The 2019 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolf Pack were led by third–year head coach Jay Norvell and played their home games at Mackay Stadium. They were members of the West Division of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 7–6 and 4–4 in Mountain West play to finish in third place in the West division.
Coaching changes Jeff Casteel was relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator. Former Sacramento State head coach Jody Sears took over as Wolf Pack's Defensive Coordinator for the bowl game. Norvell said "Jeff, David and Mike have made significant contributions to our program and I'm appreciative of their efforts with the Wolf Pack, We are moving forward in a new direction, and we are preparing for the bowl game at this time." and Norvell again said "We're excited to have these high quality coaches with us as we prepare for a really good Ohio team in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, With the early signing period behind us, our sole purpose is to prepare our players to win the bowl game. We will focus on filling permanent additions to the staff in January. Probably the most important thing is getting the right coaches here for the long term, I'm not going to hurry through that process. I'm going to take my time. I'm going to talk to everybody I know. We'll talk to college coaches, professional coaches, everybody that I respect we'll get information from and we'll make sure we have the right people who have the qualities that we need to take the next step."
Preseason Award watch lists
Maxwell Award Toa Taua RB SO Chuck Bednarik Award Gabriel Sewell LB SR Doak Walker Award Toa Taua RB SO Outland Trophy Jake Nelson OL SR Wuerffel Trophy Lucas Weber LB Ted Hendricks Award Dom Peterson DE SO
Mountain West media days The Mountain West media days were held on July 23–24, 2019, at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, Nevada.
Media poll The preseason poll was released on July 23, 2019. The Wolf Pack were predicted to finish in third place in the MW West Division.
Preseason All–Mountain West Team The Wolf Pack had two players selected to the preseason All–Mountain West Team; two from the offense.
Offense
Toa Taua – RB
Jake Nelson – OL
Schedule
Personnel
Game summaries Purdue
Statistics PurdueNevada First downs 24 19 Total yards 519 404 Rushing yards 96 109 Passing yards 423 295 Turnovers 8 0 Time of possession 31:23 28:37
Team Category Player StatisticsPurdue Passing Elijah Sindelar 34/52, 423 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Zander Horvath 19 carries, 66 yards Receiving Rondale Moore 2 receptions, 124 yards, 1 TDNevada Passing Carson Strong 30/51, 295 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Toa Taua 12 carries, 56 yards, 1 TD Receiving Toa Taua 8 receptions, 64 yards
At Oregon
Statistics NevadaOregon First downs 12 28 Total yards 192 623 Rushing yards 83 221 Passing yards 109 402 Turnovers 6 2 Time of possession 33:35 26:25
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Carson Strong 13/25, 89 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Jaxson Kincaide 13 carries, 52 yards Receiving Kelton Moore 1 reception, 23 yardsOregon Passing Justin Herbert 19/26, 310 yards, 5 TDs Rushing Darrian Felix 8 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jake Breeland 4 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD
Weber State
Statistics Weber StateNevada First downs 10 25 Total yards 125 453 Rushing yards 62 153 Passing yards 63 300 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 22:35 37:25
Team Category Player StatisticsWeber State Passing Kaden Jenks 6/21, 57 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kevin Smith 13 carries, 26 yards Receiving Rashid Shaheed 3 receptions, 30 yards, 1 TDNevada Passing Carson Strong 30/44, 299 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Toa Taua 16 carries, 85 yards Receiving Kaleb Fossum 5 receptions, 77 yards
At UTEP
Statistics NevadaUTEP First downs 19 17 Total yards 403 278 Rushing yards 193 162 Passing yards 210 116 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 25:05 34:55
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Cristian Solano 13/19, 182 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Cristian Solano 10 carries, 100 yards Receiving Elijah Cooks 4 receptions, 82 yards, 2 TDsUTEP Passing Brandon Jones 8/11, 106 yards, 1 INT Rushing Treyvon Hughes 17 carries, 80 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Jess Trussell 3 receptions, 53 yards
Hawaii
Statistics HawaiiNevada First downs 26 16 Total yards 512 203 Rushing yards 139 98 Passing yards 373 105 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 31:12 28:48
