LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV senior cornerback Cameron Oliver is one of just 42 players named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List, released Wednesday by the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.

Oliver is the first Rebel to be part of the honor's preseason list since two-time All-American and UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame safety Jamaal Brimmer in 2004.

The Jim Thorpe Award is awarded annually to college football's top defensive back and is named after history's greatest all-around athlete, a man who excelled as a running back, passer and kicker on offense, as well as a standout defensive back. Thorpe also played professional baseball and won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon.

Oliver (Richmond, TX) is a three-year returning starter in the Rebel secondary and has been named 2024 Preseason First Team All-Mountain West after earning second team as a junior. After tying for the league lead with five interceptions last fall, he stands sixth all-time at UNLV with 10 picks in his career -- just three behind second place and six behind Marlon Beavers' school record of 17 set in 1973-76. Oliver has 117 career total tackles and 17 passes defended to go with two quarterback sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

Under the direction of 2023 Mountain West Coach of the Year Barry Odom, Oliver and the Rebels will kick off their 57th season of football on August 31 by heading to Big 12 Conference member Houston at 4 p.m. PT on FS1 in the first of a school-record 11 national TV games. The home opener comes one week later when Utah Tech comes to Allegiant Stadium for a noon kickoff on September 7.

Season tickets, three-game mini-plans and single-game tickets for the six-game 2024 home schedule are available now by visiting unlvtickets.com or calling (702) 739-FANS (3267). For information on VIP premium club seats or suites at Allegiant Stadium, contact the Premium Sales office at premiumseating@unlv.edu or by calling (702) 895-0292.

2024 JIM THORPE AWARD WATCH LIST
Dontae Balfour, Charlotte, Jr.
Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma, Sr.
Shyheim Brown, Florida State, Jr.
Cobee Bryant, Kansas, Sr.
Denzel Burke, Ohio State, Sr.
Derek Carter, Jacksonville State, Jr.
Sebastian Castro, Iowa, Gr. Sr.
Jeremiah Cooper, Iowa State, Jr.
Tacario Davis, Arizona, Jr.
Caleb Downs, Ohio State, So.
Daylen Everette, Georgia, Jr.
Jordan Favors, Appalachian State, Jr.
Brylan Green, Liberty, Jr.
Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky, Jr.
Maxen Hook, Toledo, Sr.
Jack Howell, Colorado State, Sr.
Travis Hunter, Colorado, Jr.
Anthony Johnson Jr., Western Kentucky, Sr.
Ethan Johnson, Appalachian State, Jr.
Will Johnson, Michigan, Jr.
Donte Kent, Central Michigan, Sr.
Rayuan Lane III, Navy, Sr.
Ike Larsen, Utah State, Jr.
A'Marion McCoy, Boise State, Sr.
Donovan McMillon, Pittsburgh, Sr.
Malachi Moore, Alabama, Gr. Sr.
Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame, Jr.
Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon, Sr.
Seyi Oladipo, Boise State, Sr.
Jordan Oladokun, Bowling Green, Sr.
Cameron Oliver, UNLV, Sr.
Gavin Pringle, Georgia State, Sr.
Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina, Sr.
Quincy Riley, Louisville, Sr.
Jonas Sanker, Virginia, Sr.
Malaki Starks, Georgia, Jr.
Gabriel Taylor, Rice, Sr.
Dillon Thieneman, Purdue, So.
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama, Sr.
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame, Gr. Sr.
Aydan White, NC State, Sr.
Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin, Sr.