Some guys rack up stats.Some guys bring the noise.Every now and then, you get one who does both — and leads while doing it.
Marsel McDuffie is back for one last ride at UNLV, and he’s not doing it for accolades. He’s doing it to finish what he started.
Now in his fifth year, McDuffie has become the amplifier of the Rebels' defense. The guy whose voice turns an organized huddle into a dangerous unit. He’s steady. He’s vocal. And whether it’s a spring install, a summer OTA, or a fourth-quarter red zone stand, his presence is unmistakable.
“I’m not really a guy that likes to be in the forefront,” he told me. “I just show up, work hard, and let that speak for me.”
Too late for that. McDuffie is the face of UNLV’s defense and the heartbeat of a program that’s chasing a Mountain West championship, which it’s come painfully close to the past two years.
“I’m Here. I’m In the Moment.”
McDuffie still remembers what it felt like the first time he stepped onto the turf at Allegiant Stadium.
“It was surreal,” he said. “I felt like a little kid, jumping around, screaming. I had dreamed of playing Division I football since I was young, and when I finally got out there… it was like, ‘Man. I did it.’”
He took it all in: the lights, the crowd, the scale of it. It was the first time it truly hit him: he’d made it. But that joy didn’t turn into complacency. If anything, it made him hungrier.
His journey wasn’t smooth. He came to UNLV during COVID, when roster chaos and uncertainty were the norm. He was recruited under Marcus Arroyo, played his best ball under Barry Odom and Mike Scherer, and is now learning a brand-new defense under Dan Mullen and Paul Guenther. It’s been a constant state of transition, and he’s been the constant in the middle.
“I just stay true to who I am,” he said. “Control what I can. Keep God first. Keep working.”
Loyalty in the Portal Era
After Odom left for Purdue and defensive coordinator Mike Scherer went with him, McDuffie had every reason to leave. Other players did. He didn’t.
“They took a chance on me during COVID. I already graduated. I’ve been here four years. Why bounce now?”
In an era where guys transfer for playing time, brand deals, or just a fresh start, McDuffie stuck with UNLV. He says it was about loyalty and finishing what he started. But it’s also about belief. Belief in what’s being built, and belief in where this program can go.
“One more year won’t hurt. I want to win a championship. I want to leave a mark.”
The New Scheme and a Veteran’s Job to Steady It
When Zach Arnett left mid-spring and longtime NFL assistant Paul Guenther stepped in as DC, it could have derailed everything. McDuffie helped hold the room together.
“Coach PG’s scheme isn’t super complex — it just requires constant communication. That’s something I take pride in.”
That communication starts with McDuffie, who quarterbacked the defense under Scherer and now does the same in Guenther’s pro-style system. He says it’s less about re-learning football and more about mastering language and making sure everyone’s on the same page, every snap.
“It’s coming together. You could see it even more once we hit OTAs in the summer. We’re starting to gel.”
And when the Week Zero opener against Idaho State comes, he knows what matters most: flying around, trusting each other, and setting the tone early.
Built by the Guys Around Him
McDuffie gave a lot of credit to the guys he’s lined up with, including former UNLV linebacker and Arkansas transfer Jackson Woodard, who helped him elevate as both a linebacker and communicator.
“Woody made me better in so many ways. We fed off each other. We had one mindset: get to the ball and hit somebody.”
Now, he’s surrounded by a new wave of talent, guys like Chief Borders (Nebraska/Colorado), Jaheem Joseph (West Virginia / Northwestern), and Denver Harris (Texas A&M / LSU / UTSA). The pieces are fresh, but the mission is the same.
“We’ve got some misfits. Guys with something to prove. They came here hungry. That’s what makes us dangerous.”
He rattled off names like Borders (his locker mate), Keyvone Lee, Motu, Jojo Earle, and Jet Thomas, guys he grinds with in the weight room and leans on off the field. For him, leadership isn’t about being loud. It’s about being present.
“Defense is culture. We all gotta move as one. DBs, linebackers, D-line. One heartbeat, one goal. Eleven hats to the ball. That’s it.”
A Vegas Soul with Southern Roots
McDuffie isn’t from Vegas; he grew up in Texas, but five years later, he feels part of the city. What surprised him most?
“The people. Just really kind, everywhere you go. Great hospitality.”
And he’s seen the shift, not just in the program, but in the stands, from sparse lower bowls under Arroyo to a packed Allegiant under Odom.
“Last year, we had that thing rocking. I hope it’s even louder this year.”
And yes, if you’re wondering, the Waka Flocka fourth-quarter dance might be back.
“That final push? That’s what it’s about. I hope we keep it going.”
A Quiet Life Off the Field
McDuffie’s not a partier. He’s not in the spotlight when the pads come off. Instead, you’ll find him playing NCAA 26, reading comics, or knocking out a new book each month.
“I try to stay chill. Comics, gaming, books. That’s how I reset.”
Right now, he’s reading a biography about the Griffin twins, Shaquem and Shaquill, who overcame long odds to both make it to the NFL.
“Powerful story. Just seeing what they went through together, and how they made it, that inspires me.”
His favorite comic? Curtis: a longtime strip buried in the back of the newspaper.
And the game? PlayStation 5. NCAA 26. He still remembers dreaming of being in the game as a kid, and now he is.
“Just seeing myself in there… man. That’s something nobody can ever take away.”
What's in the Headphones and on the Plate?
When it’s time to lock in, McDuffie doesn’t have a rigid pregame playlist. He rotates between rap, classical, and old-school… whatever gets him focused.
“Sometimes I need energy. Sometimes I need to calm my nerves. So I mix it up.”
Go-to artist for juice? NBA YoungBoy. No hesitation.
And food-wise? He’s Lolo’s all the way.
“Three pieces of chicken, two waffles. That’s my go-to every time.”
The Bigger Picture and the Final Goal
McDuffie wants to be remembered for more than just his play.
“Someone who gave 110% every snap. Someone you could lean on. Someone who had your back.”
That’s who he is. That’s who he’s been. And this fall, it might finally be time for the payoff.
When I asked him to finish this sentence, “In 2025, UNLV will be…” he didn’t blink.
“Sensational,” he said. “Mountain West champions. College Football Playoff. That’s the goal. That’s what we’re working for every day.”
They’ve been close before. Twice. But this time, it’s different. The program is stronger. The roster is deeper. And McDuffie? He’s still the voice in the middle, still the one calling out the front, holding the standard, and making sure the energy is right.
If UNLV does finally lift that trophy in December, don’t be surprised when it’s his voice leading the celebration, just like it always has.
Michael Cooper covers UNLV athletics, realignment strategy, and college sports finance for The Scarlet Standard. Subscribe for free to get every update as the 2025 season and beyond unfold in real time.