Jake Pope brings proven SEC transfer juice and preseason All-Mountain West buzz to UNLV
In the 2025 season, Jake Pope was a disruptive, active safety for UNLV, finishing with 81 total tackles, 5 passes defended, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception; that production, plus reports labeling him a preseason All-Mountain West safety in 2026, points to a downhill defender who hits, covers ground, and can move around the formation. He’s a former highly recruited SEC transfer from Georgia with Alabama experience, which adds big-program pedigree, and he was still getting first-team spring reps in 2026, so he looks like a strong fit for a defense that wants toughness, communication, and a veteran presence in the back end.
