All the awards UNLV football won during historic season — FULL LIST
December 15, 2023 - 7:54 am
Updated December 21, 2023 - 9:37 pm
UNLV is enjoying its most successful football season since 1984.
The Rebels, in coach Barry Odom’s first year in charge, made their first bowl game since 2013 and appeared in the Mountain West championship game for the first time.
UNLV has a chance to reach 10 wins for just the second time in school history when it plays Kansas in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 26 in Phoenix. The Rebels’ surprising season caught the attention of the college football world, as several players and coaches were singled out for recognition by various organizations.
Here is a complete list of the awards UNLV has won or been up for:
Odom
Stats: 9-4 record
— Eddie Robinson coach of the year finalist
— Steve Spurrier first-year coach of the year finalist
— Mountain West coach of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West coach of the year
— Mountain West Wire coach of the year
Brennan Marion — offensive coordinator
Stats: 34.3 points per game, 179.5 rush yards per game, 235.2 passing yards per game
— Mountain West Wire coordinator of the year
Jose Pizano — sixth-year kicker
Stats: 25-for-27 on field goals, 52-for-52 on extra points
— Lou Groza Award finalist (nation’s best kicker)
— Football Writers Association of America All-America first team
— Walter Camp All-America second team
— Associated Press All-America second team
— American Football Coaches Association All-America second team
— ESPN All-America second team
— Sports Illustrated All-America second team
— Mountain West special teams player of the year
— All-Mountain West first team
— College Football Network All-America honorable mention
— College Football Network Mountain West specialist of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West kicker of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West first team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-America first team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West first team
— Mountain West Wire special teams player of the year
— Mountain West Wire first team
Jayden Maiava — redshirt freshman quarterback
Stats: 2,794 yards passing, 14 passing touchdowns, eight interceptions, 261 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns
— Mountain West freshman of the year
— All-Mountain West second team
— College Football Network freshman quarterback of the year
— College Football Network freshman All-American
— College Football Network Mountain West quarterback of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West first team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West second team
— Mountain West Wire freshman of the year
— Mountain West Wire second team
Ricky White III — junior wide receiver
Stats: 1,386 yards, 81 catches, seven touchdowns
— AP All-America third team
— All-Mountain West first team
— College Football Network All-America second team
— College Football Network Mountain West offensive player of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West wide receiver of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West first team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West first team
— Action Network All-America first team
— Mountain West Wire first team
Jacob De Jesus — junior wide receiver/kick returner/punt returner
Stats: 511 yards, 52 catches, two touchdowns, 16 punt returns for 257 yards, 29 kickoff returns for 762 yards
— The Jet Award finalist (nation’s best return specialist)
— All-Mountain West first team (punt and kick returner)
— USA Today All-America second team
— College Football Network All-Mountain West honorable mention (wide receiver)
— College Football Network Mountain West kick returner of the year
— College Football Network All-Mountain West first team (kick returner)
— College Football Network All-Mountain West honorable mention (punt returner)
— Phil Steele Postseason All-America third team (kick returner)
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West first team (punt and kick returner)
— Action Network All-America second team
— Mountain West Wire first team (punt and kick returner)
Jett Elad — junior defensive back
Stats: 55 tackles, six pass breakups, 2.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery
— Jon Cornish Trophy finalist (Best Canadian NCAA football player)
Tiger Shanks — junior offensive tackle
Stats: Helped UNLV average 179.5 rushing yards while starting all 13 games
— All-Mountain West first team
— College Football Network Mountain West second team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West second team
— Mountain West Wire third team
Jackson Woodard — junior linebacker
Stats: 113 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception
— All-Mountain West first team
— College Football Network Mountain West defensive newcomer of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West second team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West first team
— Mountain West Wire first team
Amani Trigg-Wright — sixth-year offensive guard
Stats: Helped UNLV average 179.5 rushing yards while starting all 13 games
— College Football Network All-America honorable mention
— College Football Network Mountain West guard of the year
— College Football Network Mountain West first team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West fourth team
Cameron Oliver — junior cornerback
Stats: 48 tackles, three interceptions, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble
— All-Mountain West second team
— College Football Network Mountain West first team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West first team
— Mountain West Wire first team
Jai’Den Thomas — freshman running back
Stats: 503 yards, 12 touchdowns
— College Football Network Mountain West third team
— College Football Network Freshman All-American honorable mention
— Mountain West Wire third team
Marshall Nichols — sophomore punter
Stats: 48 punts, 2,242 yards, 46.71 yards per punt
— All-Mountain West honorable mention
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West third team
— Mountain West Wire second team
Jaxen Turner — fifth-year safety
Stats: 59 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, three tackles for loss
— All-Mountain West honorable mention
— College Football Network Mountain West third team
Jalen Dixon — junior defensive lineman
Stats: 29 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble
— All-Mountain West second team
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West fourth team
Vincent Davis — fifth-year running back
Stats: 722 yards, six touchdowns
— All-Mountain West honorable mention
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West fourth team
Jack Hasz — senior center
Stats: Helped UNLV average 179.5 rushing yards while starting all 13 games
— Phil Steele Postseason All-Mountain West fourth team
— Mountain West Wire fourth team
Donavyn Lester — fifth-year running back
Stats: 455 yards, nine touchdowns
— All-Mountain West honorable mention
Marsel McDuffie — sophomore linebacker
Stats: 82 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble
— All-Mountain West honorable mention
Alexander Whitmore — junior defensive lineman
Stats: 29 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks
— College Football Network All-Mountain West third team
Fred Thompkins — senior linebacker
Stats: 52 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble
— Mountain West Wire fourth team
Andre Meono — sophomore kicker
Stats: 87 kickoffs, 29 touchbacks
— College Football Network All-Mountain West second team (kickoff specialist)
Kris Williams — senior defensive back
Stats: 10 tackles, one fumble recovery
College Football Network All-Mountain West third team (special teams)
Contact reporter Andy Yamashita at ayamashita@reviewjournal.com. Follow @ANYamashita on X.