Dec. 14, 2003

LAS VEGAS - Two UNLV players, including the defensive player of the year, were named to the media version of the All-Mountain West Conference First Team, which was compiled by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and appeared in Sunday's edition.

UNLV junior strong safety Jamaal Brimmer, who was the only unanimous selection on his side of the ball, won the defensive player of the year award for the second consecutive season. The first team All-American led the MWC with six interceptions and four forced fumbles. The local product's 77 tackles included 10 for loss and he also recovered four fumbles and posted three quarterback sacks to go with two defensive touchdowns.

UNLV defenders have won the media award for three straight years as former All-American cornerback Kevin Thomas earned it in 2001.

Joining Brimmer on the first team for the second consecutive season was another Las Vegas native, all-time UNLV tackle king Adam Seward. The middle linebacker finished second in the league this year with 119 takedowns to go with two interceptions and a team-leading eight passes defended.

Five Rebels appeared on the second team: senior center Dominic Furio, who played every offensive down for his team in 2003, junior wide receiver Earvin Johnson, who ranked second in the MWC and 46th nationally with 75.8 yards per game, senior place-kicker Dillon Pieffer, who led the league with 20 field goals, junior punter Gary Cook, who ranked 21st in the nation with a 43.4-yard average, and freshman punt returner Tremayne Kirkland, who led the league and stood 19th in the nation with a 12.6-yard average.

Earning honorable mention from UNLV were senior running back Larry Croom, junior linebacker Ryan Claridge and sophomore safety Joe Miklos. The fourth annual Media All-Mountain West Conference Team Presented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal was voted on by members of the print and electronic media located in or near the eight league cities.

MEDIA ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TEAMPresented by the Las Vegas Review-Journal
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARBradlee Van Pelt, QB, CSUDEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARJamaal Brimmer, DB, UNLVSPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEARDexter Wynn, DB, CSUCOACH OF THE YEARUrban Meyer, UtahOFFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEARLynell Hamilton, SDSUDEFENSIVE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAREric Weddle, UtahGAME OF THE YEARUtah 45, Air Force 43 (overtime)PLAY OF THE YEARUtah's Arnold Parker's 80-yard fumble return to beat CSUSTORY OF THE YEARUtah wins first outright league title since 1957
2003 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE (*Unanimous Selection)

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QB   Bradlee Van Pelt, Colorado State, seniorRB   DonTrell Moore*, New Mexico, sophomore; Lynell Hamilton, SDSU, freshmanWR   David Anderson, Colorado State, sophomore; Paris Warren, Utah, juniorTE   Ben Moa*, Utah, seniorOL   Jason Lenzmeier*, New Mexico, senior; Claude Terrell, New Mexico, junior;     Erik Pears, Colorado State, junior; Ryan Cook, New Mexico, sophomore;     Brendan Darby, San Diego State, senior
DEFENSE
DL   Daniel Kegler, New Mexico, senior; Brady Poppinga, BYU, junior;     D.J. Renteria, New Mexico, senior; Zach Rupp, New Mexico, seniorLB   Kirk Morrison, San Diego State, junior; Adam Seward, UNLV, junior;     Marchello Graddy, Air Force, seniorDB   Jamaal Brimmer*, UNLV, junior; Dave Revill, Utah, senior;     Aaron Francisco, BYU, junior; Jeff Shoate, San Diego State, senior
SPECIAL TEAMS
K    Wes Zunker, New Mexico, juniorP    Matt Payne, BYU, juniorKOR  Dexter Wynn, Colorado State, juniorPR   Dexter Wynn, Colorado State, junior
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSEQB   Alex Smith, Utah, sophomoreRB   Brandon Warfield, Utah, senior; Reynaldo Brathwaite, BYU, juniorWR   Earvin Johnson, UNLV, junior; Malcom Floyd, Wyoming, seniorTE   Joel Dreessen, Colorado State, juniorOL   Dominic Furio, UNLV, senior; Brett Huyser, Air Force, senior;     Brett Waller, Air Force, senior; Mark Dreyer, Colorado State, senior;     Jesse Underbakke, Air Force, senior
DEFENSE
DL   Monty Coleman, Air Force, senior; Bryan Save, Colorado State, senior;     Brandon Rager, San Diego State, senior; Josh Savage, Utah, seniorLB   Matt McCoy, San Diego State, sophomore; Billy Strother, New Mexico, senior;     Daniel Gawronski, New Mexico, seniorDB   Brandon Ratcliff, New Mexico, senior; Chris Dixon, Wyoming, senior;     Dexter Wynn, Colorado State, senior; Benny Mastropaolo, Colorado State, senior
SPECIAL TEAMS
K    Dillon Pieffer, UNLV, seniorP    Gary Cook, UNLV, juniorKOR  Bo Nagahi, Utah, juniorPR   Tremayne Kirkland, UNLV, freshman
UNLV HONORABLE MENTION
RB Larry Croom, senior; LB Ryan Claridge, junior; DB Joe Miklos, sophomore