July 12, 2006
LAS VEGAS - Three UNLV defenders were ranked among the top 16 overall players in the Mountain West Conference by College Football News (CFN) as the Rebels continue to pull in more preseason football honors.
Former USC transfer Eric Wright (San Francisco), who will make his UNLV debut this season at cornerback, was ranked the No. 11 player in the league regardless of position. Just behind at No. 13 was senior nose guard Howie Fuimaono (Bonita Vista, CA), while junior linebacker Beau Bell (Tustin, CA) came in at No. 16.
Wright, who will be a junior after sitting out last season per NCAA transfer guidelines, also earned a preseason first team All-MWC nod from CFN as did Fuimaono and Bell. Another newcomer, junior-college transfer wide receiver Aaron Straiten (San Francisco), was tabbed second team All-MWC.
In Phil Steele's 2006 College Football Preview, junior place-kicker Sergio Aguayo (San Jacinto, CA) was named first team all-league and ranked the No. 13 booter in the nation. Bell, Wright and another cornerback, senior John Guice (Atlanta, GA) were named to the second team. Bell was listed as the No. 30 linebacker in the country while Guice was ranked No. 29 corner and Wright came in at No. 48 at cornerback.
Two more newcomers were ranked nationally by Phil Steele's before ever suiting up for the Rebels: junior defensive back Tony Cade (Lewisville, TX), who originally played at Oklahoma, was listed as the No. 19 free safety in college football while former USC transfer Rocky Hinds (Los Angeles) was ranked the No. 39 quarterback. Also, Hinds was listed as the MWC's top newcomer according to CBS Sportsline preview magazine after having previously been announced as the top offensive newcomer by Sporting News.
The official All-MWC team will be announced at next week's annual media gathering in San Diego. The Rebels open their season by hosting Idaho State on Sept. 2 starting at 7 p.m. PDT. Season tickets are on sale now by calling (702) 739-FANS or logging on to unlvrebels.com.
Following is a complete list of UNLV's preseason honors compiled from all major preview publications.
Sergio Aguayo, Jr., PK
First Team All-MWC, Blue RibbonFirst Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sFirst Team All-MWC, Sporting NewsSecond Team All-MWC, AthlonSecond Team All-MWC, Lindy'sNo. 9 PK in nation, Sporting NewsNo. 13 PK in nation, Phil Steele's
Beau Bell, Jr., LBFirst Team All-MWC, AthlonFirst Team All-MWC, Blue RibbonFirst Team All-MWC, CBS SportslineFirst Team All-MWC, College Football NewsFirst Team All-MWC, Lindy'sFirst Team All-MWC, Sporting NewsFirst Team All-MWC, Street & Smith'sSecond Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sNo. 16 MWC player, College Football NewsNo. 16 OLB in nation, Sporting NewsNo. 30 OLB in nation, Phil Steele's
Tony Cade, Jr., DBThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sNo. 19 FS in nation, Phil Steele's
Kip Facer, Sr., PThird Team All-MWC, AthlonThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele's
Howie Fuimaono, Sr., DLFirst Team All-MWC, College Football NewsFirst Team All-MWC, Sporting NewsFirst Team All-MWC, Street & Smith'sSecond Team All-MWC, AthlonSecond Team All-MWC, Lindy'sThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sNo. 13 MWC player, College Football NewsNo. 20 DT in nation, Sporting News
Tim Goins, Jr., OLSecond Team All-MWC, Lindy's
Brandon Gray, Sr., OLThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele's
Marco Guerra, Sr., OLThird Team All-MWC, AthlonFourth Team All-MWC, Phil Steele's
John Guice, Sr., DBSecond Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sThird Team All-MWC, AthlonNo. 29 cornerback in nation, Phil Steele's
Rocky Hinds, Soph., QBMWC Top Newcomer, CBS SportslineMWC Offensive Newcomer of the Year, Sporting NewsFourth Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sNo. 39 quarterback in nation, Phil Steele's
Erick Jackson, Sr., KRThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele's
Aaron Mueller, Sr., CThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele's
Aaron Straiten, Jr., WRSecond Team All-MWC, College Football NewsThird Team All-MWC, Phil Steele's
Eric Wright, Jr., DBPreseason MWC Newcomer of the Year, Blue RibbonFirst Team All-MWC, College Football NewsSecond Team All-MWC, AthlonSecond Team All-MWC, Lindy'sSecond Team All-MWC, Phil Steele'sNo. 11 MWC player, College Football News
