If there’s one unit on the 2025 UNLV roster that blends total unknowns with experienced résumés, it’s special teams. Between a crowded punter room, a veteran kicker transfer, and a new-look long snapping group, Dan Mullen’s first Rebel squad will see significant turnover in all three phases of the kicking game. Here’s the full rundown.
Punters: An Open Three-Way Battle
The Rebels list three punters on the 2025 roster, none with recorded UNLV game stats, meaning this is as wide open as any position group on the team.
Cameron Brown – A freshman from Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia, Brown comes from the ProKick Australia pipeline that has produced numerous college punters. At 6’2”, 185, he’s got the frame and background for directional kicking and hang time.
Carter Jula – A 6’1”, 205-pound redshirt freshman from Sarasota, Florida. Jula spent last year developing, and his leg strength and control will get their first real test in live game reps if he wins the job.
Konner Melzer – The veteran of the group, Melzer is a 6’3”, 230-pound senior from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He hasn’t recorded a punt at UNLV, but his size and maturity may give him an edge in camp.
Mullen and special teams coordinator Vinny Marino will get their first extended look in fall camp, and given the lack of returning production, this competition will likely carry right into Week 0.
Kickers: Experience Meets Competition
Where the punting room is a blank slate, the placekicking unit comes with both experience and options.
Caden Costa – The headliner transfer from Memphis and Ole Miss, Costa arrives with a proven track record in the SEC and AAC. In 2024, he converted 8 of 13 field goals for Memphis, maintaining a career 74.2% mark over three seasons. He’s handled high-pressure kicks in big venues, a valuable trait for a team with championship aspirations.
Ramon Villela – The 6’2”, 210-pound sophomore handled UNLV’s kickoffs in 2024, averaging 64.7 yards per attempt with two touchbacks on three kicks. His leg strength makes him a candidate to retain kickoff duties even if Costa takes field goals.
Andre Meono – The senior from Redondo Beach, CA, split duties between Fresno State and UNLV, going a perfect 1-for-1 on field goals last year. He’s more of a depth and competition piece, but gives the staff another accurate option.
Costa’s accuracy and Villela’s kickoff leg could form a two-person rotation, but Mullen has hinted at letting the best overall kicker handle all duties.
Long Snappers: Proven Leader and Young Depth
In the often-overlooked role of long snapping, UNLV has both a proven starter and a deep bench of developmental talent.
Andrew McIlquham – The Temple transfer is the clear anchor. Over three seasons, he’s logged 300 total snaps with zero blocked kicks. His PFF special teams grades (51.7 in 2024) indicates a steady and reliable performance in both punt and field goal snaps.
Sam Wolfenden – A freshman from Cave Creek, AZ, with prototypical 6’2”, 245-pound size. He’s a developmental option who can push for reps on special teams units.
Andrew O’Reilly – A 6’4” freshman from Las Vegas, O’Reilly is another big-framed snapper with a chance to learn behind McIlquham and contribute in the coming seasons.
Big Picture
UNLV’s special teams in 2025 will look almost nothing like last year’s group. The punting job is entirely up for grabs, the placekicking duties could be split between a proven transfer and a big-legged sophomore, and an experienced grad transfer stabilizes the long snapping position.
The deciding factor? Consistency. In a Mountain West race where field position and one-score margins will matter, the winner of each role will be whoever can produce clean, mistake-free execution every snap, every kick, every time.