Dec. 10, 2013
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - UNLV had more than two players earn spots on the All-Mountain West first and second teams for the first time since 2006 as senior running back Tim Cornett, junior wide receiver Devante Davis and junior offensive lineman Brett Boyko all made the second team as part of the conference's official postseason awards announced Tuesday.
In addition, seven Rebels earned honorable mention -- after getting just two on the list a year ago. In fact, the 10 total UNLV players marked the most for the program since seeing 11 cited in 2003 when the conference was just nine teams deep. Also, a total of three UNLV offensive linemen, members of a unit that helped the Rebels rush for 181 yards a game, were part of an official league list for the first time since a trio of blockers was honored by the Big West Conference in 1994 (one first team and two honorable mention).
Cornett (Galena Park, Texas/North Shore High School) is UNLV's all-time leading rusher and ranks second in Mountain West history. He has 1,251 net yards rushing and a career-high 142 yards on 28 receptions as a senior. His current per-game average of 104.2 yards ranks 25th in the nation and his 15 rushing touchdowns is tied for 12th. He tied the school record for rushing scores in a game when he took four in during a win at Air Force. Earning honorable mention a year ago, Cornett is the first Rebel runner to earn first or second team All-MW since Dominique Dorsey was a first teamer in 2004.
His former high school teammate, Davis, (Galena Park, Texas/North Shore HS) has shattered the UNLV record for touchdown receptions in a season with 14, which is tied for fourth in the nation. He is just the second Rebel since 1994 to reach the 1,000-yard mark and his 1,194 yards through 12 games is the third-most in program history while his 77 catches stand fourth in a season at UNLV. Davis tied a school record with four scoring grabs in the regular-season finale vs. San Diego State and his 99.7 yards per game currently stands 17th in the country.
Boyko (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan/St. Joseph HS) started all 12 games at left tackle for the Rebels and has allowed just one quarterback sack. He also earned honorable mention after his Freshman All-America season in 2011 and is the first Rebel blocker to make a first or second team since Joe Critchfield was named to the league's second team in 2004.
Earning honorable mention for the third straight season, center Robert Waterman (Castaic, Calif./West Ranch HS) was a member of the Rimington Award Watch List for the second straight fall and graded out second highest among UNLV linemen for the season at 92 percent.
The other six players were all first-time honorable mentions: senior safety Frank Crawford (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) leads the team with four interceptions after transferring from Ole Miss; senior defensive tackle Mark Garrick (Gadsden, S.C./Sacramento City College) plugged up the middle while ranking ninth in tackles with 31; junior left guard Cameron Jefferson (Las Vegas/Desert Oasis HS) is a team captain and ranks second on the squad in pancake blocks; senior linebacker Tani Maka (Long Beach, Calif./Jordan HS) is a team captain and has a team-leading 6.5 tackles for loss; junior kick returner Marcus Sullivan (North Las Vegas/Cheyenne HS) has a return average (28.8) that ranks eighth in the nation; and sophomore safety Peni Vea (Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i/Kealakehe HS) leads the team with 97 tackles and has two interceptions.
The Rebels (7-5) are headed to the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl on New Year's Day to take on North Texas. Tickets are $75 apiece (UNLV students with valid I.D. are $20 apiece with a limit of two) and available now by calling (702) 739-FANS (3267) or visiting www.unlvtickets.com.
