2016 was an up and down year for the UNLV Rebels. After only winning two games in 2015, prospects were not very high, but a promising incoming class of freshman receivers and the return of star Devonte Boyd provided fans with something to look forward to.
After opening the season with a big win against Jackson State, things quickly went south as UNLV dropped their next three games, including a demoralizing overtime loss to the Idaho Vandals. To make matters worse, the team was also plagued by the injury bug as the receiving corp (which was a strength going into the season) quickly became depleted, causing the aforementioned freshman group to contribute immediately and forcing coach Sanchez to move other players around.