April 20, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV defensive end Anton Palepoi became the program's highest NFL draft pick in 14 years when the Seattle Seahawks took him in Saturday's second round.

Palepoi was the 60th pick overall, which was the fifth-highest ever for a Rebel and the best since running back Ickey Woods set a school record when he was chosen 31st overall in 1988 by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Palepoi is the first UNLV player ever drafted by Seattle and the first player to go from the school since Quincy Sanders was selected in the fifth round in 2000.

He is the third straight defensive player taken from UNLV along with Sanders and defensive end Talance Sawyer in 1999, who was a sixth-round choice of the Minnesota Vikings.

Palepoi, from Salt Lake City, was a preseason All-America selection and Lombardi Award Candidate before a leg injury cut his senior season short. The former JC All-American at Dixie College led UNLV in quarterback sacks both of his two seasons in Las Vegas. Despite only playing six games in 2001, he recorded 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. He also broke up three passes and forced two fumbles.

As a junior he recorded eight sacks, 12 TFL and one forced fumble en route to earning first team All-Mountain West Conference honors. Despite missing the second half of the season Palepoi excelled at the annual NFL combine and in personal workouts for various NFL clubs, which led to his lofty draft selection.

Palepoi's former teammate, All-American cornerback Kevin Thomas, is expected to be chosen in the remaining rounds while other Rebels such as safety Sam Brandon, defensive lineman Ahmad Miller and offensive lineman Brandon Bair also being possible selections.

The NFL Draft will wrap up Sunday with rounds four through seven.

UNLV TOP-100 NFL DRAFT PICKS

PICK    ROUND   PLAYER                  POS TEAM      YEAR31  2   Ickey Woods         RB  Bengals   198837  2   Randall Cunningham  QB  Eagles    198554  2   Glenn Carano            QB  Cowboys   197755  2   Aaron Mitchell          DB  Cowboys   197960  2   Anton Palepoi           DE  Seahawks  200284  4   Sam Greene          WR  Dolphins  198199  4   Todd Liebenstein    DE  Redskins  198299  4   Ron Crews           DE  Browns    1980