Jason Thomas among latest class headed into UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame

While the UNLV football team is in the midst of its greatest stretch ever with 31 wins over the past three years, it’s not forgetting the long line of figures who paved the way for the program’s recent breakout.

The best example yet of the Scarlet and Gray paying homage to their past may come two nights before a scheduled Nov. 7 Mountain West home game against Wyoming.

Former quarterback Jason Thomas, who led the Rebels to arguably their most memorable season before 2023, will be inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in an open-to-the-public ceremony Nov. 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center's Strip View Pavilion.

Thomas is one of seven members of the 17th class in the Hall’s history and, from a national perspective, almost surely the most recognizable member from his time at UNLV.

Thomas arrived to play under coach John Robinson in 2000 as a lauded Southern California transfer and immediately lived up to the hype.

The dual-threat quarterback threw for 1,708 and 14 touchdowns while rushing for 599 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore in his first season at UNLV. That team went 8-5, the program’s best finish in 16 years, and famously knocked off Arkansas 31-14 in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Thomas threw three touchdown passes in the victory against the Razorbacks.

After his highlight-laden first season, Thomas drew Heisman Trophy and NFL Draft buzz, bringing UNLV unprecedented attention on the gridiron.

The Rebels ultimately couldn’t sustain the momentum in Thomas’ final two seasons, but he still produced his share of exciting moments and big wins. None went down as important as Thomas’ trio of wins against archrival UNR, as he helped keep the Fremont Cannon red throughout his entire tenure with the program.

Thomas remains UNLV’s all-time rushing leader among quarterbacks with 1,528 yards on the ground compiled throughout his career. He also leads the quarterbacks all-time with 24 rushing touchdowns — seventh-most of any Rebel.

Thomas played at Sam Boyd Stadium for his home games at UNLV, but he’ll be recognized at Allegiant Stadium during this year’s Wyoming game along with the other new members of the UNLV Hall of Fame.

Below are the six who will earn the honor alongside Thomas.

Terry Cottle, staff. The former football assistant wound up spending 30 years in the UNLV athletics department, culminating as associate athletic director before moving to College of Southern Nevada in 2015.

Dana Finkelstein, golf. The eventual LPGA golfer dominated the Mountain West a decade ago, earning the conference’s Golfer of the Year award three times and getting All-America nods in her junior and senior seasons.

Erick Fedde, baseball. The current Chicago White Sox starting pitcher became the No. 18 overall pick in the 2014 Major League Baseball Entry Draft after dominant careers at both UNLV and Las Vegas High School.

Charley Hoffman, golf. A four-time winner on the PGA Tour with $36 million in career earnings, Hoffman first won near the highest level as a star who drew All-America honorable mention on UNLV’s 1998 national championship-winning team.

Marissa Nichols, softball. Still an enduring presence in the UNLV softball record book, Nichols was a five-time captain for the Rebels before beginning a career in college athletics that includes a current role as a senior associate athletics director at the University of California, Berkeley.

Bill Paulos, contributor. The longtime local gaming executive has been a dedicated donor, helping to build the basketball team’s Mendenhall Center, the Fertitta Football Complex and more.

The Sun’s Ray Brewer is a media representative on the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee.