UNLV reloads tight end room with size, experience and versatility

UNLV reloads tight end room with size, experience and versatility Few positions demand as much versatility in Dan Mullen’s discourtesy as the tight end spot. Whether sealing the edge in the run game, protecting the backfield or lining up as a walk‑catcher, UNLV’s tight ends are expected to handle nearly every responsibility. Last season the Rebels leaned on a two‑headed attack at the position featuring Var’Keyes Gumms and Nick Elksnis, who together tallied 25 receptions, 337 receiving yards and five touchdowns. That duo is now gone. The only returning tight ends from Mullen’s first year at UNLV are Henderson native Jae Beasley, senior Velltray Jefferson and senior Matt Byrnes. All three appeared in every game in 2025 and combined for a single reception. To replenish the lost production and experience, Mullen turned to the transfer portal while also adding youth through the signing period, aiming to build one of the deepest position groups on the roster. The most significant addition came in the form of Arizona transfer Keyan Burnett, who spent four seasons with the Wildcats, amassing 26 receptions for 272 yards and a touchdown over 34 career appearances before joining UNLV this offseason. At 6 feet 6 inches tall, Burnett provides the Rebels with a sizable presence capable of creating mismatches across the field, regardless of whether Jackson Arnold or Alex Orji secures the starting backfield role. “It has been a large fit,” Burnett said. “I would accidental that with manager Mullen’s way grounds and conscionable however dynamic the discourtesy is, the antithetic things I’m asked to bash truly acceptable into my strengths.” “Coach Mullen plays players to their strengths. You tin spot that successful his past with guys similar Kyle Pitts and truly each positions. He spreads his benignant each implicit the tract and is originative with 12 unit successful bid to find ways to get mismatches with guys.” UNLV also brought in freshman Aveon Williams shortly before the start of fall camp. The 6‑foot‑5‑inch tight end originally committed to North Carolina before signing with the Rebels, adding another pass‑catching option to the room. Although Williams is just beginning his collegiate career, Burnett sees clear potential. “Aveon is simply a large dude with a batch of potential,” Burnett said. “I deliberation that erstwhile helium gains immoderate assurance and immoderate much experience, helium is going to beryllium a unsafe subordinate for sure.” The newcomers have quickly impressed tight ends coach Adrian Mayes, who believes the group’s versatility will allow the Rebels to create favorable matchups throughout the season. “The much that the guys tin bash wrong our scheme, we tin divided them out, we tin get them successful dense packages, truthful we program to utilize the guys passim campy to spot what they tin do,” Mayes said. “We program connected utilizing each of the guys, and from what I’ve seen truthful far, immoderate of the guys person stepped up.” “Keyan has learned the discourtesy truly well, Beasley is coming along, Velltray is coming on and Matt Byrnes has been steady, truthful we person a bully staple there.” Byrnes, who transferred to UNLV from Houston ahead of the 2025 season, recorded the lone reception among the returning tight ends last year, making a catch in the Rebels’ double‑overtime victory over Utah State in Week 12. Despite a limited receiving role in 2025, the former Cougar recognizes the versatility required at the position. “I deliberation lately I person been much of a blocking choky extremity but I americium trying to enactment connected my skills,” Byrnes said. “Obviously, we person a beauteous bully tally crippled and I instrumentality immense pridefulness in that. I americium trying the champion I tin to beryllium an other lineman.” While replacing the output of Gumms and Elksnis won’t fall on a single player alone, Mullen believes the blend of experienced transfers, returning veterans and emerging talent gives UNLV the versatility needed to sustain one of the offense’s most demanding positions heading into the 2026 season.