Dec. 1, 2015
RENO, Nev. - Senior DE Ian Seau was named to the All-Mountain West first team while seven Nevada football players in total earned All-MW accolades, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
Seau, who tied for first in the MW with 9.0 sacks, led Nevada as the lone player on the all-conference first team. Additionally, junior PK Brent Zuzo, senior DE Lenny Jones and freshman DB Dameon Baber were named to the All-MW second team while sophomore RB James Butler, sophomore OL Austin Corbett and junior TE Jarred Gipson earned honorable mention honors.
A native of Oceanside, Calif., Seau improved upon last year's All-MW second team selection by posting 38 tackles, 15.5 TFL and 9.0 sacks to earn All-MW first team honors as a senior. Seau's 9.0 sacks tied for first in the MW and 15th in the nation, while his 15.5 TFL ranked third in the league. Seau also forced five turnovers this season with four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Earlier this year, Seau tied a MW record with four sacks against Hawai'i.
Zuzo, a place kicker from Canton, Mich., earns his first yearly conference award by being named to the All-MW second team. Zuzo connected on 14-of-16 field goals, leading the MW and ranking 10th in the nation with an 87.5 FG percentage. Zuzo also made 36-of-37 PATs and helped Nevada convert 2-of-3 onside kicks.
Jones also earned his first yearly conference award as a second team All-MW selection. The team captain and four-year letter winner posted 45 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks and one fumble recovery in his senior season. The San Leandro, Calif. native ranks fifth in program history with 19.0 career sacks.
After sitting out the first three games of the year to redshirt, Baber emerged as one of the league's top freshmen and started in Nevada's final nine games at safety to earn All-MW second team honors. The Palmdale, Calif. native recorded six interceptions, which ranks second in the MW and tied for fifth in FBS. Baber tide a MW record this season with three interceptions at Fresno State. Baber also ranked fourth on the team with 58 tackles.
Butler earns All-MW honorable mention honors after becoming the 19th player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season. The 5-foot-9 running back from Bloomingdale, Ill. carried the ball 183 times for 1,153 yards and eight touchdowns this season despite not starting. Butler became the first sophomore to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing at Nevada since Vai Taua in 2008.
A team captain and local product from Sparks, Corbett started in all 12 games this season to lead the Union and earn honorable mention honors. Corbett paved the way for Nevada's rushing attack to average 205.6 yards per game, ranking fourth in the MW and 29th in FBS.
Gipson earns All-Mountain West honors for the second straight year as an honorable mention selection in his junior season. The 6-foot-1 tight end from Houston caught 19 passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns, while also playing a key role as a blocker for Nevada's run offense.