2013 MOUNTAIN WEST AWARDSOffensive Player of the YearDerek Carr, Sr., QB, Fresno State
Defensive Player of the YearShaquil Barrett, Sr., LB, Colorado State
Special Teams Player of the YearCarlos Wiggins, So., KR, New Mexico
Freshman of the YearTyler Winston, Fr., WR, San José State
Coach of the YearMatt Wells, Utah State
2013 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL FIRST TEAMOFFENSEPos. Player, Class, TeamQB Derek Carr, Sr., Fresno StateWR Davante Adams, So., Fresno StateWR Chandler Jones, Sr., San José StateRB Jay Ajayi, So., Boise StateRB Kapri Bibbs, So., Colorado StateTE Crockett Gillmore, Sr., Colorado StateOL Charles Leno, Jr., Sr., Boise StateOL Weston Richburg, Sr., Colorado StateOL Austin Wentworth, Sr., Fresno StateOL Joel Bitonio, Sr., UNROL Tyler Larsen, Sr., Utah StatePK Jared Roberts, Jr., Colorado StatePR/KR Carlos Wiggins, So., New Mexico
DEFENSEPos. Player, Class, TeamDL Demarcus Lawrence, Jr., Boise StateDL Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, Sr., Boise StateDL Brock Hekking, Jr., UNRDL Eddie Yarbrough, So., WyomingLB Shaquil Barrett, Sr., Colorado StateLB Keith Smith, Sr., San José StateLB Jake Doughty, Sr., Utah StateDB Derron Smith, Jr., Fresno StateDB Nat Berhe, Sr., San Diego StateDB Bené Benwikere, Sr., San José StateDB Nevin Lawson, Sr., Utah StateP Ben Skaer, Sr., New Mexico
2013 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL SECOND TEAMOFFENSEPos. Player, Class, TeamQB David Fales, Sr., San José StateWR Devante Davis, Jr., UNLVWR Josh Harper, Jr., Fresno StateRB Tim Cornett, Sr., UNLVRB Kasey Carrier, Sr., New MexicoTE Marcel Jensen, Sr., Fresno StateOL Matt Paradis, Sr., Boise StateOL Ty Sambrailo, Jr., Colorado StateOL Bryce Quigley, Sr., San Diego StateOL Nicholas Kaspar, Sr., San José StateOL Brett Boyko, Jr., UNLVPK Austin Lopez, So., San José StatePR/KR Isaiah Burse, Sr., Fresno State
DEFENSEPos. Player, Class, TeamDL Tyeler Davison, Jr., Fresno StateDL Beau Yap, Jr., Hawai`iDL B.J. Larsen, Jr., Utah StateDL AJ Pataili`I, Sr., Utah StateLB Ejiro Ederaine, So., Fresno StateLB Kyler Fackrell, So., Utah StateLB Zach Vigil, Jr., Utah StateDB Donte Deayon, So., Boise StateDB Jeremy Ioane, Jr., Boise StateDB Shaq Bell, Sr., Colorado StateDB Marqueston Huff, Sr., WyomingP Chase Tenpenny, Sr., UNR
2013 HONORABLE MENTIONAir Force: Will Conant, Jr., PK; Michael Husar, Sr., OL.Boise State: Dan Goodale, Jr., PK; Matt Miller, Jr., WR;Shane Williams-Rhodes, So., WR/PR/KR.Colorado State: Kivon Cartwright, Jr., TE; Max Morgan, Jr., LB.Fresno State: Isaiah Burse, Sr., WR; L.J. Jones, Sr., DB; Karl Mickelsen, Jr., LB; Nikko Motta, Sr., DL; Garrett Swanson, So., P; Cody Wichmann, Jr., OL.Hawai`i: Ben Clarke, So., OL; Brenden Daley, Sr., LB; Clark Evans, Sr., TE;Scott Harding, Jr., P; John Hardy-Tuliau, Sr., DB; Art Laurel, Sr., LB;Siasau Matagiese, Sr., DL; Ne'Quan Phillips, So., DB.UNR: Charles Garrett, Jr., DB; Brandon Wimberly, Sr., WR.New Mexico: Dallas Bollema, Sr., LB; Brett Bowers, Jr., DL;LaMar Bratton, Jr., OL; Dillon Farrell, Sr., OL; Darryl Johnson, Sr., OL.San Diego State: Colin Lockett, Sr., PR/KR; Adam Muema, Jr., RB;Terry Poole, Jr., OL; Ezell Ruffin, Jr., WR; Nick Tenhaeff, Sr., LB;J.J. Whittaker, Jr., DB.San José State: Billy Freeman, Fr., TE; Ryan Jones, Sr., OL.UNLV: Frank Crawford, Sr., DB; Mark Garrick, Sr., DL;Cameron Jefferson, Jr., OL; Tani Maka, Sr., LB; Marcus Sullivan, Jr., PR/KR;Peni Vea, So., DB; Robert Waterman, Jr., OL.Utah State: Maurice Alexander, Sr., DB; Joey DeMartino, Sr., RB;Nick Diaz, Jr., PK; Jamie Markosian, Sr., OL; Bruce Natson, So.,PR/KR; Eric Schultz, Sr., OL; Brian Suite, Jr., DB.Wyoming: Robert Herron, Sr., WR; Brett Smith, Jr., QB;Jordan Stanton, Jr., LB.
