Kealakehe Grad Vea Earns All-MW Honorable Mention FB Award

Kealakehe High School graduate Peni Vea has made an instant impact with the UNLV Rebels, helping to send the Las Vegas school to a bowl game for the first time in 13 years.

Vea, who led the Rebels with 97 tackles during his sophomore season, was rewarded for his solid play by getting named to the All-Mountain West Honorable Mention list, announced by the conference Tuesday.

Vea played in all 12 games this season after appearing in eight in his freshman campaign. Playing at the safety position, he recorded two interceptions and broke up two more pass attempts during the season.

The former Waverider still has another game to play. The Rebels will face the Mean Green of North Texas on Jan. 1 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, Presented by PlainsCapital Bank. The game will be played at 7:00 a.m. Hawai`i time and will be televised on ESPNU.

All-Mountain West Football Awards

Offensive Player of the Year – Derek Carr (Fresno State)

Defensive Player of the Year – Shaquil Barrett (Colorado State)

Special Teams Player of the Year – Carlos Wiggins (New Mexico)

Freshman of the Year – Tyler Winston (San Jose State)

Coach of the Year – Matt Wells (Utah State)

2013 All-Mountain West Football First Team – Offense

Quarterback – Derek Carr (Fresno State)

Wide Receivers – Davante Adams (Fresno State), Chandler Jones (San Jose State)

Running Backs – Jay Ajayi (Boise State), Kapri Bibbs (Colorado State)

Tight End – Crockett Gilmore (Colorado State)

Offensive Line – Charles Leno Jr. (Boise State), Weston Richburg (Colorado State), Austin Wentworth (Fresno State), Joel Bitonio (Nevada), Tyler Larsen (Utah State)

Place Kicker – Jared Roberts (Colorado State)

Kick Returner/Punt Returner – Carlos Wiggins (New Mexico)

2013 All-Mountain West Football First Team – Defense

Defensive Line – Demarcus Lawrence (Boise State), Ricky Tjong-a-Tjoe (Boise State), Brock Hekking (Nevada), Eddie Yarbrough (Wyoming)

Linebackers – Shaquil Barrett (Colorado State), Keith Smith (San Jose State), Jake Doughty (Utah State)

Defensive Backs – Derron Smith (Fresno State), Nat Berhe (San Diego State), Bene Benwikere (San Jose State), Nevin Lawson (Utah State)

Punter – Ben Skaer (New Mexico)

2013 All-Mountain West Football Second Team – Offense

Quarterback – David Fales (San Jose State)

Wide Receivers – Devante Davis (UNLV), Josh Harper (Fresno State)

Running Backs – Tim Cornett (UNLV), Kasey Carrier (New Mexico)

Tight End – Marcel Jensen (Fresno State)

Offensive Line – Matt Paradis (Boise State), Ty Sambrailo (Colorado State), Bryce Quigley (San Diego State), Nicholas Kaspar (San Jose State), Brett Boyko (UNLV)

Place Kicker – Austin Lopez (San Jose State)

Kick Returner / Punt Returner – Isaiah Burse (Fresno State)

2013 All-Mountain West Football Second Team – Defense

Defensive Line – Tyeler Davison (Fresno State), Beau Yap (Hawai`i), B.J. Larsen (Utah State), AJ Pataili`i (Utah State)

Linebackers – Ejiro Ederaine (Fresno State), Kyler Fackrell (Utah State), Zach Vigil (Utah State)

Defensive Backs – Donte Deayon (Boise State), Jeremy Ioane (Boise State), Shaq Bell (Colorado State), Marqueston Huff (Wyoming)

Punter – Chase Tenpenny (Nevada)

2013 All-Mountain West Honorable Mention

Air Force – PK Will Conant, OL Michael Husar

Boise State – PK Dan Goodale, WR Matt Miller, WR/KR/PR Shane Williams-Rhodes

Colorado State – TE Kivon Cartwright, LB Max Morgan

Fresno State – WR Isaiah Burse, DB L.J. Jones, LB Karl Mickelsen, DL Nikko Motta, P Garrett Swanson, OL Cody Wichmann

Hawai`i – OL Ben Clarke, LB Brenden Daley, TE Clark Evans, P Scott Harding, DB John Hardy-Tuliau, LB Art Laurel, DL Siasau Matagiese, DB Ne`Quan Phillips

Nevada – DB Charles Garrett, WR Brandon Wimberly

New Mexico – LB Dallas Bollema, DL Brett Bowers, OL LaMar Bratton, OL Dillon Farrell, OL Darryl Johnson

San Diego State – PR/KR Colin Lockett, RB Adam Muema, OL Terry Poole, WR Ezell Ruffin, LB Nick Tenhaeff, DB J.J. Whittaker

San Jose State – TE Billy Freeman, OL Ryan Jones

UNLV – DB Frank Crawford, DL Mark Garrick, OL Cameron Jefferson, LB Tani Maka, PR/KR Marcus Sullivan, LB Peni Vea, OL Robert Waterman

Utah State – DB Maurice Alexander, RB Joey DeMartino, PK Nick Diaz, OL Jamie Markosian, PR/KR Bruce Natson, OL Eric Schultz, DB Brian Suite

Wyoming – WR Robert Herron, QB Brett Smith, LB Jordan Stanton