LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV Super Senior linebacker Austin Ajiake was named First Team All-Mountain West to lead his team's eight-player contingent as part of the conference's annual postseason awards announced Tuesday.

Record-smashing place-kicker Daniel Gutierrez was named to the second team along with defensive end Adam Plant Jr. Five other Rebels – QB Doug Brumfield, DL Eliel Ehimare, C Leif Fautanu, RB Aidan Robbins and DB Nohl Williams – earned Honorable Mention All-MW. The total of three first and second team honorees was the most for the program since placing a trio on the second team in 2013.

Ajiake (AH-g-kay) leads the Mountain West and sits third in the nation with 132 total tackles this season, a number that ties him for fourth in UNLV single-season history. The Fremont, California, native, who was honorable mention a year ago, becomes the first Rebel linebacker to be named first team since Tau Lotulelei in 2016. The Sept. 26 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week also added 11 tackles-for-loss, four quarterback sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Gutierrez, who was also Honorable Mention in 2021, is the first Rebel kicker to be named either first or second team since Nolan Kohorst in 2012. He rewrote his program's record book with a final season that included making 94.7% of his field goal attempts (18-of-19) and going a perfect 34-for-34 in extra points. In addition to breaking his own school record by making 17 consecutive field goals, he made a stunning 11 three-pointers in the final three games of the regular season (including a school-best five in one game vs. Fresno State for a school-record 16 total points) and became only the third Rebel in history named conference player of the week four times during a career (three times in 2022). Overall, the Los Angeles native has kicked more field goals (55) in a more efficient manner (85.9%) as part of scoring more total points (280) than anyone to ever pull on a UNLV uniform.

Plant Jr., a product of Las Vegas' own Bishop Gorman High School, ranks fifth in the league with eight quarterback sacks and is tied for the MW lead with three forced fumbles to go with 62 total tackles and a team-leading 13.5 TFL. His sack total is tied for seventh in UNLV single-season history and is the most since Ryan Claridge posted nine in 2004. The former TCU transfer also upped his career sacks number to 15, which ties Leon Moore (2002-05) for seventh in school history. Plant is the first true DE from UNLV to earn first or second team All-MW since Jeremy Geathers was second team in 2006.



Amazingly, Brumfield (Inglewood, CA) is the first Rebel QB to be part of the All-MW postseason list since Jason Thomas earned Honorable Mention from the media in 2000 and first conference team that included a coaches' vote since Jon Denton was second team in 1996 as part of the WAC. The sophomore signal-caller appeared in 10 games and broke the UNLV record for pass completion percentage in a season with 64.6, besting Caleb Herring's 2013 mark of 63.2. Brumfield leads the team with 1,898 passing yards with 10 touchdowns through the air to go with 261 net rushing yards and six more scores. He sits second in the MW with 215.9 total offensive yards per game and fourth in overall offensive TDs with 16.

Ehimare, (EL-e-EL EH-him-R-a) from Katy, TX, overcame injuries to play in 11 games, posting 19 TT, two TFL and a pair of QB sacks. The three-year starter is currently ranked the No. 67 interior lineman in college football by Pro Football Focus.

Fautanu, (LEEF faw-TAH-new), out of  Honolulu, HI, anchored the offensive line as a three-year starter at center. The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award candidate helped the Rebels score 18 rushing touchdowns and produce a 1,000-yard rusher for the second consecutive season.

Robbins (Louisville, KY), who transferred in from the University of Louisville, became the 10th different Rebel in history to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. His 91.73 yards per game ranks third in the league and comes with 10 touchdowns, including one receiving score. The Sept. 19 MW Offensive Player of the Week rushed for 227 yards in a win over North Texas, which stands as the most by a league player and 18th-most by anyone in college football in 2022.

Williams (Oxnard, CA) appeared in 11 games at cornerback and ranks 10th on the team with 40 total tackles. He is tied for fourth in the MW with three interceptions and leads the conference with 62 return yards on those three picks. The sophomore has added one TFL, five pass breakups, a forced fumble and one fumble recovery en route to becoming the first Rebel CB to be part of the MW honors list since Jericho Flowers was second team in 2019.