#BestOfThe2000s: Jhurell Pressley
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNM has had an array of running backs over the past 20 years, but Jhurell Pressley was certainly a one of a kind, and he was voted as one of two running backs for the New Mexico #BestOfThe2000 team, joining DonTrell Moore as one of two running backs on the team.
Pressley, who has had turns in the NFL, the AAF and the XFL, was a back that showcased amazing speed and a combination of brute strength. Pressley topped one of the closest votes yet. His 31.2% of the vote was barely ahead of second place Jarrod Baxter who was at 29.3% and Kasey Carrier, who wasn’t far behind at 24.3%. Rodney Ferguson picked up a solid 15.2% of the vote as well.
An amazing battle but our second RB on the #BestOfThe2000s is a bruiser and a speedster, it’s @Lil_Pressley … from?
DELAWARE!
He joins DonTrell Moore as RBs on the squad! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/O1l9wz8r3T
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) April 10, 2020
The series is a way to engage Lobo fans with the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pressley is the single-season record holder for yards per carry, averaging a 9.50 yards per tote, which was an NCAA record at the time. Pressley rushed for 1,083 yards on just 114 carries in 2014. Overall, his career mark of 6.92 yards per carry in a Lobo record, as he rushed for 2,725 yards on 394 carries. His 1,083 yards in 2014 is 15th in school history on the single-season list, and his 2,725 yards is eighth on the career charts. His 35 touchdowns is second only to Moore’s 51 on the school all-time lists. Overall he is tied for sixth in career scoring at UNM with 218 points.
Pressley also finished 10th in school history in yards from scrimmage, and he his 76-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against Boise State in 2015 paved the way for a 31-24 upset win and bowl eligibility. He played in the 2015 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and he was a two-time team MVP.
#BestOfThe2000s Team (Selected by the Fans)
Offense | Defense | ||
QB | Lamar Jordan | DL | |
RB | DonTrell Moore | DL | |
RB | Jhurell Pressley | DL | |
WR | LB | Dallas Bollema | |
WR | LB | Dakota Cox | |
WR | LB | Carmen Messina | |
TE | Marcus Williams | LB | Nick Speegle |
OL | Byron Bell | DB | |
OL | Erik Cook | DB | |
OL | Ryan Cook | DB | |
OL | Aaron Jenkins | DB | |
OL | Jason Lenzmeier | DB | |
PK | Jason Sanders | ||
P | |||
KR | |||
PR | |||
LS | |||
AP |