Dec. 1, 2009

LAS VEGAS - Senior wide receiver Ryan Wolfe became just the third UNLV football player and sixth Mountain West Conference gridder in history to earn three first team all-league honors as the MWC announced its official postseason awards Tuesday.

Wolfe, out of Santa Clarita, Calif., was already the first UNLV receiver in history to be named first team all-conference twice in a career as he was also a first team selection in 2006 and 2008 (Wolfe received honorable mention in 2007). Now he joins two-time All-American safety Jamaal Brimmer (2002-04 in the MWC) and two-time All-American punter and quarterback Randall Cunningham (1982-84 in the PCAA) as the only Rebel football players to thrice be named first team all-league. He is also one of just six players in Mountain West history to accomplish the feat.

Despite missing his final collegiate game because of a foot injury, Wolfe finished 12th in college football history with 283 receptions, which was also the most in UNLV and Mountain West history. This season, the Hart High School product led the MWC with 6.73 catches per game (17th nationally), had 74 grabs for 760 yards and also earned statistics as a rusher (41 net yards) and on defense (six tackles and one pass breakup). Wolfe's two 100-yard receiving games as a senior pushed his school-record career total to 12.

A trio of Rebels earned honorable mention this year: senior linebacker/defensive end Jason Beauchamp (6.5 sacks and 95 total tackles), who was second team All-MWC last season; four-year starter on the offensive line, senior guard Joe Hawley (zero sacks allowed); and junior left tackle Matt Murphy (one sack allowed).

Dominated by undefeated and fourth-ranked TCU, the 2009 MWC awards were voted on by the nine head coaches and a panel of 18 members of the media. TCU quarterback Andy Dalton was the choice for the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year while Horned Frog defensive end Jerry Hughes was named MWC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. TCU kick returner Jeremy Kerley won for special teams while coach of the year went to the Frogs' Gary Patterson. Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels was tabbed MWC Freshman of the Year.

2009 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE AWARDS
Offensive Player of the YearAndy Dalton, Junior, QB, TCU
Defensive Player of the YearJerry Hughes, Senior, DE, TCU
Special Teams Player of the YearJeremy Kerley, Junior, KR, TCU
Freshman of the YearAustyn Carta-Samuels, QB, Wyoming
Coach of the YearGary Patterson, TCU
2009 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
OFFENSEPOS    PLAYER          CL     SCHOOLQB     Andy Dalton     Jr.    TCUWR     David Reed      Sr.    UtahWR     Ryan Wolfe**    Sr.    UNLVRB     Harvey Unga     Jr.    BYURB     Eddie Wide      Jr.    UtahTE     Dennis Pitta**# Sr.    BYUOL     Matt Reynolds   So.    BYUOL     Erik Cook       Sr.    New MexicoOL     Marshall Newhouse Sr.  TCUOL     Marcus Cannon   Jr.    TCUOL     Zane Beadles*   Sr.    UtahPK     Ross Evans      So.    TCUPR/KR  Jeremy Kerley*# Jr.    TCU
DEFENSEPOS    PLAYER          CL     SCHOOLDL     Jan Jorgensen** Sr.    BYUDL     Jerry Hughes*#  Sr.    TCUDL     Koa Misi        Sr.    UtahDL     John Fletcher   Sr.    WyomingLB     Carmen Messina  So.    New MexicoLB     Daryl Washington Sr.   TCULB     Stevenson Sylvester Sr. UtahDB     Reggie Rembert  Jr.    Air ForceDB     Rafael Priest   Sr.    TCUDB     Nick Sanders    Sr.    TCUDB     Robert Johnson  Sr.    UtahP      Adam Miller     Sr.    New Mexico
*Two-Time First Team Selection**Three-Time First Team Selection#Unanimous Selection
2009 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
OFFENSEPOS    PLAYER          CL     SCHOOLQB     Max Hall        Sr.    BYUWR     Vincent Brown   Jr.    San Diego StateWR     DeMarco Sampson Sr.    San Diego StateRB     Joseph Turner   Sr.    TCURB     Jared Tew       Jr.    Air ForceTE     Andrew George   Sr.    BYUOL     Nick Charles    Sr.    Air ForceOL     Peter Lusk      Sr.    Air ForceOL     Caleb Schlauderaff Jr. UtahOL     Jake Kirkpatrick Jr.   TCUOL     Zane Taylor     Jr.    UtahPK     Erik Soderberg  So.    Air ForcePR/KR  Dion Morton     Sr.    Colorado State
DEFENSEPOS    PLAYER          CL     SCHOOLDL     Wayne Daniels   Jr.    TCUDL     Ben Garland     Sr.    Air ForceDL     Johnathan Rainey So.   New MexicoDL     Cory Grant      Jr.    TCULB     Tank Carder     So.    TCULB     Mychal Sisson   So.    Colorado StateLB     Brian Hendricks So.    WyomingDB     Andrew Rich     Jr.    BYUDB     Anthony Wright  So.    Air ForceDB     Tejay Johnson   Jr.    TCUDB     Chris Prosinski Jr.    WyomingP      Brian Stahovich So.    San Diego State
2009 HONORABLE MENTIONAir Force: John Falgout, Sr., LB; Brandon Geyer, Sr., P;Ryan Gonzales, Sr., OL; Chris Thomas, Sr., DB.BYU: Coleby Clawson, Sr., LB; Brett Denney, Sr., DL; Scott Johnson, Sr., DB;Brian Logan, Jr., DB; Riley Stephenson, Fr., P; R.J. Willing, Sr., OL.Colorado State: Adrian Martinez, Sr., OL; Nick Oppenneer, Sr., DB;Cole Pemberton, Sr., OL; Shelley Smith, Sr., OL; Tim Walter, Sr., OL.New Mexico: Kendall Briscoe, Sr., DL.San Diego State: Davion Mauldin, Sr., KR; Jerry Milling, Sr., LB.TCU: Evan Frosch, Jr., TE; Antoine Hicks, So., WR; Jeremy Kerley, Jr., WR;Ed Wesley, Fr., RB; Jimmy Young, Jr., WR.UNLV: Jason Beauchamp, Sr., LB; Joe Hawley, Sr., OL; Matt Murphy, Jr., OL.Utah: Joe Phillips, Jr., K; Sean Sellwood, Fr., P; Sealver Siliga, So., DL;Mike Wright, Sr., LB.Wyoming: David Leonard, Jr., WR; Austin McCoy, So., P; Mitch Unrein, Sr., DL