McNichols a threat as runner, receiver for Boise State
The game at Utah State was such an anomaly — seven turnovers in the first half and eight overall — that it probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference if running back Jeremy McNichols had played for Boise State that night.
He missed the Oct. 16 game with a concussion, and the Broncos were never competitive in a 52-26 defeat.
But perhaps it shouldn’t have been surprising that when McNichols returned Saturday, he was the major factor in a 34-14 victory over Wyoming. He touched the football 40 times, rushing 33 times for 166 yards and catching seven passes for 36 yards. McNichols scored a touchdown rushing and receiving.
He has 651 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing this season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry. McNichols also has caught 27 passes for 232 yards and three TDs.
UNLV plays Boise State at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium.
“Last year, he played wide receiver for us in a lot of different formations and plays that we ran,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “Now he’s our featured back. I think he’s just got a better understanding of our offense, more mature, and he’s playing hard.”
McNichols could be the Broncos’ next Jay Ajayi, who last season rushed for 1,823 yards and 28 touchdowns and caught 50 passes for 535 yards and four scores.
“I still don’t know where we rank him with Jay Ajayi,” Harsin said. “I think both guys in their own ways are effective in what we do with them. I don’t know if we’re on that trend or not.
“I think everybody’s asking that now because of the numbers that McNichols had his last game, but at the same time, he didn’t play the week before. So it was not like he played the week before and had 40 touches. It was good to get him out there and get him those (repetitions).”
n UNLV’S NEXT QUARTERBACK? — The Rebels have offered junior college quarterback Richard Lagow a scholarship offer, the QB tweeted recently.
UNLV needs a new quarterback with Blake Decker moving on after this season and the uncertainty of whether sophomore Kurt Palandech, redshirt freshman Kevin Thomson or freshman Dalton Sneed could handle the starting job.
Lagow (6-6, 240) began his college career at Connecticut before transferring to Oklahoma State in August 2013 and redshirting that season. He then went to Cisco (Texas) Community College, and this season has completed 66 percent of his passes for 2,285 yards and 21 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions
If the Rebels sign Lagow during the early period, which begins Dec. 15, they can get him in school in time for spring practice. Lagow will visit UNLV on Dec. 4, a big weekend for junior college recruits in which eight to 10 players are expected.
During UNLV’s bye last week, Rebels coaches visited 50 high schools and junior colleges. The Rebels received nine commitments for their 25-player class.
n CLASS OF THE LEAGUE — Boise State will have trouble repeating as Mountain West champion, but the Broncos still could be called the conference’s elite team.
They rank first in the Mountain West in scoring offense (38.0 points per game), scoring defense (17.3 average), total offense (455.6-yard average), passing offense (280.3), total defense (265.5), rushing defense (81.4), pass efficiency (143.72 rating), pass efficiency defense (97.56) and red zone defense (allowing scores 73.3 percent of time).
— Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65
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