UNLV quarterback named MW’s Offensive Player of the Year

The numbers didn’t lie.

UNLV junior quarterback Anthony Colandrea was named the Mountain West’s Offensive Player of the Year on Tuesday by a vote of media and league coaches.

“It’s an awesome accomplishment, but it doesn’t happen without all my teammates,” Colandrea said. “I wouldn’t say I’m surprised about how (the season went). When I first came here, I saw the work and grind that was put in by everybody. I knew the outcome would be in a (Mountain West) championship game this week.

“You win individual awards off your teammates, off their success.”

Colandrea completed 238 of 349 passes for a conference-best 3,050 yards and a league-leading 22 touchdowns. He also rushed for a career-high 555 yards and eight scores. His 68.2 completion percentage is on pace to set a school record.

He led the conference in total offense at 300.4 yards per game and in pass efficiency at 157.8. Eleven players have at least 100 yards receiving.

Colandrea is the only player nationally to throw for at least one score and rush for at least 15 net yards in every game this season.

He is the first UNLV quarterback to earn such honors since College Football Hall of Famer Randall Cunningham in 1983 and 1984 out of the Big West Conference.

“Obviously, I’m not surprised,” offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis said. “He has come in and worked every single day. He’s always had the talent, but he has really worked his craft. The preparation he has put in has been really good. His love for the game, the passion. If you don’t love this game, this game is hard. That’s the first thing that stuck out to me about him.”

Junior running back Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas was also named a first-team all-conference selection. He leads college football in yards per carry (7.43) and is the only player in the nation with at least four 100-yard rushing games coming on fewer than 15 carries.

“He’s just consistent,” Dennis said. “Jet knows his game. He knows the style of his game. He’s done a really good job capitalizing on the touches he has had. He did it last year, so we expected him to do it this year. He has answered the call and has been a really, really viable piece to our offense.”

Four Rebels made second-team all-conference: linebacker Marsel McDuffie, defensive back Aamaris Brown, wide receiver Jaden Bradley and center Reid Williams.

The Rebels continue to prepare for the conference championship game Friday at Boise State.

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