June 8, 2011
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - A pair of returning seniors on the UNLV football team continue to get the bulk of preseason honors by various preview magazines that started hitting newsstands this week.
Wide receiver Phillip Payne (6-3, 205, SR-3L) has been included on the first team of every list that has been released to date as he got the nod this week from Lindy's and Sporting News. The Las Vegas native has compiled 19 receiving touchdowns in 32 career games and needs five more this fall to tie Henry Bailey's school record of 24. A product of Western High School, Payne sits 12th all-time at UNLV with 127 catches and 13th with 1,786 yards. He was also given the Best Hands Award in the conference by both Sporting News and Lindy's.
Joining him on many of the first teams is senior cornerback Will Chandler (5-11, 185, SR-3L). The native of Pacoima, Calif., was among the national leaders a year ago with five interceptions and seven total takeaways. He was touted first team by Lindy's and Sporting News this week.
Making the second team All-MW list from Lindy's was senior cornerback Quinton Pointer (5-10, 185, SR-3L), junior offensive lineman Yusef Rodgers (6-2, 250, JR-2L) and all-purpose player Marcus Sullivan (5-9, 185, SO-1L).
Also, UNLV second-year head coach Bobby Hauck was tabbed by Sporting News as being the league's Best Interview.
The league's official preseason All-MW team will be announced in late July during the conference media days in Las Vegas.
