UNLV starting center Austin Boyd is practicing this week and could return for the Rebels' Halloween night matchup against Northern Illinois, according to coach Dan Mullen. Boyd, a 6-foot-4 senior, was injured in the second half of the season opener against Memphis, a game in which quarterback Jackson Arnold was sacked six times — four after Boyd's exit.
In Boyd's absence, the offensive line adopted a next-man-up mentality. The unit allowed 11 sacks over the next six games, holding opponents to one or fewer sacks in three of those contests. Pitt transfer Jackson Brown praised the resilience of the group, specifically highlighting the play of Griffin Scroggs, who has started six games and logged 386 snaps, and BJ Tolo, who has added 32 snaps.
"I think we're a gritty offensive line and we play with the next person up, then we all play super hard ... so when (Boyd) does come back, we'll be ready and add him in and be good to go," Brown said. He added that he has "all of the trust in BJ" and noted Scroggs "has led the offensive line as well."
Offensive line coach Louie Addazio, in his first season at UNLV after two years with the Kansas City Chiefs, credited the depth and preparation of his room. "Obviously, when a guy goes down, a guy has to step up," Addazio said. "Other guys have to help out when a guy comes into the game that hasn't been in the game, so proud of those guys."
Addazio said Boyd's return would be a significant boost. "Obviously, Austin is a veteran guy and he has played a lot of football, so anytime you get a guy back with a lot of experience and talent like Austin, it would be awesome," he said. The Rebels enter the game following their second bye week of the season.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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