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.

Since I have a sister who lives in Lebanon, which is 20 miles from Reser Stadium in Corvallis, I am considering going to the game. Anyone else going to the game?

The O-Line gets little mention. But that's where the games are won and lost. I realize the chances of Tiger Shanks or Jalen St. John winning the Outland Trophy for the top interior linemen are pretty much non-existent. However, the fact that UNLV has two offensive lineman considered among the top 75 offense or defensive interior linemen in the country is HUGE! But both Shanks and St.John coming in at 6'5" and 330lbs are also HUGE!

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Seven Mountain West football players are among the 75 student-athletes on the 2024 Outland Trophy Watch List, as announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). The award honors the nation’s best interior lineman.

Boise State’s Kage Casey, Colorado State’s Jacob Gardner, Fresno State’s Mose Vavao, San José State’s Soane Toia, UNLV’s Tiger Shanks and Jalen St. John and Wyoming’s Jordan Bertagnole represent the MW on the list.

The MW’s seven selections are fifth-most in the FBS behind only the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12.

The recipient of the 2024 Outland Trophy will be announced on The Home Depot College Football Awards, live on ESPN on Dec. 12. The official presentation to the winner will be made at the Outland Trophy Awards Dinner sponsored by Werner Enterprises and produced by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee in Omaha, Nebraska, on Jan. 22, 2025.

Players may be added or removed from the watch list during the course of the season. For a second year now, the FWAA will announce an Outland Trophy National Player of the Week each Tuesday this season. If not already on the watch list, each week’s honored player will be added at that time.

Outland Trophy Watch List (MW representatives)
Kage Casey, So., OT, Boise State
Jacob Gardner, Gr., C, Colorado State
Mose Vavao, Sr., C, Fresno State
Soane Toia, Sr., DT, San José State
Tiger Shanks, Sr., UNLV
Jalen St. John, Sr., OG, UNLV
Jordan Bertagnole, Gr., DT, Wyoming

There’s a thread on the football board about who starts at QB.

Without seeing anybody (dangerous to predict without eyeballs on them), I figured based on what I read and saw in game clips that Sluka would be the starter with competition, but not too much of a problem. I’ll get out there a few times in August.

From people on the field of play, it’s pretty split. Some like Sluka better, some like Hajj. I’m hearing Sluka throws a more catchable ball. But Hajj has some alpha qualities that others like.

That being said, Sluka is just getting things down, hasn’t had as much time, there’s still familiarity that will be gained.

Last season, if Doug doesn’t get hurt, would we have seen Maiava much? That has me wondering mindset of the staff. If one starts, is there a quicker hook with struggles? We had zero insight with that because Doug got hurt and Maiava was forced into action and fared about as well as he could.

Early in the season, if one starts, does the other get a couple series? I’d think in a blowout, they’d both see action.

I do think it’s the most pivotal piece to the season.

Wondering if anyone is separating themselves? Not sure how much can or should be shared, but this is a big part of our season IMO.

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  QB 6'3" 215 lbs TR
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  Matthew Sluka​

  
  
  Senior Locust Valley, NY Kellenberg Memorial HS Holy Cross
  Full Bio
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  QB 6'1" 205 lbs TR
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  Hajj-Malik Williams​

  
  
  Senior Atlanta, GA Hapeville Charter HS / U.S. Military Prep Campbell
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  QB 6'3" 230 lbs 2L
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  Cameron Friel​

  
  Senior Kahalu'u, HI Kailuah HS
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  QB 6'2" 185 lbs HS
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  Gael Ochoa​

  
  
  Freshman El Paso, TX Pebble Hills HS
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  QB 6'1" 200 lbs RS
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  Lucas Lenhoff​

  
  
  Redshirt Freshman Charlotte, NC Myers HS
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This is ridiculous what is UNLV at 2 Million maybe?
I hope Michigan kicks their ass again.

I noticed that Rivals has him listed as a top target for UNLV and 100% going to UNLV. He looks like a legit player, what does anyone know about him, what are the odds he comes to UNLV? 5.6 rating would put him in the higher half of the UNLV recruit class for 2025

Agree with almost all of this.

Looks like they are starting to hit this site. My WazzuWatch site is getting killed. The FB board is basically unpostable. We moved over to our BB board, and it is now getting drilled.

A number of Rebels are in summer league. I have watched Harkless twice be decent for the Clippers. Anyone have reports on others?

Love when there aren’t built in excuses for failure, when slow build isn’t in the vocabulary. Get down to business from day one and do all you can … respect.

We've seen a lot of interesting takes on X lately to say the least....

It was suggested that Carmelo Anthony and Larry Johnson should be used to recruit Kiyan Anthony because Larry Johnson is a Knicks legend and Melo is a Knicks legend. That is one of the most farfetched things we've ever heard. We also saw a take that a sweet 16 appearance would be possible if Henley's 3p% was similar to his freshman year numbers. It is as simple as that.

A lot of people involved the athletic department and tied to the program see these things and laugh.

Almost as if krugers have joined lakers management. https://sports.yahoo.com/bronny-jam...w-make-history-with-dad-lebron-220909741.html

247/Rivals shows a commit on 7-15-2025 I guess we all missed this big time pick up for UNLV

Runs a 4.4 40 according to his page.

ESPN has him listed as the number 41 ranked RB and a 3* 78 ranking with the number 42 ranked RB going to Michigan

Out of Fort Worth Texas with a 247 composite rating of 0.8736 and a rivals rank of 5.7 being recruited by over a dozen program with a year still to go. Had offers from the following:

Arizona State
Arkansas
Baylor
Grambling State
Houston
Louisiana
Marshall
Memphis
Miami
North Texas
Ole Miss
Oregon
Oregon State
Texas State
Texas Tech
Utah
Utep
UTSA

CNBC..

I love this stuff.

What was your favorite Olympics?

Another commit to UNLV over Colorado, Idaho, San Jose State and SDSU. Not sure if offer was still active for Colorado considering it was from October 2022 while all the other offers are from the last few months. Rivals has him as a 2* recruit. 247 has him as a 3* 85 recruit.

Who will have a more impactful influence to the success of our team this season?

Neighbor..his dad is dying and he is going to Germany tomorrow at 7 AM. He said he is going for 3 weeks

He wants to park his car in our garage. He will leave his keys.

what’s the most we can milk him out of using our garage?

I say 3,4,500 dollars. The longer the better.