July 22, 2008
LAS VEGAS - Two former UNLV defensive greats earned spots on the Mountain West Conference's 10th Anniversary Football Team, as selected by a combined panel of media, institutional and conference personnel and on-line fan poll, the league announced Tuesday.
Two-time All-America strong safety Jamaal Brimmer (Durango HS/Las Vegas), who played from 2001-04, joined last season's MWC Defensive Player of the Year, linebacker Beau Bell (Tustin HS/Tustin, CA), who suited up from 2004-07, on the exclusive list. In order to be eligible for consideration, candidates must have been a first team All-Mountain West selection at least once.
Brimmer closed his stellar college career by becoming just the fourth two-time All-American in school history. The consensus MWC Defensive Player of the Year in 2002 and 2003 also finished his senior campaign by becoming the Rebels' second-ever three-time first team all-conference honoree. In 2003, he became his school's first first team All-American since 1998 and the first non-punter to earn a first-team nod for the Rebels since the school moved to Division I in 1978. That season he earned national defensive player of the week honors after his stunning performance in the Rebels' 2003 upset of 14th-ranked Wisconsin when he recorded 11 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a 55-yard fumble return for a touchdown against the Badgers. His final numbers included 280 career tackles, 10 sacks, seven interceptions, nine forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
After a dominant senior season in 2007, Bell became only the fourth Rebel player ever invited to play in the prestigious Senior Bowl. Despite his team finishing 2-10 overall, he was named the MWC Defensive Player of the Year after becoming the first player in league history to be named Defensive Player of the Week three times in one season. He finished second all-time at UNLV and sixth in MWC history with 320 total tackles despite missing half a season as a junior because of an ankle injury. His all-time numbers also included 27 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown at Wyoming last fall. Bell was Cleveland's first selection in this year's NFL Draft when the Browns took him 104th overall.
Anniversary teams will be chosen for each of the 19 conference-sponsored sports during the 2008-09 seasons in celebration of the Mountain West's 10th season of play.
The MountainWest Sports Network - Mtn. will broadcast a series of special presentations highlighting the 10th year of the Mountain West Conference.
Mountain West Football 10th Anniversary Team
OFFENSEPosition: Player (School)
Quarterback: Alex Smith (Utah)Running Back: Luke Staley (BYU)Running Back: DonTrell Moore (New Mexico)Wide Receiver: David Anderson (CSU)Wide Receiver: Jovon Bouknight (Wyoming)Tight End: Jonny Harline (BYU)Offensive Line: Ryan Cook (New Mexico)Offensive Line: Doug Kaufusi (Utah)Offensive Line: Jordan Gross (Utah)Offensive Line: Erik Pears (CSU)Offensive Line: Adam Goldberg (Wyoming)Place Kicker: John Sullivan (New Mexico)
DEFENSEPosition: Player (School)Defensive Line: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (SDSU)Defensive Line: Chase Ortiz (TCU)Defensive Line: Brady Poppinga (BYU)Defensive Line: Steve Fifita (Utah)Linebacker: Rob Morris (BYU)Linebacker Kirk Morrison (SDSU)Linebacker: Beau Bell (UNLV)Defensive Back: Brian Urlacher (New Mexico)Defensive Back: Eric Weddle (Utah)Defensive Back: Jamaal Brimmer (UNLV)Defensive Back: Will Demps (SDSU)Punter: Matt Payne (BYU)Punt/Kick Returner: Dexter Wynn (CSU)
