UNLV’s first drive under Dan Mullen ends in disaster as Alex Orji fumbles into end zone
By Mark Kern
Published:
UNLV has started a new era as former SEC coach and ESPN analyst Dan Mullen is the new coach. The Rebels are playing host to Idaho State in Week 0, and put together a really good first drive to get the ball into the redzone.
However, it ended terribly as quarterback Alex Orji fumbled the ball in the end zone, and ruled a touchback to give the ball to Idaho State. Orji was carrying the ball on 2nd-and-7.
Orji transferred in this off-season after splitting time as the quarterback at Michigan last season. While he had his struggles passing the ball for the Wolverines last year, he is a dangerous threat when it comes to running the ball.
To add insult to injury, the Bengals went right down the field, going 80 yards in six plays to make it a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
The UNLV job is Mullen’s 3rd head coaching gig. He took the Mississippi State job ahead of the 2009 season. After the 2017 regular-season finale, Mullen opted to leave MSU for Florida, a return to where he served as offensive coordinator under Urban Meyer. Mullen was fired during the 2021 season at UF and then served as an analyst for ESPN.
