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Rebels picked to finish 3rd in West Division

Updated July 25, 2017 - 6:07 pm

UNLV was picked by the Mountain West football media to finish third in the West Division, the highest spot since the conference went to a division format in 2013.

The Rebels received 105 points, placing them behind San Diego State with 168 points and all 28 first-place votes and No. 2 Hawaii with 135 points.

UNLV’s previous high prediction in the West was fourth in 2014.

The poll was announced at Mountain West media days on Tuesday at The Cosmopolitan.

“You look at it and you’re not happy you’re not first, but honestly, who’s fault is it?” UNLV senior defensive Mike Hughes Jr. asked. “It’s ours, so I’m not going to sit here and say whoever made the list doesn’t know what they’re talking about. They know what they’re talking about. We have to change that.”

Hughes also was one of two Rebels named to the preseason all-conference team, joining senior wide receiver Devonte Boyd. Hughes, who went to Palo Verde High School, is the Rebels’ first defensive preseason all-conference pick since linebacker Jason Beauchamp in 2009. Boyd, a Basic graduate, is UNLV’s first three-time preseason honoree since wide receiver Ryan Wolfe from 2006 to 2009.

Boise State, with 21 first-place votes and 161 points, was picked to win the Mountain Division. Colorado State received six first-place votes and 135 points for second and Wyoming one first-place vote and 114 points for third.

More UNLV news

— UNLV will make an announcement this week regarding the Fertitta Football Complex. The school is getting closer for a groundbreaking, but not there yet. More than $17 million have been raised for the project, which is expected to cost $26 million.

— Former Iowa tight end Jameer Outsey (6 feet 4 inches, 250 pounds) announced on Twitter that he was transferring from Mesa (Arizona) Community College to UNLV. He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

— And defensive tackle Toa Iafeta was dismissed for breaking team rules, coach Tony Sanchez said. Iafeta redshirted last season as a freshman.

— The much-maligned new UNLV logo was noticeable by its absence at media days. The logo with the letters “UNLV’ in the form of an arch was displayed instead.

Stepping in

San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny proved last season he could thrive as the backup running back to Canyon Springs High School grad Donnel Pumphrey. While Pumphrey was becoming the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher in gaining 2,133 yards last season, Penny ran for 1,018 yards.

Now Penny has the chance to be the feature back.

“When you have that type of guy like D.J. (Pumphrey), you don’t really notice the second guy,” Penny said. “But I have to step into a role and be D.J. now and have high expectations for myself because of what he’s done.”

Penny won’t carry the load alone, just as Pumphrey didn’t have to. He is backed up by Juwan Washington, who last season rushed for 441 yards on an 8.0-per-carry average.

“We always have that one-two punch,” Penny said. “It’s something we’ve built traditionally at San Diego State. Our offense is simple. We’re going to run it at you, and it depends on how you’re going to stop us.”

More Rebels: Follow all of our UNLV coverage online at reviewjournal.com/Rebels and @RJRebels on Twitter.

Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.

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