Rebel Daily Drive 7.15.2026 | Mountain West Media Days Interview with Jet Thomas and Lucas Conti

The Rebel Daily Drive continues its coverage from the 2026 Mountain West Football Media Days with UNLV running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas and defensive lineman Lucas Conti.Thomas and Conti discuss why they returned to Las Vegas despite having opportunities to play elsewhere. Both remain motivated by the same unfinished goal after UNLV reached three consecutive Mountain West championship games without winning the title.Thomas explains what UNLV and Las Vegas have meant to him, while Conti discusses the bond he has built with his teammates and why he wants to win a championship with the group already in place.Thomas enters the season within range of UNLV’s career rushing record. After learning how close he is to the mark, he says breaking it has become another goal alongside competing for the Doak Walker Award and proving he belongs among the nation’s best running backs.The players also discuss their health entering the season. Thomas says he feels ready for the August 29 opener against Memphis, while Conti explains how improving his recovery habits has helped him manage the physical demands of college football.Conti breaks down his role along the defensive front and discusses the development of UNLV’s defense under Paul Guenther. He also explains how he has worked to become a more vocal and dependable leader.The conversation turns to UNLV’s quarterback competition between Jackson Arnold and Alex Orji. Thomas and Conti explain how each quarterback brings a different skill set and why both can help prepare the Rebels for the variety of offenses they will face.They also discuss Orji’s leadership during his injury recovery last season. Even while unable to play, he remained engaged on the sideline, helped teammates understand their assignments and became a trusted veteran presence.Thomas and Conti identify several players who could make an impact, including Cam Santee, Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu and freshman wide receiver Peyton Zachary.The players also address the pressure surrounding a program that has become a consistent championship contender. Their message is simple: UNLV must finish. After coming close in each of the past three seasons, the Rebels believe better execution in the biggest moments will determine whether they finally break through.The episode closes with UNLV’s team chemistry, the competition at the F1 Arcade, the new Mountain West schedule and the road environments the players are most excited to experience.Tap in for the full UNLV football interview from the 2026 Mountain West Football Media Days.THE SCARLET STANDARDWebsite:https://the-scarlet-standard.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@ScarletStandardMediaX:https://x.com/SS_MediaLVInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/ss_medialv/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Scarlet-Standard-LV-61577609316045/Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1GJCuyv8rTRu5arNdcjH4vSubscribe for complete UNLV and Mountain West football coverage, including interviews, analysis, recruiting news and daily updates.#UNLVFootball #UNLVRebels #JetThomas #LucasConti #MountainWest #MountainWestFootball #CollegeFootball #RebelDailyDrive