Dec. 10, 2001

LAS VEGAS - Two UNLV football players were named 2001 All-America by The Sporting News, the weekly publication announced Monday.

Senior cornerback Kevin Thomas was named to the TSN fourth team after finishing tied for third in the country with a Mountain West Conference-record seven interceptions. The native of Sacramento, Calif., was earlier named the league's defensive player of the year after leading the nation with 213 interception return yards and three defensive touchdowns. Thomas was also named third-team All-America by The Football News earlier this month.

Also, rookie Dominique Dorsey was tabbed a fourth-team Sporting News Freshman All-American as a kick returner. The MWC Freshman of the Year, out of Tulare, Calif., set a school record for kickoff return average with 34.6 yards per attempt. That number, which included an 87-yard effort in his first-ever collegiate return, would have been good enough for second in the nation with two more attempts this season.

A total of nine players from the MWC appeared on TSN teams.