Aug. 1, 2000

LAS VEGAS - Four UNLV football players earned recognition from the Mountain West Conference on Tuesday at the league's annual Media Day where the results of its preseason polls were announced.

Junior cornerback Kevin Thomas was voted by the league's media as the preseason Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to the preseason All-Mountain West Conference team as well.

A native of Sacramento, Calif., Thomas led the conference with a school-record 24 pass breakups. He led the Rebels and finished fourth in the league and 20th nationally with five interceptions and turned in college football's most shocking play of 2000 when he returned a fumble 100 yards against Baylor with no time remaining to hand UNLV a 27-24 upset road win.

"I feel excited, but it's only a preseason award," Thomas said of the honor. "It doesn't mean as much as it would after the season."

Joining Thomas on the preseason All-MWC team were senior running back Jeremi Rudolph, who led UNLV with 693 yards rushing last seasons, and senior punter/place kicker Ray Cheetany, a Street & Smith's preseason All-American and the nation's fourth leading punter last year.

Sophomore quarterback Jason Thomas was tabbed as the media's choice for Newcomer of the Year, marking the second straight season that a UNLV player has been so named. Rudolph was chosen as the preseason Newcomer of the Year in 1999.

The Mountain West Conference also released the results of its preseason coaches poll and media poll. The Rebels were picked to finish seventh in the league by the coaches and sixth in the standings by the media.

MWC Coaches Poll
1. Utah (4)
2. Colorado State (3)
3. BYU (1)
4. Air Force
5. San Diego State
6. Wyoming
7. UNLV
8. New Mexico

MWC Media Poll
1. Utah (17)
2. Colorado State (10)
3. BYU (3)
4. Air Force
5. Wyoming
6. UNLV
7. San Diego State
8. New Mexico