Former Nebraska quarterback Johnny Stanton will start UNLV’s season opener Thursday night against Jackson State at Sam Boyd Stadium, Rebels coach Tony Sanchez confirmed Sunday in a text message to the Review-Journal.
Stanton and junior returnee Kurt Palandech had been locked in a tight two-man race for the starting quarterback job since the start of spring practice and were listed as co-starters Tuesday on a two-deep depth chart released by the team.
This will be the 10th time in the last 13 years that a different UNLV quarterback than the previous season will start the opener.
The 6-foot-2-inch, 245-pound Stanton was expected to quickly claim the starting job after transferring from Saddleback College in January but neither he nor the 6-foot-2-inch, 185-pound Palandech was able to gain separation.