COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Four members of the University of New Mexico football team, defensive end Nik D’Avanzo, running back Teriyon Gipson, offensive lineman Reno Henderson and defensive lineman Garrett Hughes, were named Second Team All-Mountain West as announced by league officials. The All-Mountain West teams were voted upon by coaches and a panel of media members from each of the 12 teams.
In addition, four Lobos were named honorable mention, and they are Dakota Cox (linebacker), Daniel Henry (safety), Aaron Jenkins (OL) and Jason Sanders (PK). The Lobos did not get any players on the first team.
Gipson, a senior, is fourth in the Mountain West in yards per game with 120.9 yards per contest and has 1,209 yards in just 10 games, two of which he didn’t play in the second halves due to injury. His 9.23 yards per carry currently leads the nation, as does his 644 yards in the opening quarter, and his eight opening quarter runs of 20 or more yards. Gipson, who broke the 3,000-yard mark for his career last Saturday, also lead the nation in runs of 50 yards or more (7), runs of 60 yards or more (6) and is tied for the most runs of 70 yards or more (3). In fact, Gipson’s six runs of 60 yards or more are actually more than 125 of the other 127 teams in the FBS, and he is tied with the other two schools.
Henderson, a senior, has anchored the offensive line that leads the NCAA by a wide margin in rushing yards per game, as UNM is averaging 360.9 yards per contest and has set a school record for total rushing yards with 4,331. The 360.9 yards per game is the fourth-best average in the last nine seasons in the FBS. New Mexico also leads the nation in rushing yards per carry at 6.81 yards per tote, and the team has allowed just 11 sacks, and one in the last seven games. The 11 sacks allowed is tied for sixth nationally.
D’Avanzo, a senior, and Hughes, a junior, have teamed up to become a formidable line duo for the Lobos. D’Avanzo leads the Mountain West in tackles by a defensive end with 60, and that total is tied for second on the team. He also ranks 10th in the league with 5.0 sacks. Hughes is tied for fifth in the league in total sacks with 6.5, and tied for fourth in sacks per game. Together they have helped UNM rank third in the league in rushing defense and fifth in the league in total defense.
Among the notable accomplishment for UNM’s honorable mention selections, Dakota Cox leads the team in tackles with 80, and he will become the first player in the history of the school to lead the team in tackles for four straight seasons. Daniel Henry is second on the team in tackles with 60 (tied with D’Avanzo), he leads the team in forced fumbles (2) and he is second on the team in pass break ups (6). On offense, lineman Aaron Jenkins also earned honorable mention as did kicker Jason Sanders. It would be almost impossible to do better than what Sanders has done. Despite three different holders, he is perfect on extra points at 59-for-59 (only Tulsa’s Redford Jones has made more and remained perfect at 60-for-60) and he is 11-of-12 on field goals, including a perfect including 9-for-9 from 35 and beyond, 5-for-5 from beyond 40, and 1-for-1 from beyond 50. He was twice the league’s Player of the Week, including after hitting a 40-yarder with 1:06 left to defeat Utah State 24-21. He also leads the nation in touchback percentage (67 of 80, 83.8%) and total touchbacks (67).
The Lobos, who finished 8-4 in the regular season, will learn which Bowl game they will play in, and their opponent this Sunday. Among other notable accomplishments for the squad, UNM will play in back-to-back bowls for the fourth time in school history, and UNM won at least seven games in back-to-back seasons for just the fifth time. UNM’s 11 conference wins in the last two seasons were also a school record.
D’Avanzo, Gipson, Henderson, Hughes Named All-MW
