LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV junior wide receiver Jacob De Jesus has been named USA TODAY Sports All-America as Second Team Kick Returner, the publication announced.
 
The first Rebel in history to earn a spot on an All-America team as a kick returner, De Jesus (Manteca, CA) 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 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 last week was named First Team All-Mountain West as both a punt returner and kickoff returner. He is only the second UNLV player to earn two first team all-league honors in the same season, 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.
 
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.