White, De Jesus Earn Preseason All-America To Lead 14 Rebels Honored By Phil Steele
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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV football has a pair of preseason All-Americans heading into the 2024 campaign as wide receiver
Ricky White III (Second Team) and return man
Jacob De Jesus (Third Team) were named by Phil Steele College Football Preview magazine Tuesday.
The Rebels also had 14 players on Phil Steele's Preseason All-Mountain West/Pac-2 Teams, including a league-leading seven First Team selections.
White is college football's leading returning receiver after finishing with a school-record 1,483 yards last fall. He tied the UNLV mark for receptions in season with 88 and became the first Rebel ever to post five consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards. In 2023, White was named First Team All-America by the Action Network, Second Team by the College Football Network and Third Team by Associated Press, becoming just the second UNLV WR to appear on an AP team in history and first since 1981.
De Jesus, who also plays receiver, led the nation in total return yards with 1,079. The only player to rank in the top 15 nationally in both kick returns and punt returns, his 96-yard kickoff return in the season opener was the fourth-longest in UNLV history while his 59-yard punt return at New Mexico was the longest by a Rebel since 2003. One of three finalists for the 2023 Jet Award, given to the country's best returner, De Jesus last year earned Second Team All-America from USA TODAY and Action Network along with Third Team from Phil Steele.
De Jesus was named Preseason All-MW/Pac-2 at both kickoff return and punt return and joining him and White on the First Team was offensive linemen
Tiger Shanks and
Jalen St. John, linebacker
Jackson Woodard and cornerback
Cameron Oliver.
Defensive lineman
Jalen Dixon and punter
Marshall Nichols were on Phil Steele's Second Team while running back
Jai'Den "Jet" Thomas, tight end
Kaleo Ballungay, center
Jack Hasz and safety
Jalen Catalon (a transfer from Texas) were Third Team picks. Linebacker
Marsel McDuffie rounded out the Rebel contingent on the Fourth Team.