July 26, 2011

Media Day Photo Gallery

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) -
UNLV senior Phillip Payne (6-3, 205) is one of two wide receivers voted by the media to the official 2011 Preseason All-Mountain West Team, which was announced Tuesday as part of the annual league gatherings being held at the Red Rock Resort.

The Las Vegas native and Western High School product heads into his fourth season with the Rebels with career totals of 127 receptions for 1,786 yards, both of which rank 12th in school history. He already stands fourth in all-time touchdown receptions at UNLV with 19 and needs just five this fall to tie record-holder Henry Bailey (1991-94).

Payne was already a unanimous choice by the preseason magazines for first-team honors and was selected as having the league's Best Hands by both Sporting News and Lindy's.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that UNLV placed a receiver on the preseason team as MW and UNLV all-time catch king Ryan Wolfe was included from 2007-09. The other wide receiver on this season's official MW team was TCU sophomore Josh Boyce. Newcomer Boise State led the way with seven players on the preseason team.
As a team, the Rebels were picked by the media to come in seventh this season. Boise State got 28 first-place votes while defending champion TCU placed second (208) and received the only other three first-place votes.

UNLV's first preseason practice is August 9 and the 2011 season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 1 at defending Big 10 Conference champion Wisconsin on ESPN. Season tickets are available now by calling (702) 739-FANS or logging on to www.unlvtickets.com.

2011 MW PRESEASON POLL
Rk. Team (1st place) Points
1. Boise State (28)  236
2. TCU (3)           208
3. Air Force         176
4. San Diego State   160
5. Colorado State    104
6. Wyoming           80
7. UNLV              77
8. New Mexico        39