LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV had two players included on the 2023 Phil Steele Postseason All-American Teams as Jose Pizano was the First Team kicker and Jacob De Jesus was Third Team as a kick returner.
 
This marked the second first team selection for Pizano who was earlier honored by Football Writers Association of America. He was also second team on multiple other lists, including Walter Camp, AP and AFCA. He is a Super Senior who joined the Rebels after transferring from FCS program Missouri State. The native of Lehi, Utah, has shattered the UNLV record book this fall, setting new marks for field goals in a game (six) and a season (25), kicking points in a game (19) and a season (127) while also breaking the Rebel record for consecutive field goals made with 19.
 
The 2023 Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year previously earned Second Team All-America from Walter Camp and Sports Illustrated and was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award, which annually goes to the nation's top kicker. He currently sits 25-of-27 in field-goal attempts (with a long of 52) and 52-for-52 in extra points. Pizano has hit two game-winning field goals this season (vs. Vanderbilt and Colorado State) en route to earning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week three times.
 
De Jesus, who transferred to UNLV this season from Modesto Junior College, is the first Rebel in history to earn All-America honors as a kick returner, including previously being named second team by USA TODAY and Action Network. De Jesus leads all of college football with 1,019 total return yards and is the only player in the nation to rank in the top 15 for both punt and kickoff returns. He currently sits third in punt returns with 16.1 yards per attempt and 13th in kickoff returns with 26.3.
 
Also standing ninth in the Mountain West with 51 catches, his 511 receiving yards and six rushing yards give him 1,536 all-purpose yards – good for second the in the conference and 29th in the nation at 118.2 YPG. Previously announced as one of three finalists for the Jet Award, which goes annually to college football's top return man, De Jesus is only the second UNLV player to earn two first team all-league honors in the same season (punt returner and kickoff returner), joining College Football Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham, who was First Team All-PCAA (Big West) as both a quarterback and punter in both 1983 and '84.
 
Phil Steele also announced its 2023 All-Mountain West Teams and the Rebels were well represented with a total of 13 spots on the four squads. Joining Pizano and De Jesus (who was included as both a KR and PR) on the first team were wide receiver Ricky White III, linebacker Jackson Woodard and defensive back Cameron Oliver. Quarterback Jayden Maiava and offensive tackle Tiger Shanks were on the second team; punter Marshall Nichols made third team and running back Vincent Davis Jr., defensive lineman Jalen Dixon and offensive linemen Jack Hasz and Amani Trigg-Wright were all members of the fourth team.
 
The Rebels (9-4) are preparing to play Kansas in the 2023 Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix on December 26. Ticket information is available at UNLVTickets.com.