UNLV defensive back Avery Helm knew something had changed when he found himself getting emotional on his way to participate in the Rebels’ fall training camp.
It wasn’t because he was nervous about arriving at another program or scared about the potential of another injury. Instead, it was because, for the first time in a long time, Helm was able to feel like himself again.
“I got my flame back,” Helm said. “I feel like I love ball. It’s like being born again.”
The opportunity to return to the football field carried more weight than it might for most 24-year-old football players.
The senior transfer portal addition had already experienced both the highs and lows of a journey that took him from Florida to TCU before arriving with the Rebels for the 2026 campaign. Along the way, he tore his ACL twice while also dealing with lingering injuries that limited his opportunity to play meaningful football.
However, the time away from the field forced the Missouri City, Texas, native to find a different way to contribute, changing how he approached leadership and the relationships he built with his teammates.
“It really taught me to open up and pour into others more,” Helm said. “Me not being able to be on the grass, but me still being able to affect the game from pouring into other people and telling them what I see and telling them how I would play it.”
Helm arrived in Las Vegas with plenty of experience, having played at two Power Four programs, but for UNLV defensive backs coach Akeem Davis, what stood out about Helm were growth as a person and teammate.
“He was long, he was physical, but he’s a great kid,” Davis said. “He’s a great human being, and he is a teammate that when I was playing, I wanted to be in a foxhole with.”
Helm’s journey began with the Florida Gators, where Dan Mullen first gave him a chance despite tearing his ACL prior to his collegiate career.
Helm eventually became a starter before Mullen was relieved of his duties at Florida, prompting Helm to transfer to TCU.
Then came another setback.
Helm tore his ACL for the second time, forcing him to once again begin the long process of rehabilitation. After dealing with another lingering injury last year, he eventually needed another surgery after arriving at UNLV.
For the first time in a long time, though, Helm is healthy and ready to show what he can do. His return also came with an opportunity to reunite with the same coach who helped start his career.
After Helm entered the transfer portal, Mullen wasn’t the one who reached out. Instead, Helm reached out to his former coach himself through Instagram, hoping for a response.
He got one.
Three days later, Helm was on a flight to Las Vegas to tour the facilities and meet the coaching staff.
Mullen had already taken a chance on him once when he was coming off an ACL injury. Now, he was willing to do it again.
“Realistically, this is why I appreciate Coach so much,” Helm said. “This is the second time he took me coming off a torn ACL. He knows I’m not gonna quit.”
That trust has helped shape the way Helm views his latest opportunity.
The injuries didn’t just test Helm physically. They changed him emotionally, forcing him to learn how to handle the highs and lows of a career that repeatedly left him on the sideline.
“I’ve grown a lot emotionally, being through what I’ve been through,” Helm said. “He always knew I was gonna take care of my business, but it’s just the emotional part. I feel like, you know, not getting too high, not getting too low, just being the same person every day. I feel like it’s the best stride I made.”
With one final college season ahead of him, Helm isn’t looking back at what he lost. He’s focused on making the most of what he has in front of him and seeing just how far that flame can take him.
