May 30, 2006
LAS VEGAS - UNLV football had three juniors earn 2006 preseason honors from Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, the comprehensive, Southern-based publication announced Tuesday.
This year's 384-page edition will be available in early July and can be ordered at www.blueribbonyearbook.com.
Rebel linebacker Beau Bell (Tustin, CA) and place-kicker Sergio Aguayo (San Jancinto, CA) were named members of the magazine's preseason first team while former USC transfer cornerback Eric Wright (San Francisco) was tabbed the league's preseason newcomer of the year. The latter award means the Rebels have been deemed to have the top newcomer on both sides of the ball as another former USC transfer, quarterback Rocky Hinds (Los Angeles), was tabbed preseason offensive newcomer of the year by Sporting News earlier this month.
Bell is his team's only returning All-MWC honoree as he was voted to the 2005 second team after finishing fourth in the league with 92 tackles. Aguayo, a 2006 Lou Groza Award candidate, was a two-time MWC Special Teams Player of the Week honoree last fall after he booted a pair of game-winning field goals, including a dramatic 52-yarder vs. San Diego State. Wright played in the defensive secondary for the national champion Trojans in 2004 before transferring to UNLV and sitting out the 2005 season per NCAA rules.
UNLV opens its 2006 season at home vs. Idaho State on Sept. 2. Season tickets are on sale now by calling (702) 739-FANS or logging on to unlvtickets.com.
BLUE RIBBON COLLEGE FOOTBALL YEARBOOK
2006 PRESEASON ALL-MWC TEAM
OFFENSEWR Brian Hernandez, UtahWR Johnny Walker, Colorado StateOL Robert Turner, New MexicoOL Herbert Taylor, TCUOL Jake Kuresa, BYUOL Tavo Tupalo, UtahOL Jason Karcher, WyomingQB John Beck, BYURB Curtis Brown, BYURB Kyle Bell, Colorado StateTE Jonny Harline, BYU
DEFENSEDL Tommy Blake, TCUDL Chase Ortiz, TCUDL Kelly Talavou, UtahDL Gilberto Perez, Air ForceLB Beau Bell, UNLVLB Jason Phillips, TCULB Cameron Jensen, BYUDB Eric Weddle, UtahDB Marvin White, TCUDB Robert Herbert, Colorado StateDB John Wendling, Wyoming
SPECIALISTSK Sergio Aguayo, UNLVKR Brent Casteel, UtahP Jimmie Kaylor, Colorado StatePR Chris Sutton, Air Force
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEARJohn Beck, QB, BYU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAREric Weddle, DB, Utah
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAREric Wright, DB, UNLV