Team Category Player StatisticsHawaii Passing Cole McDonald 25/30, 312 yards, 4 TDs Rushing Fred Holly III 11 carries, 63 yards Receiving Jason–Matthew Sharsh 9 receptions, 123 yards, 1 TDNevada Passing Cristian Solano 11/17, 59 yards, 1 INT Rushing Toa Taua 17 carries, 72 yards Receiving Elijah Cooks 5 receptions, 38 yards
San Jose State
Statistics San Jose StateNevada First downs 16 25 Total yards 420 541 Rushing yards 15 189 Passing yards 405 352 Turnovers 5 4 Time of possession 20:44 39:16
Team Category Player StatisticsSan Jose State Passing Josh Love 23/45, 405 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Nick Nash 3 carries, 23 yards Receiving Bailey Gaither 5 receptions, 131 yards, 1 TDNevada Passing Malik Henry 22/37, 352 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Toa Taua 34 carries, 160 yards, 1 TD Receiving Romeo Doubs 5 receptions, 146 yards, 1 TD
At Utah State
Statistics NevadaUtah State First downs 15 22 Total yards 326 418 Rushing yards 113 244 Passing yards 213 174 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 34:39 25:21
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Malik Henry 17/38, 213 yards, 2 INTs Rushing Toa Taua 20 carries, 84 yards, 1 TD Receiving Romeo Doubs 4 receptions, 80 yardsUtah State Passing Jordan Love 13/31, 169 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Gerold Bright 15 carries, 126 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Siaosi Mariner 2 receptions, 53 yards
At Wyoming
Statistics NevadaWyoming First downs 17 22 Total yards 335 479 Rushing yards 81 258 Passing yards 254 221 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 30:14 29:46
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Carson Strong 26/40, 247 yards, 1 INT Rushing Devonte Lee 3 carries, 38 yards Receiving Romeo Doubs 5 receptions, 98 yardsWyoming Passing Sean Chambers 6/9, 158 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Xazavian Valladay 26 carries, 206 yards Receiving Raghib Ismail Jr. 4 receptions, 93 yards, 1 TD
New Mexico
Statistics New MexicoNevada First downs 17 21 Total yards 346 369 Rushing yards 109 64 Passing yards 237 305 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:15 34:45
Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico Passing Tevaka Tuioti 19/36, 237 yards Rushing Ahmari Davis 15 carries, 80 yards, 1 TD Receiving Marcus Williams 6 receptions, 74 yardsNevada Passing Carson Strong 28/40, 305 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Devonte Lee 9 carries, 68 yards Receiving Romeo Doubs 11 receptions, 167 yards, 1 TD
At San Diego State
Statistics NevadaSan Diego State First downs 12 18 Total yards 226 309 Rushing yards 29 113 Passing yards 197 196 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 27:41 32:19
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Carson Strong 19/26, 147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Toa Taua 12 carries, 19 yards Receiving Brendan O'Leary–Orange 1 reception, 50 yardsSan Diego State Passing Ryan Agnew 18/35, 196 yards, 1 INT Rushing Chance Bell 11 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kobe Smith 5 receptions, 40 yards
At Fresno State
Statistics NevadaFresno State First downs 18 18 Total yards 408 331 Rushing yards 254 53 Passing yards 154 278 Turnovers 4 0 Time of possession 31:29 28:31
Team Category Player StatisticsNevada Passing Carson Strong 20/31, 154 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Toa Taua 20 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD Receiving Elijah Cooks 5 receptions, 60 yards, 1 TDFresno State Passing Jorge Reyna 27/37, 261 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Josh Hokit 7 carries, 32 yards Receiving Ronnie Rivers 7 receptions, 88 yards, 1 TD
UNLV
Statistics UNLVNevada First downs 15 28 Total yards 412 459 Rushing yards 183 108 Passing yards 229 351 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 25:13 34:37
Team Category Player StatisticsUNLV Passing Kenyon Oblad 16/22, 229 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Charles Williams 20 carries, 138 yards, 1 TD Receiving Steve Jenkins 5 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TDsNevada Passing Carson Strong 33/54, 351 yards, 1 TD Rushing Devonte Lee 11 carries, 44 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Cooks 12 receptions, 151 yards
Vs. Ohio (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl)
Statistics OhioNevada First downs 25 24 Total yards 429 430 Rushing yards 285 29 Passing yards 144 401 Turnovers 4 4 Time of possession 33:13 26:47
Team Category Player StatisticsOhio Passing Nathan Rourke 9/17, 144 yards Rushing De'Montre Tuggle 10 carries, 97 yards, 1 TD Receiving Isiah Cox 3 receptions, 73 yardsNevada Passing Carson Strong 31/49, 402 yards, 1 TD Rushing Toa Taua 6 carries, 48 yards Receiving Elijah Cooks 14 receptions, 197 yards, 1 TD
References