Dec. 14, 2011

LAS VEGAS - Brett Boyko, a Canadian import who never even played his position before he signed with the UNLV football team, was named a Second Team Freshman All-American Offensive Lineman by Phil Steele's on Wednesday.

Boyko (6-7, 300) redshirted the 2010 season for head coach Bobby Hauck's Rebels a year after finishing a high school career in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that saw him play quarterback and defensive line for St. Joseph High School. This fall, he saw his first collegiate action by starting at the key left tackle spot on the road vs.10th-ranked Wisconsin.

Boyko, who was one of three freshman offensive linemen to start for UNLV this season, ended up starting all 12 games and helped the offense rush for 164.1 yards a game, which was the best mark for the program since 2004. Rebel running backs turned in a total of six 100-yard rushing efforts and two backs finished with more than 600 yards each.

Boyko previously also earned Honorable Mention Freshman All-America from College Football News and Honorable Mention All-Mountain West from the conference.