UNLV tabs sophomore as starting QB against Arizona State

Doug Brumfield is going to commencement astatine backmost for the Rebels connected Saturday against No. 25 Arizona State, UNLV shot manager Marcus Arroyo announced Monday during his play property conference.

That was quality to Brumfield, who waited wrong the Fertitta Football Complex earlier replacing his manager astatine the podium successful the media room.

“I consciousness similar I hole arsenic the starter if I’m not starting,” Brumfield said, moments aft revealing that helium hadn’t known helium was starting until Arroyo told reporters a fewer minutes earlier. “We each hole the aforesaid due to the fact that you ne'er cognize what’s going to happen.”

Brumfield didn’t cognize helium would play Thursday successful UNLV’s 35-33 nonaccomplishment to Eastern Washington astatine Allegiant Stadium. But the violative struggles with inferior Justin Rogers down halfway prompted Arroyo to summon the sophomore midway done the 3rd 4th — facing a 14-point deficit.

He responded by engineering 14 fourth-quarter points to unit overtime. He completed 5 of 12 walk attempts for 117 yards, threw an interception and rushed for 27 yards and a touchdown.

“He provided a large spark. Really built disconnected of immoderate of the things helium did successful camp,” Arroyo said. “I’m excited to spot him get successful with a existent week going successful arsenic the feline for the archetypal time. Excited to spot him grow.”

Brumfield divided astir of the first-team reps with Rogers passim the people of grooming camp, but helium missed 5 days of signifier with an ankle injury. Rogers started against Eastern Washington, though the discourtesy lacked a bushed amid changeless unit successful passing situations.

Rogers finished 7 of 11 for 23 yards. Brumfield replaced him and promptly completed a 58-yard walk to Kyle Williams to ignite what had been a stagnant offense.

“Coach Arroyo does a large occupation of preparing us. Everybody, not conscionable the ones but the twos,” said Brumfield, a 6-foot-5-inch southpaw. ”I consciousness similar (starting) is simply a large accidental for maine to spell down to Arizona and conscionable amusement what we could truly do.”

Brumfield has lone thrown 33 passes for the Rebels. But helium volition beryllium buoyed successful the backfield by 1 of the country’s astir experienced runners successful Charles Williams. The elder rushed for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns Thursday and leads each progressive FBS players with 3,117 vocation rushing yards.

Arroyo figures Williams could assistance easiness Brumfield’s burden.

“When you tin manus the shot disconnected to a feline who you consciousness truly assured successful being palmy successful putting you astatine advantageous downs and distances arsenic a quarterback, that’s ever bully — not having to nonstop postulation a ton,” Arroyo said. “It’s a bully premix backmost there.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.