Jan. 5, 2011
LAS VEGAS - Record-breaking senior quarterback Omar Clayton (offense), senior safety Alex De Giacomo (defense) and junior kick-coverage standout Nate Carter (special teams) were named UNLV football's most valuable players for 2010 as Head Coach Bobby Hauck announced his program's season-ending awards on Wednesday.
Clayton (Normal, IL) started more games at quarterback (40) than anyone else in Rebel history and finished second all-time at the school with 6,560 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. As a senior, the former walk-on passed for 1,818 yards and 13 touchdowns while ranking fourth on the squad in rushing with 172 net yards and one score. Clayton also broke the legendary Randall Cunningham's UNLV career passing percentage record by completing 58.6-percent of his attempts from 2007-10.
De Giacomo (Westminster, CA) finished second on the team in total tackles with 84, tied for third with four tackles for loss, turned in four pass breakups and tied for the squad lead with two fumble recoveries. The former junior-college transfer also won the 2010 Bill "Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award.
Las Vegas High School graduate Carter earned his second straight Special Teams MVP nod as the linebacker continued showing he is one of the Mountain West Conference's hardest hitters on kick coverage. Carter totaled 36 tackles as a junior and also led to a Rebel touchdown when he blocked a punt at Utah that was returned for a score.
Six other honors were awarded after the season:
Another senior, former walk-on receiver Tate Knutson (Anchorage), won the Rene Arceneaux Award, which is given to a player who has demonstrated exemplary improvement in academic progress.
Offensive lineman Matt Murphy (Lake Forest, CA), a four-year starter, was voted winner of the "Doc" Tobler Senior Award, which goes to a final-year player who brings the highest credit to himself and the university.
Senior defensive lineman Isaako Aaitui (Pago Pago, American Samoa) earned the Robert Cline Award, which annually goes to a senior who demonstrated a strong commitment to his team, university and community while also showing good sportsmanship on the field.
Freshman linebacker Tim Hasson (Las Vegas), who played in every game and totaled 19 tackles, picked up the Jack Gilmore Coaches Award, which is given to a current or former walk-on player who excelled on the field. The product of Cimarron-Memorial High School scored his first collegiate touchdown when he returned a blocked punt 19 yards for a score.
Also, two redshirt freshmen were honored for their work on the scout team as tight end Jordan Sparkman (San Diego) won on offense and linebacker William Vea (Alamo, NV) was tabbed on defense.
2010 UNLV FOOTBALL AWARDSMost Valuable Player - Offense Omar Clayton, QB, SeniorMost Valuable Player - Defense Alex De Giacomo, DB, SeniorMost Valuable Player - Special Teams Nate Carter, LB, JuniorRene Arceneaux Award Tate Knutson, WR, SeniorRobert Cline Award Isaako Aaitui, DL, SeniorJack Gilmore Coaches Award Tim Hasson, LB, Freshman"Wildcat" Morris Most Inspirational Award Alex De Giacomo, DB, Senior"Doc" Tobler Senior Award Matt Murphy, OL, SeniorOffensive Scout Team Player of the Year Jordan Sparkman, TE, FreshmanDefensive Scout Team Player of the Year William Vea, LB, Freshman
