LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV rookie quarterback Jayden Maiava became the first player to be named Mountain West Freshman of the Week five times while sophomore linebacker Marsel McDuffie earned his squad's first Defensive Player of the Week nod, the league announced Monday.
The two honors, fresh from the team's 31-27 victory at Air Force, extended UNLV's school record for weekly awards to 11 in total.
Maiava, a graduate of local powerhouse Liberty High School, won for the third week in a row and fifth time overall, breaking a tie with Boise State quarterback Taylen Green (2022). Maiava (my-AH-vah) helped the Rebels reach the nine-win mark for the first time since 1984 by leading the team in both passing and rushing for a second straight outing. He threw for two touchdowns as part of his 339-yard day through the air and finished with 36 net yards on the ground, including a spiffy 34-yard jaunt for a key first down in the second half.
Through 11 games, Maiava leads all freshmen in completion percentage at 64.0% and ranks 29th nationally and second among freshman signal-callers in pass efficiency.
McDuffie (Grand Prairie, Texas) turned in a career-high 15 total tackles against the Falcons, including 10 solo stops. He also forced a fumble that UNLV recovered in Rebel territory to help protect his team's lead and ultimately shut out Air Force in the second half. McDuffie is the first defensive player to be honored by the league since safety Johnathan Baldwin won it after the season-ending victory over UNR in November 2022.
Next up, first-place UNLV (9-2/6-1) hosts San Jose State this Saturday at noon looking to clinch a spot in its first Mountain West Championship. Tickets are on sale now by calling (702) 739-FANS or visiting unlvtickets.com.
