UNLV senior running back Lexington "Lightning" Thomas has been named to the official preseason All-Mountain West Team announced Tuesday here at the league's annual media summit being held at the Cosmopolitan on the World Famous Las Vegas Strip.
 
Thomas, who was named First Team All-MW after last season, is now a unanimous choice for the preseason squad after also being listed by Phil Steele's, Athlon, Lindy's and Street & Smith's.
 
The Houston, Texas, native (Benjamin Davis High School) needs 1,250 yards to pass Tim Cornett (3,733 from 2010-13) and become the school's career rushing king. Despite starting just 20 games as a collegian, he heads into the fall ranking third in UNLV history with 12 100-yard rushing games and needs six to break two-time All-American Mike Thomas' 44-year-old UNLV record of 17. Thomas, a member of the Doak Walker Award Watch List, turned in the fourth-highest rushing total in school history last fall with 1,336 yards on 211 carries for a gaudy per-rush average of 6.3 yards, which ranked 17th in the nation. "Lightning" also struck often in the end zone as a junior, scoring at least one touchdown in 10 of 12 games (two or more six times) and finishing with 17 rushing TDs, which tied for 12th in the nation and second on the school's single-season list.
 
As a team, the Rebels were predicted to come in third in the MW West Division, gathering 78 total points. Fresno State, which UNLV upset at Bulldog Stadium last fall, was the choice to take the division, followed by San Diego State. Boise State was the unanimous choice to win the Mountain Division.
 
UNLV opens its season September 1 at USC. The home opener is September 8 vs. UTEP. Season tickets are on sale now starting at only $99 for all six home games. Three-game and group ticket packages are also available with Eat All You Can Plans for as low as $79 per ticket. UNLV has also introduced the Better Seats Promise. Ticket plan holders are guaranteed better seats than single-game purchasers. Other season ticket packages include faculty & staff, alumni and groups.
 
To learn more or to purchase tickets, please visit UNLVtickets.com or call 702-739-FANS (3267). Parking is free at Sam Boyd Stadium for Rebel football games. Season ticket holders will receive priority access for seating at Rebel games inside Las Vegas Stadium, which is scheduled to open in 2020.
 
 
2018 PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Mountain Division
Rank      Team (first-place votes) - Points
1.            Boise State (22) - 132
2.            Wyoming - 95
3.            Colorado State - 82
4.            Utah State - 78
5.            Air Force - 52
6.            New Mexico - 23
 
West Division
1.            Fresno State (16) - 126
2.            San Diego State (6) - 116
3.            UNLV - 78
4.            UNR - 72
5.            Hawai'I - 45
6.            San José State – 25
 
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Offense
QB          Brett Rypien                   Sr.           Boise State
WR         KeeSean Johnson          Sr.           Fresno State
WR         McLane Mannix              So.          UNR
RB           Alexander Mattison        Jr.           Boise State
RB           Lexington Thomas       Sr.           UNLV
OL           Ezra Cleveland               So.          Boise State
OL           John Molchon                 Jr.           Boise State
OL           Aaron Jenkins                 Sr.           New Mexico
OL           Keith Ismael                    So.          San Diego State
OL           Tyler Roemer                  So.          San Diego State
TE           Dax Raymond                  Jr.           Utah State
 
Defense
DL           David Moa                      Sr.           Boise State
DL           Curtis Weaver                 So.          Boise State
DL           Youhanna Ghaifan          Jr.           Wyoming
DL           Carl Granderson              Sr.           Wyoming
LB           Jeffrey Allison                  Jr.           Fresno State
LB           Jahlani Tavai                   Sr.           Hawai'i
LB           Malik Reed                      Sr.           Nevada
DB          Tyler Horton                     Sr.           Boise State
DB          Dameon Baber                Sr.           UNR
DB          Tariq Thompson             So.          San Diego State
DB          Andrew Wingard              Sr.           Wyoming
 
Specialists
P             Ryan Stonehouse           So.          Colorado State
PK           Dominik Eberle               Jr.           Utah State
KR/PR    Avery Williams                  So.          Boise State