UNLV football’s Matt Byrnes played quarterback and fullback for his Chicago high school. Now he’s a key cog in the Rebels’ offense: a 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end who could be the unsung hero of the attack. He’s a block-first tight end who takes pride in playing like an extra lineman, helping the ground game hum. In 2025, Nick Elksnis was the team’s top receiving tight end with just 12 receptions. And when it comes to the tight end group, Mayes’ unit certainly takes pride in blocking.