UNLV football gets center back; basketball signs key recruit

He is back now full time, having played all offensive snaps in a 41-35 loss to Wyoming last Saturday.

Back leading those up front, back where he belongs.

Austin Boyd suffered a leg/ankle injury in a Week Zero game against Memphis, which seems like forever ago now, and the UNLV senior center missed valuable time in a football season that hasn’t quite gone as the Rebels envisioned.

UNLV (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West) is at first-place and No. 23 New Mexico (8-1, 5-0) on Saturday.

The Rebels no longer control their destiny when it comes to playing for a conference championship. They need to win out over the final three games and get some help from others.

But having their starting center return is a big plus.

It took some time, for sure. He was limited to just a handful of plays against Northern Illinois on Halloween.

“Obviously, nobody wants to be injured,” Boyd said. “It took me by surprise but I kept myself busy and lived in the building rehabbing as much as I could. That’s the big thing in talking to guys who have been injured. Just keep yourself busy and focused on a goal.

“I just took it one day at a time. I think I’ve come to realize it’s a process to getting healthy. I’m not quite 100 percent but I’m getting better every day. I still have a lot to improve on and that one step, one rep mentality is helping me get better.”

It’s commonplace for guys to move around on UNLV’s line — hey, if you want to have a shot at the NFL nowadays, you better be versatile — and it was senior Griffin Scroggs who stepped into the center’s role in Boyd’s absence.

“Shoot, you can’t cancel Christmas, it’s a next-man up mentality,” offensive line coach Louie Addazio said. “It’s great to have Austin. He’s an older guy who was able to rehab and work his way back. He’s going to keep progressing, which is awesome.

“We had a couple guys hop in there (at center). (Scroggs) has played a lot of football and played center in his past. He did a really good job for us.”

It’s imperative everyone does their job moving forward.

Wyoming had five sacks against the Rebels, not all the fault of the offensive line, but a big number just the same.

“Starting with me, I have to do a better job communicating and playing every aspect of the game,” Boyd said. “We just have to strain and finish better up front. When we protect whoever is back there, our playmakers are able to make plays. We’ve seen that.”

Lived in the building. That’s also what Boyd’s teammates will tell you about the player who would miss so much time. That he was there during practices, lending advice, helping them better understand schemes and points. Just being a leader.

“It’s amazing having him back,” Scroggs said. “He’s a longtime player with a lot of snaps under his belt. He completes us and brings an advantage we need. It sucked that he got hurt but we all had to step up and come together. The season doesn’t end when one guy goes down.”

No, but it gets a lot better when he returns.

Contact Ed Graney at [email protected]. Follow @edgraney on X.

Up next

Who: UNLV (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West) vs. No. 23 New Mexico (8-1, 5-0)

When: Saturday 4:40 p.m.

Where: University Stadium

TV: The CW

Radio: KWWN (1100 AM 100.9 FM)

Line: New Mexico minus-14; total 46 1/2