July 15, 2026 - 5:08 pm

UNLV football is already making its mark on the new-look Mountain West.

The Rebels on Wednesday placed a league-high five players on the league’s preseason all-conference team as part of annual media days.

Senior running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas, eighth in school history with 2,457 rushing yards and fifth in rushing touchdowns (31), leads the way as a repeat selection.

Also making the all-conference team is offensive lineman Austin Boyd, wide receiver Taeshaun Lyons, defensive lineman Lucas Conti and safety Jake Pope.

New Mexico also had five players represented.

Hawaii quarterback and Bishop Gorman alum Micah Alejado is the league’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year and New Mexico linebacker Jaxton Eck its preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

One change this year to the ballots is the Mountain West didn’t have a predictive order of finish to the conference as in past seasons.

It’s likely UNLV would have challenged New Mexico for the top spot in such a poll.

“Several leagues have gone away from the predictive order of finish,” Mountain Western Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “New Mexico was picked last in our preseason poll last year but ended up in a (tie) for first.

“After a lot of analysis and discussion with the athletic directors and coaches, it was decided that although preseason polls are fun and drive some buzz, the detrimental impact of being picked lower in the poll or even last makes it even harder to move up (in rankings). So we went away from it this year.”

UNLV opens its season against Memphis on Aug. 29 at Allegiant Stadium in a Week Zero game on FOX.

Contact Ed Graney at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.