UNLV Transfer Portal: Top 5 Recruits who have left the Rebels this transfer season

The UNLV Rebels have just wrapped up their season a week ago with a win against the California Golden Bears. They finished the season second in the Mountain West Conference at 10-3, just losing to the Boise State Broncos in the championship game.

Former coach Barry Odom is headed to Purdue, but he left his mark in the two seasons he was with the Rebels, leading them to the conference championship games and Bowl games in both seasons. He led the Rebels to the best scoring defense and the second-best scoring offense in the conference, allowing only 21.3 points per game while scoring 35.5 points per game themselves.

Along with Odom, a bunch of Rebels also headed out of the door and entered the transfer portal. Some entered as early as September, while most of them waited until the end of the Mountain West Championship game before announcing their intent to enter the portal. Some have even joined their former coach at Purdue. We look at the top five players leaving Las Vegas after this season.

#1 Matthew Sluka

Sluka started off the season as the starting quarterback after being the starter for the Holy Cross Crusaders. He led the Rebels to a 3-0 record before leaving the team less than a month into the season because of a messy NIL dispute, which brought to light the messy world of recruiting in college football since the NIL came into effect in 2021.

Sluka posted below average numbers on the passing game, completing only 43.8% of his passes for 318 yards and six touchdowns. He made up for it by being a dual threat, rushing for 253 yards (84.3 YPG) and scoring one touchdown.

He ultimately redshirted this season to preserve his remaining year of eligibility so he could play out his college career with another school.

#2 Tony Grimes

After spending three years with the North Carolina Tar Heels and another year with the Texas A&M Aggies ahead of his transfer to the Rebels, Grimes is on the move again. The former five-star recruit appeared in all 13 games this season, posting 20 tackles and six passes defended.

He has not lived up to the numbers he posted back with the Tar Heels, and he may be looking for a better situation where he can finish off his college career on a high note.

#3 Jalen St. John (committed to Purdue)

St. John will be one of the handful of players joining Odom at Purdue. The left tackle has started for the Rebels in his entire two-year stint. He helped UNLV reach the conference championship game and a bowl win. St. John began his career at Arkansas but was used sparingly. His defensive coordinator there was Odom.

#4 Greg Burrell (committed to Texas State)

Burrell, the hometown kid, was poised for a breakout season in his sophomore year when he went for 101 yards and one touchdown in their Week 2 game against Utah Tech. He showed off flashes of his burst and explosiveness, but he was stuck behind a logjam at the running back position, so his opportunities to perform just weren’t enough.

He has recently committed to the Texas State Bobcats, where the running game will yield more opportunities for him that he just can’t get at UNLV.

#5 Caden Chittenden (committed to USC)

The Rebels thought they had their kicker for the future in Chittenden. He posted solid numbers in the kicking game, making 78.8% of his field goals and going 55 of 56 on his PATs. He also has a promising range, with his longest field goal good for 52 yards, and he can only get better.

Looking to cash in on a solid freshman season, Chittenden entered the transfer portal right after their game on the LA Bowl. He has since committed to the USC Trojans, a bigger program and a better platform to show off his kicking skills.