As Austin Boyd nears return, next-man-up mentality powers UNLV’s offensive line

As the UNLV football program prepares to take on Northern Illinois on Halloween night in Week 9 of the college football season, the Rebels may be getting some reinforcements on the offensive line.

Starting center Austin Boyd, who was injured in the second half of the Rebels’ season opener against Memphis, is “practicing” this week, according to UNLV coach Dan Mullen.

Boyd was expected to line up alongside Pitt transfer Jackson Brown and Baylor transfer Colton Thomasson, among others, before he was injured in the second half of the Rebels’ season opener against Memphis.

UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold was sacked a season-high six times in that game, with four coming after Boyd’s exit. Arnold had thrown and rushed for a touchdown in the first half before the offensive line was shuffled around without the 6-foot-4 senior.

Brown spoke about how Boyd’s potential return would be a welcome addition to the offensive line room, but also how the adversity allowed the group up front to adjust and step up to the challenge.

“I think losing Austin was definitely a big piece,” Brown said. “He is our center, he is a leader and a great player for sure, but I think we’ve done a good job.

“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 specifically highlighted the play of Griffin Scroggs, who previously played at Georgia and Appalachian State, as well as BJ Tolo, who spent time at New Mexico State before transferring to UNLV.

“I think when (Boyd) got hurt in that Memphis game, we had BJ Tolo come in and I have all of the trust in BJ,” Brown said. “BJ’s played some of the most football out of all of us, so he is a great guy to have.

“The same goes with Griffin Scroggs. He started all of these games coming from both App State and Georgia. He has done a really good job. He has led the offensive line as well.”

Scroggs, a 6-foot-3 native of Grayson, Georgia, has started six games for the Rebels this season and logged 386 total snaps, while Tolo has added 32 reps in support of Boyd’s absence.

After allowing six sacks against Memphis, the UNLV offensive line has protected Arnold well under the circumstances, allowing 11 sacks over the following six games.

The Rebels have allowed one or fewer sacks in three of those games heading into the program’s second bye week.

Brown credited offensive line coach Louie Addazio, who joined the program this offseason after spending two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, for helping establish the group’s mindset.

Addazio has emphasized the importance of everyone on the roster being ready to contribute on a week-to-week basis. He also addressed what Boyd’s potential return would mean for the team.

“I mean, it would be awesome,” Addazio said. “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.

“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, but every week we’re in a foot race to get ready for Saturday and keep them moving.”

While Addazio is excited about the possibility of Boyd’s return ahead of the matchup with the Huskies, he understands the importance of the process to get the senior in a position to succeed on game day, especially after an extended period of rehabilitation.

“It is hard and it is a progression,” Addazio said when asked about the process of reinserting Boyd into the lineup. “The training staff and weight staff have done a great job progressing him and transitioning him back to playing football.

“It is one thing to bench press every day and another thing to put the pads on and block, so they have done a great job and they will continue to do a great job progressing him back in, and we are fired up to have him back.”

Contact Donovan Hicks at [email protected]. Follow @HicksSports on X.

Up next

Who: UNLV (4-3, 2-1) vs. Northern Illinois (0-7, 0-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Allegiant Stadium

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: KWWN (1100 AM; 100.9 FM)

Line: UNLV -24½; total 53½