No other position in American football sports pulls a more extreme spotlight than a starting quarterback, and it’s especially bright for University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)’s Armani Rogers.

But UNLV’s complex football history coaches to not forget about the backup quarterbacks.

“If the last two years showed us anything, it’s hard to keep a guy in there an entire year, even if you want to,” UNLV Rebels head coach Tony Sanchez said. “You see that across the country, so those guys have got to be dialed in.”

Kurt Palandech and Johnny Stanton are competing for the second-string quarterback backup job as the UNLV Rebels prepare for their September 2 season opener against Howard at Sam Boyd Stadium.

But if you ask Johnny Stanton, who started the first four games last season before sustaining a right knee and hamstring injuries, he hasn’t ruled out getting back to his position.

“I don’t think any starting job ever closes,” Stanton said. “I’m not taking this fall camp any differently than I did last year.”

Being ready to enter a matchup at any moment is pivotal in a backup because that a player never knows when the starter — most especially the starting quarterback — could take a wrong move or get toppled by a blitzing linebacker.

The opening-day quarterback at University of Nevada-Las Vegas has rarely started every game in a regular season. Omar Clayton would have started every matchup back in 2010, but then-first-year head coach Bobby Hauck gave Mike Clausen the starting job in the opener based on his performance in the training camp.

When Clausen couldn’t run the offense against the No. 12 Wisconsin, Clayton quickly took up the starting job and retained it.

There have been many seasons when a quarterback started all but one contest, but even that emphasize the importance for a reserve to be always ready, most especially this season. Many pundits expect the Rebels to compete for a bowl berth.

Palandech has played 22 games, including six starts and he is known more for his feet than this arm, rushing for 652 yards and nine touchdowns in his two UNLV seasons. He also has recorded a 49.8 percent of his passes for 1,441 yards and 14 touchdowns, with a total of seven interceptions.

“I’m going to take advantage of every opportunity I get, whether that’s early or late in the season,” Palandech said. “Even in camp, I’m taking every advantage I have, and you never know when your number’s going to be called, and I’ll be ready.”

Stanton, who began his college career at Nebraska, rushed for 231 yards and a touchdown in the most recent season. Stanton completed 46.7 percent of his passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns, with six interceptions.