University of Nevada Las Vegas

One of only three All-Americans from UNLV football who played on the defensive side of the ball, Jamaal Brimmer was a local kid who became a nationally known playmaker in the secondary. Signed by coach John Robinson out of Las Vegas' Durango High School, Brimmer exploded onto the conference landscape as a sophomore in 2002, including leading the MW with 17 tackles-for- loss and pacing the squad with 5.5 QB sacks. Hence, he was the pick of both the coaches and media for league defensive player of the year honors. One year later, his stats only improved as he led the league with six interceptions and four forced fumbles, two of which led to key defensive scores. The first non-senior to earn All-America at UNLV since Randall Cunningham in 1983, Brimmer also became the first non-punting first team honoree for the Rebels since 1975. The hometown hero introduced himself to the nation early in the 2003 season with the greatest single defensive performance in school history in leading his team to a stunning 23-5 upset at 14th-ranked Wisconsin on national TV. Brimmer's phenomenal day, which included 11 tackles, two interceptions, one fumble forced and another one returned 55 yards for a TD and two quarterback sacks, earned him the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honors. The first UNLV semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award became the school's first two-time All-American since Cunningham with nods from AP (third team) and The Sporting News (second team) as a senior. That followed being named a community service All-American as a member of the 2004 AFCA Good Works Team. The third UNLV player selected to compete in the prestigious Senior Bowl (joining UNLV Hall of Famers Ickey Woods and Kevin Thomas), Brimmer was the program's second three-time first team all-conference honoree and won at least one MW Player of the Week nod in each of his final three years on the team. Ranked the nation's No. 2 strong safety by the Sporting News in 2004, Brimmer left UNLV ranked fifth in career tackles with 280 and second in school and league history with nine forced fumbles. After going through camp with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks he returned to Las Vegas and is currently working in special education at Bob Miller Middle School while also coaching as the defensive coordinator at Canyon Springs High School.

BRIMMER'S CAREER STATS