If Mullen wants to move fast, be efficient, and lean on experience → Colandrea
If Mullen wants to recreate the Mississippi State 2014 blueprint → Orji
But the best version of this offense might not be one or the other it might be both. Use Colandrea to carve defenses early, then unleash Orji as the closer in red zone and 4-minute drill. Or flip it. Ride the hot hand. This battle doesn’t just shape UNLV’s season it might define the Group of Five in 2025.