Dan Mullen explains how time at ESPN helps him at UNLV: 'I've gotten to watch everybody play'

For the last three seasons, Dan Mullen traded his whistle for a headset. He jumped into broadcasting at ESPN, working largely alongside Matt Barrie during the week and in-studio on Saturdays.

Now, he’s back on the sidelines, succeeding Barry Odom at UNLV. But as he settles in and builds his roster, Mullen credits his time at ESPN for getting him ready to coach the Rebels.

Mullen, making an appearance on Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, said his time on TV helped lead him to two notable transfer additions. He got to watch any games he wanted, and that helped put players such as former Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea and former Michigan quarterback Alex Orji on his radar when they hit the transfer portal.

“We actually got two – Anthony Colandrea from UVA, that I’ve seen make a ton of plays, and Alex Orji,” Mullen said. “The greatest thing you have being at ESPN, I’ve gotten to watch everybody play. You sit in that room all day, and I’m watching every game in college football. I’ve seen them all.

“I got to watch Anthony live. His ability to extend plays, scramble around, throw the ball, tremendous arm talent. Really excited about what he brings to the table. Alex Orji, he’s undefeated against Ohio State. He’s won.”

Specifically with Orji, who got some looks as Michigan’s starting quarterback before Davis Warren took the job in the long-term, Mullen wondered about his fit in the Wolverines’ offense. Known for his ability to run, Orji totaled 269 rushing yards and a touchdown this past season while adding 150 passing yards and three touchdowns.

When he broke down the games at ESPN, Dan Mullen didn’t see Michigan playing to Orji’s strengths. That’s going to be one of his goals at UNLV.

“I look at what he does, and you look at the strengths of players. He was a guy who was head-scratching to me last year at times,” Mullen said of Orji. “I’m watching him, and I’m not in the game-planning meetings and everything going on at Michigan, but I’m saying I don’t know that they’re highlighting his strengths. In football, the job of a coach is to put a guy in a position to do what he does well. That’s what coaching’s all about. … I was watching some of the games, and I’m saying, ‘Hey, when they put that guy in a position to do what he does well, Ohio State wasn’t tackling him, and they’re playing for a national championship.’ But to sit there and put him in a position to do things where you’re not highlighting his strengths all the time was a little confusing to me.

“I’m excited about both those guys. I think we’re bringing in a lot of good players right now, and what we’ve got to do is sit down as a staff, figure out what everybody’s strengths are and put them in a position to go do that.”