Dec. 4, 2001
LAS VEGAS - UNLV All-American cornerback Kevin Thomas was named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of Year in a vote of select members of the media, which was compiled and released by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Thomas, who is tied for third in the nation with a league-record seven interceptions this season, was one of four unanimous selections to the Media All-Mountain West Conference First Team. Joining Thomas on the first team were senior safety Sam Brandon, who led the squad in tackles for the second consecutive season, and freshman kickoff returner Dominique Dorsey. Dorsey, who led the conference with a return average of 34.6 and ran for a MWC single-game rookie record 180 yards on just 18 carries at UNR, split offensive newcomer of the year honors with transfer quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt of Colorado State.
Four Rebels appeared on the second team: junior running back Joe Haro, who turned in the fourth-best rushing season in school history with 1,107 yards and 10 touchdowns, offensive tackle Brandon Bair, senior defensive end Anton Palepoi, who despite missing half the season with an injury, led the league in sacks per game with .75, and sophomore linebacker Ryan Claridge, who set a conference record with six fumbles forced.
Earning honorable mention from UNLV were junior tight end DeJhown Mandley, senior center Peter Tramontanas, junior defensive end Ahmad Briggs, senior defensive lineman Ahmad Miller, linebacker Shanga Wilson and junior punt returner Troy Mason.
The second annual Media All-Mountain West Conference Team Presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal was voted on by 20 members of the print and electronic media located in or near the eight league cities. The official team, which is voted on by head coaches along with members of the media, is scheduled to be released by the league on Wednesday.
MEDIA ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TEAM
Presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Luke Staley, RB, BYUDEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kevin Thomas, DB, UNLVCOACH OF THE YEAR Gary Crowton, BYUOFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Dominique Dorsey, RB, UNLV & Bradlee Van Pelt, QB, CSUDEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR Antwoine Sanders, UtahGAME OF THE YEAR BYU 24, Utah 21PLAY OF THE YEAR Luke Staley's 30-yard touchdown run with 1:16 left to give BYU the victory over UtahSTORY OF THE YEAR BYU's rebirth under first-year coach Gary CrowtonBEST GAME-DAY COACH Sonny Lubick, Colorado StateBEST GAME-DAY ATMOSPHERE Air Force & BYUBEST CITY Las Vegas
ALL-MWC TEAMFIRST TEAMOFFENSE
QB Brandon Doman*, BYU, seniorRB Luke Staley*, BYU, junior, Larry Ned, San Diego State, seniorWR Reno Mahe, BYU, junior, Ryan McGuffey, Wyoming, sophomoreTE Doug Jolley, BYU, seniorOL Doug Kaufusi, Utah, senior, Ed Ta'amu, Utah, senior, Broc Finlayson, Colorado State, senior, David Moreno, San Diego State, senior, Jason Scukanec, BYU, senior
DEFENSE
DL Ryan Denney, BYU, senior, Garrett Smith, Utah, junior, Jerome Haywood, San Diego State, senior, Zach Johnson, Air Force, seniorLB Gary Davis*, New Mexico, senior, Justin Ena, BYU, senior, Sheldon Deckart, Utah, junior, Eric Pauly, Colorado State, sophomoreDB Kevin Thomas*, UNLV, senior, Will Demps, San Diego State, senior, Jason Gallimore, Colorado State, senior, Sam Brandon, UNLV, senior
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Vladimir Borombozin, New Mexico, seniorP Brian Simnjanovski, San Diego State, juniorKR Dominique Dorsey, UNLV, freshmanPR Dexter Wynn, Colorado State, sophomore
*Unanimous Selection
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QB Casey Bramlet, Wyoming, sophomoreRB Dameon Hunter, Utah, senior, Joe Haro, UNLV, juniorWR J.R. Tolver, San Diego State, junior, Cliff Russell, Utah, seniorTE Jose Ochoa, Colorado State, seniorOL Ben Miller, Air Force, senior, Brandon Bair, UNLV, senior, Adam Goldberg, Wyoming, junior, Dustin Rykert, BYU, junior, Jordan Gross, Utah, junior, Jeremy Sorenson, New Mexico, senior
DEFENSE
DL Jason Kaufusi, Utah, sophomore, Anton Palepoi, UNLV, senior, Lauvale Sape, Utah, senior, Lucas Smith, Colorado State, seniorLB Drew Wood, Colorado State, sophomore, Leo Caires, Wyoming, senior, Ryan Claridge, UNLV, sophomoreDB Jernaro Gilford, BYU, sophomore, Stephen Persley, New Mexico, senior, Antwoine Sanders, Utah, sophomore, Aaron Sprague, Colorado State, senior
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Jarvis Wallum, Wyoming, juniorP Joey Huber, Colorado State, juniorKR Pete Rebstock, Colorado State, seniorPR Dallas Davis, Colorado State, senior
HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSEQB Keith Boyea, Air Force, Lance Rice, Utah, Bradlee Van Pelt, Colorado StateRB Jarrod Baxter, New Mexico, Adam Tate, UtahWR Dwight Counter, New Mexico, Ryan Fleming, Air Force, Malcom Floyd, Wyoming, Pete Rebstock, Colorado StateTE Joel Dreessen, Colorado State, DeJhown Mandley, UNLV, Gray McNeill, San Diego State, Spencer Nead, BYU, Michael Richardson, UtahOL Ben Archibald, BYU, Johnathan Ingram, San Diego State, Broderick Lancaster, Colorado State, Jason Lenzmeier, New Mexico, Matt Mai, Air Force, Rashad McClure, New Mexico, Aaron McCubbins, BYU, Dustin McQuivey, Utah, Chester Pitts, San Diego State, David Shohet, Colorado State, Brian Strock, Air Force, Pete Tramontanas, UNLV, Teag Whiting, BYU
DEFENSE
DL Ahmad Briggs, UNLV, Andrew Brigham, San Diego State, Geoff Graue, Colorado State, Peter Hogan, Colorado State, Brian Johnson, New Mexico, Brett Keisel, BYU, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Utah, Ahmad Miller, UNLV, Justin Pendry, Air ForceLB Jomar Butler, San Diego State, Isaac Kelley, BYU, Mohammed Konte, New Mexico, Kirk Morrison, San Diego State, Charles Moss, New Mexico, Andy Rule, Air Force, Anthony Schlegal, Air Force, Paul Walkenhorst, BYU, Shanga Wilson, UNLVDB David Crockett, New Mexico, Justin Gallimore, Colorado State, Scott Gerhardt, New Mexico, Terrell Golden, New Mexico, Eric Lee, Wyoming, Levi Madarieta, BYU, Arnold Parker, Utah, Garret Pavelko, San Diego State, Ricky Sharpe, San Diego State
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Matt Payne, BYUP Aaron Edmonds, BYUKR Mike Rigell, BYU, Dexter Wynn, Colorado State, Holmon Wiggins, New MexicoPR Troy Mason, UNLV, Holmon Wiggins, New Mexico
