LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV became the first football program in history to boast back-to-back Mountain West Freshman of the Year honorees as quarterback Cameron Friel earned the 2021 edition, while all-time leading rusher Charles Williams earned First Team All-MW as part of the conference's annual postseason awards announced Tuesday.

In addition, linebacker Jacoby Windmon was named to the second team while place-kicker Daniel Gutierrez and linebacker Austin Ajiake both earned honorable mention for their work this fall.
Friel (pronounced "FREEL"), a true freshman from Kaneohe, Hawaii (Kailua High School), took home the league's rookie honor after standout wide receiver Kyle Williams earned the same award a year ago. UNLV has had eight conference freshman of the year winners in its history, including quarterbacks Armani Rogers in 2017 and Jon Denton in 1996 when the Rebels were members of the WAC. Six Rebels have won the award from the MW while no other school has more than three such honorees since the league launched in 1999.

Friel broke the school record for completion percentage in a season by a freshman with a 62.4 clip, which also tied Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham (1984) for third overall by any Rebel. Friel played in nine games, starting eight, and led the team in passing yards with 1,608 and touchdown passes with six. He was named the MW Freshman of the Week on November 8 after leading his team to a win at New Mexico. On October 2, his 307 yards on 25 completions at undefeated UTSA marked the most yards thrown by a UNLV QB since 2018 and the most ever thrown in one game by a true freshman for the Rebels. Nationally among all freshmen, Friel's season completion percentage ranks fourth while his mark of 178.7 yards per game stands seventh.

"We are incredibly proud of Cameron and the work he put in to earn Mountain West Freshman of the Year," said UNLV head coach Marcus Arroyo. "Cam's work ethic, #WeNotMe attitude and toughness define what it takes to be a true UNLV Rebel. His future is bright and we look forward to continuing to develop him.

"During the recruiting process, we promise our players that if they follow our program and strategy, we will develop them on and off the field. For the second year in a row we have delivered, producing another conference freshman of the year. It's important that our kids trust our process so we can develop them to reach their full potential on and off the field."



Williams (Fresno, CA/Bullard High School) is the first UNLV running back to earn a first team all-league honor more than once in a career (2019) and is the first Rebel from any position to do it since wide receiver Ryan Wolfe earned three first team nods (2006, '08-09). With the most career rushing yards in the FBS (4,201) among all current players, Williams passed Tim Cornett (2010-13) to become UNLV's rushing king and later became just the fourth Mountain West player to reach the 4,000-yard mark. The Chuck Wagon led the league with 15 rushing touchdowns, which tied for fourth in school history, while his career-best 1,261 yards in 2021 tied Dominique Dorsey (2004) for the sixth-most in UNLV history.
Williams was named MW Offensive Player of the Week on November 15 after finishing with 266 net yards rushing, which tied for the second most in school history and marked the third-best outing in the nation this season. His 38 carries that day broke Ickey Woods' 34-year-old school record for attempts in a game. Williams, who set a career-high with 202 receiving yards this fall, also turned in a 221-yard night against Utah State, making him only the fourth Rebel to post at least two 200-yard games in a career.



Windmon (New Orleans/John Ehret High School), who was honorable mention last year, led the Rebels in quarterback sacks with 6.5 (most by a Rebel since 2011) and tackles with 118 (most since 2012). Gutierrez (Los Angeles/Granada Hills Charter High School) missed only two of 43 kicks this year, nailing 16-of-18 field goals and all 25 of his extra-point attempts. One of just 20 semifinalists for the ultimate kicker honor – the Lou Groza Award – the senior stands 13th in the nation with a percentage of 88.9 while his career field goal numbers of 37-of-45 rank him first in school history with a percentage of 82.2. He broke a long-standing school record by making 16 consecutive field goals dating back to last year, including a career-long 53-yarder vs. San Jose State. Before missing the final four games because of injury, Ajiake (Fremont, CA/Bellarmine Prep) was a tackling machine, hitting double-digits in four games, including a career-high 18 vs. Utah State. His tackles-per-game average of 9.25 ranked fourth in the Mountain West.  



UNLV FOOTBALL CONFERENCE FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR
 
YEAR – NAME, POS (CONF)
2021 – Cameron Friel, QB (MW)
2020 – Kyle Williams, WR (MW)
2017 – Armani Rogers, QB (MW)
2014 – Devonte Boyd, WR (MW)
2006 – Ryan Wolfe, WR (MW)
2001 – Dominique Dorsey, RB (MW)
1998 – James Sunia, LB (WAC-Pacific Division)
1996 – Jon Denton, QB (WAC-Mountain Division)