Nevada Football Depth Chart Explained: What Most People Get Wrong

Look, the Nevada football depth chart isn't just a list of names taped to a locker room door in Reno. It’s a shifting puzzle. If you’ve spent any time around Mackay Stadium lately, you know the vibe has changed under Jeff Choate. We aren't talking about the Air Raid days or the "Pistol" era right now. Honestly, it's about grit. Choate, who came over from Texas after a successful stint at Montana State, is trying to build something heavy. Physical.

The 2026 outlook is especially wild because the transfer portal has basically turned college football into a year-round game of musical chairs. You've got guys like QB Chubba Purdy and Brendon Lewis who have been the faces of the room, but the "next man up" philosophy is being tested every single week.

The Quarterback Room: Not Just a Two-Horse Race

Everyone wants to know who starts under center. That's the big question.

Currently, the Nevada football depth chart lists Chubba Purdy as a primary figure, but don't sleep on the younger talent. Carter Jones, the freshman out of Lancaster, has been turning heads in practice. He’s got that "it" factor—the kind of twitchy athleticism that makes scouts lean forward in their chairs.

Then there’s the transfer factor. Nevada landed Luke Duncan from the portal, a 6'6" passer who brings a completely different vertical dimension to the offense.

1. Purdy: The veteran presence with Big Ten and Big 12 experience.
2. Duncan: The big-bodied transfer with a cannon for an arm.
3. Jones: The electric freshman who might be the future.

It’s not just about who starts. It's about who finishes. Choate has been vocal about wanting a "competitive cauldron." Basically, if you don't perform on Tuesday, you aren't starting on Saturday. Simple as that.

Why the Trenches Determine the Nevada Football Depth Chart

If you ask the coaching staff, they’ll tell you the game is won in the dirt. The offensive line is undergoing a massive facelift. With Cameron Norcross back as the offensive line coach, the focus has shifted toward "maulers."

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Andrew Madrigal at center is the glue. He’s a redshirt senior who has seen it all. Around him, the Wolf Pack are rotating bodies like Jack Foster and Zach Cochnauer at the tackle spots.

• Left Tackle: Jack Foster / Henry Sellards
• Center: Andrew Madrigal / Ethan Lowell
• Right Guard: Trenton Scott / Jakobus Seth

The depth here is thinner than the coaches would like. One or two injuries to the interior, and suddenly the Nevada football depth chart looks very vulnerable. They’ve been active in the portal, grabbing Ethan Newman (6'3", 300 lbs) to provide some immediate SEC-style bulk to the interior.

Defensive Identity: The 4-2-5 Look

On the other side of the ball, Nevada is sticking to a 4-2-5 hybrid. It’s a scheme that relies on a "Nickel" or "Wolf" defender who can play the run but also drop into a deep zone.

Stone Combs and Nakian Jackson are the names you need to know at linebacker. Combs is a downhill thumper. He’s the guy who usually ends up with a jersey covered in grass stains by the second quarter.

In the secondary, AJ Odums is the lockdown corner. He’s the guy you put on an island. But the real depth comes from the safeties. Murvin Kenion III and Hayden McDonald bring a lot of "snap" to the back end.

The defensive line is where things get interesting. Thomas Witte and Nelson Ropati are the anchors in the middle. If those two can’t eat up double teams, the linebackers get washed out. It’s a delicate balance.

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Special Teams and the "Choate" Factor

Jeff Choate is a special teams guru. People forget that. He coached special teams at Boise State during their peak and at Florida and Washington.

On the current Nevada football depth chart, Joe McFadden handles the placekicking. He’s been reliable, but in the Mountain West, where games are often decided by three points in a windy Laramie or a snowy Reno, reliability isn't enough. You need ice in the veins.

The return game is bolstered by Marcus Bellon. He’s shifty. He’s small. He’s a nightmare to tackle in the open field.

Surprising Roster Additions

The 2026 recruiting class brought in some local flavor that might see the field earlier than expected. Joey Thomas III from Bishop Manogue stayed home. He’s a 6'0" corner with legitimate track speed. Usually, freshmen corners get eaten alive in this conference, but Thomas has the physical tools to hold his own.

Then there's Reeve Slone, a QB out of Rocklin who could be a dark horse if the injury bug hits the veterans.

What Most People Get Wrong

People think a depth chart is static. It's not.

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In the modern era, the Nevada football depth chart is more like a live document. Players are "OR" starters constantly. For example, the running back room has Caleb Ramseur, Dominic Kelley, and Ky Woods all fighting for carries. You might see Kelley start the first series because he’s a better blocker, then see Woods come in for a third-down screen.

Nuance matters here. A "backup" might actually play 40 snaps if the package calls for it.

The Transfer Portal Reality

Nevada isn't a "buy" program in the NIL sense compared to the Power 4, but they are efficient. They target guys who were highly recruited but got buried on the depth chart at places like Oregon, Texas, or Iowa State.

The arrival of Brett Bartolone as Offensive Coordinator is the biggest signal of change. He’s bringing a system that requires fast processors. If a veteran QB can't read the safety rotation in 1.5 seconds, they'll find themselves at the bottom of the Nevada football depth chart real quick.

Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts

If you are tracking the Wolf Pack this season, here is how to actually read the depth chart:

• Watch the "Jack" Position: This is the hybrid end/linebacker. If Dylan LaBarbera is on the field, expect more pressure. If they sub in a heavier body, they’re playing the run.
• Identify the "X" Receiver: Dakota Thomas is the primary target. If he's shadowed, watch for the "Slot" (Marcus Bellon) to exploit the middle.
• Monitor the Snap Counts: Don't just look at who starts. Look at who plays in the fourth quarter. That’s who the coaches actually trust.
• Follow the Portal Closely: In January and May, the roster can change by 20%. A depth chart from August is useless by the time spring ball rolls around.

The road back to the top of the Mountain West is long. But for the first time in a few years, the Nevada football depth chart actually has some teeth. It’s a mix of battle-hardened transfers and local Nevada kids who actually want to be in Reno. That counts for a lot when the temperature drops at Mackay.