LAS VEGAS -- UNLV tied a 27-year-old school record by having four players taken in the annual NFL Draft, which was held this weekend in New York City.

The Rebel selections stretched from a surprising second-round choice all the way to the draft's final pick at No. 261 late Sunday.

UNLV, which had not had more than one player drafted in the same season since three went in 1988, saw defensive end Anton Palepoi go to Seattle on Saturday in Round Two and then three players picked on Sunday. Safety Sam Brandon, who came to Las Vegas as a wide receiver five years ago, was selected in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos. All-American cornerback and 2001 Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Thomas was tabbed by the Buffalo Bills in Round Six. Then, with the celebrated final pick of the entire draft, the expansion Houston Texans picked defensive tackle Ahmad Miller in Round Seven.

Oddly, the four Rebel picks were all defensive players while the four in 1975 were all from the offensive side of the ball. In fact, before this weekend, the school had sent only nine defensive players to the NFL, including just four in the last two decades.

Interestingly, three of the four teams who chose UNLV players this season did so for the first time. Seattle, Buffalo and Houston had never before taken a Rebel since the football program began in 1968. Denver, meanwhile, picked up only its second UNLV player and first since wide receiver Steve "Cowboy" Haggerty was tabbed in the 10th round of the 1975 event. Of the eight MWC schools, only 2001 champion BYU had more draft picks than UNLV this year with five.

"Getting four drafted shows the direction this program is heading," UNLV defensive coordinator Mike Bradeson, who is going into his seventh season with the prgoram, said. "It is a testament to not only the work ethic and talent of these four kids but also to the tremendous support systems in place on campus to help our players reach their potential." UNLV, which had no one selected in last year's draft, has now had at least three picks in the same year seven times. Following are this year's picks and the other four-selection season.

2002PICK    RD  PLAYER      POS TEAM60  2nd Anton Palepoi   DE  Seattle131 4th Sam Brandon   S   Denver176 6th Kevin Thomas CB  Buffalo261 7th Ahmad Miller DT  Houston

1975108 5th Mike Thomas RB  Washington185 7th Joe Ingersoll   OL  Miami193 7th Blanchard CarterOL  Baltimore251 10th    Steve Haggerty  WR  Denver