Dec. 3, 2004

LAS VEGAS - Rebel seniors won nearly every honor as the UNLV football awards were announced as part of the program's annual postseason banquet Friday at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Running back Dominique Dorsey was tabbed UNLV Team MVP for 2004. The 5-foot-7-inch tailback turned in the fourth-best single-season rushing total in school history and led the Mountain West Conference with 1,260 yards. The native of Tulare, Calif., led the league with six 100-yard rushing games, which gave him 11 for a career that included just 14 starts. Dorsey, who was named First Team All-MWC, also paced the conference and ranked 18th nationally in all-purpose yards. Dorsey also took home both the Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award and the Offensive Captain Award, both of which were voted on by teammates.

The squad's defensive MVP honor was shared by a pair of outstanding senior linebackers -- Ryan Claridge and Adam Seward. Despite missing the final game of the season because of a shoulder injury, Claridge led the league and ranked ninth nationally with nine quarterback sacks and 15 tackles for loss. His forced fumble at Tennessee gave him a school- and league-record 10 in his career. His 87 tackles in 2004 gave him 293 for his career, which ranked second all-time at the school. Claridge also earned the Defensive Captain Award and the John Robinson Man of the Year Award, which is given to the student-athlete who possesses the highest integrity while aspiring for excellence.

Co-Defensive MVP Seward won his second MWC tackling title with 121 this fall and leaves as his school's and league's all-time leader with 433. He also took home the Robert Cline Award, which goes to a senior that demonstrated a strong commitment to his team, university and community.

UNLV's Offensive MVP was senior wide receiver Earvin Johnson. The Los Angeles native left as his school's all-time leader in receiving yards with 2,604 to go with 183 career catches, which is just four off the school record. Johnson, who was one of only 11 semifinalists for the prestigious Fred Biletnikoff Award this fall, also broke the UNLV record for most consecutive games catching a pass with 41. His eight receiving touchdowns this season, including a personal-long 47-yarder, were a career high.

The UNLV Special Teams Player of the Year Award was earned by senior Gary Cook, who was a co-winner of the same honor a year ago. A native of Truckee, Calif., Cook was one of just 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, which is given annually to the nation's top punter.

Other honors handed out Friday included senior LB Reggie Butler receiving the Rene Arceneaux Scholarship Award, which is given to a player who has demonstrated exemplary improvement in academic progress.

UNLV's other 2004 First Team All-MWC honoree, safety Jamaal Brimmer, earned the "Doc" Tobler Senior Award, which is given to the final-year player who brings the highest credit to himself and the university. Brimmer was UNLV football's first returning All-American since Randall Cunningham in 1984 and eventually joined the former NFL great as the only two Rebels to be named first team all-league three times in a career.

Sophomore running back Erick Jackson picked up the Jack Gilmore Coaches Award, which is given to a former walk-on player who excelled on the field, while the team's scholar-athletes of the year included repeat honoree, junior TE Michael Freund, along with sophomore quarterback Tyler Arciaga.

2004 UNLV FOOTBALL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player - Team Dominique Dorsey, RB, Senior
Most Valuable Player - Offense Earvin Johnson, WR, Senior
Co-Most Valuable Player - Defense Ryan Claridge, LB, Senior                          Adam Seward, LB, Senior
Most Valuable Players - Special Teams Gary Cook, P, Senior
Rene Arceneaux Scholarship Award - Reggie Butler, LB, Senior
Robert Cline Scholarship Award - Adam Seward, LB, Senior
Jack Gilmore Coaches Award - Erick Jackson, RB, Sophomore
Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award - Dominique Dorsey, RB, Senior
John Robinson Man of the Year Award - Ryan Claridge, LB, Senior
"Doc" Tobler Senior Award - Jamaal Brimmer, DB, Senior
Scholar-Athletes of the Year - Michael Freund, TE, JuniorTyler Arciaga, QB, Sophomore
Captains Award - Ryan Claridge, LB, SeniorDominique Dorsey, RB, Senior