A 103-game winner at the Florida Gators and Mississippi State University, Dan Mullen isn’t here to play it safe. He isn’t treating UNLV Rebels like a stepping-stone job or a reclamation project. No, Mullen is in Las Vegas to win—and he’s making sure everyone knows it.

The former SEC side’s head coach returns to the sidelines in Las Vegas after spending the last three seasons as an ESPN college football analyst. But his return comes with a clear vision: UNLV is not a program in rebuilding mode. It’s a program that’s ready to take the next step.

And Dan Mullen isn’t shy about saying it. He sat down with Rivals’ Adam Gorney and clarified that his decision to take the UNLV job on Dec. 12 wasn’t just about getting back into coaching; it was about finding the right job. “There’s taking a job to take a job, and then there’s taking the right job,” Mullen said. “I’ve had a lot of opportunities over the last couple years, and it just didn’t feel right.” He admitted that UNLV wasn’t on his radar initially, but once he saw what was being built, his mindset shifted.

“I was able to come out here two years ago… I got to see their facilities, and I’m like, okay, hold on, real—this is way better than anything I had when I was the head coach of Florida.” That’s a bold statement from a coach who once commanded one of the premier programs in the SEC, but it speaks to how far UNLV has come in its investment in football. With top-tier facilities, a shared home with the LV Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, and a city booming with NIL opportunities, Dan Mullen sees something that many wouldn’t have considered even a few years ago.

The facilities are just the beginning. Mullen knows that in today’s college football landscape, NIL power can be just as critical as X’s and O’s, and he believes Las Vegas gives his players a unique advantage. “The opportunities that are here in this city are endless,” Mullen emphasized. “Not just for us to raise it through collectives, but the legitimate NIL opportunities for student-athletes—I don’t know if there’s many better places in America with legitimate NIL opportunities for our players than right here in Las Vegas.” That’s a strong recruiting pitch, and Mullen is leaning into it hard.

Of course, NIL money and top-tier facilities don’t mean much if the product on the field isn’t strong. Luckily for Dan Mullen, he’s not inheriting a program in disarray. The Rebels went 11-3 last season under Barry Odom, after losing 21-7 to Boise State in the Moutain West championship. They finished just one win short of a 12-man College Football Playoff spot. That’s not a team in need of a rebuild—it’s a team ready to compete right now. Mullen knows it, and his first recruiting class announcement reflects that urgency at the Fertitta Football Complex.

“We wanted big, fast, strong, and talented. I not only want us to look good walking off the bus. I want us to look good walking on the field, to look good when we line up on every snap, to look good at the end of the snap.” The message is clear: this isn’t about slow, incremental growth. This is about looking—and playing—the part of a legitimate contender from day one. Mullen’s first-class features 43 players, with 13 more already in place from the early signing period under Odom.

The Rebels were already on the doorstep of something big, and with Mullen at the helm, the expectation isn’t just to maintain that success—it’s pushing through and making history. With an aggressive recruiting strategy, a strong NIL pitch, and a coach with a proven record of winning in the SEC. They have national attention.

Dan Mullen’s first class: a roster revamp with star power

Dan Mullen wasted no time making an impact in his first recruiting class, bringing in a whopping 43 new players—four straight from high school and a staggering 39 from the transfer portal. His latest haul includes 21 offensive players, 18 defensive standouts, and four special teams additions, making this a well-rounded group built to compete right away.

Mullen, never one to downplay his excitement, called it “an exciting day,” and for good reason. The quarterback position, the heartbeat of his spread offense, got a serious boost with two Power Four transfers: Anthony Colandrea from Virginia and Alex Orji from Michigan.

Colandrea? Mullen is all-in. “He’s got the ‘it’ factor,” Mullen said, praising the QB’s confidence and swagger. As for Orji, Mullen couldn’t hide his enthusiasm. “His leadership, ball carrying, physicality—it’s all there.” Mullen also went local for vocal with this in-state HS talent. One name to watch? Tavian McNair, a standout wide receiver from Centennial High (California), wasted no time getting started, enrolling early to hit the ground running.

Mullen’s first class is locked in.