Nov. 19, 2001
LAS VEGAS - UNLV senior cornerback and All-America candidate Kevin Thomas has been named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a record-setting performance in his final college game, the league announced Monday.
Thomas led the Rebels to a stunning 34-10 victory at Air Force Saturday, which was the team's first-ever win in Colorado Springs and snapped UNLV's two-game overall losing streak. Thomas began his day by starting his school-record 46th consecutive game - or every game of his career. He went on to intercept two passes - one to preserve a 13-10 UNLV halftime lead - and another that he returned 57 yards for a game-changing touchdown. The Sacramento, Calif., native also added to his career pass breakup school record with his 55th knockdown along with making seven tackles, including one for a loss of two yards. He currently leads the league in interceptions and passes defended (interceptions plus breakups).
Thomas' two picks gave him a school- and conference-record seven this season and moved him into second place all time at UNLV with 14. The touchdown was his school-record third such score of the season - just one off the NCAA record and gave him four for his career - also just one short of the national mark. Including two fumble returns, he finished his career with six defensive touchdowns, also a UNLV record.
Monday marked the third time Thomas earned the league award. He also was honored on Sept. 13, 1999, and Oct. 2, 2000. He is only the fourth Rebel to earn a conference player of the week honor at least three times in a career and the first since quarterback Jon Denton was honored thrice by the Western Athletic Conference in 1996-97. With running back Joe Haro (Oct. 29), punt returner Troy Mason (Oct. 15) and punter Gary Cook (Oct. 8) also having won in their respective categories this season, UNLV is the only school to have had at least one offensive, defensive and special teams player of the week during all three years as part of the MWC.
The league also announced that BYU junior running back Luke Staley won MWC Offensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season while Colorado State senior kicker Kent Naughton took home special teams kudos for the first time.
