ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- Keyshawn James-Newby, who led the Mountain West with 8.0 sacks and is second in the league in tackles for loss with 13.0 tackles for loss, was named a Third Team All-America by the Pro Football & Sports Network.
James-Newby is the first Lobo to earn All-America honors since Marcus Hayes was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America team as a punt returner. He is the first Lobo to be on a natural All-America team since 2013, when Carlos Wiggins was named to multiple All-America teams as a kickoff returner in 2013.
James-Newby had a season-high 2.5 sacks against New Mexico State, and that was the big start to his defensive line dominance on the season. He was a complete menace against Boise State with 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. He also had sacks in each of UNM’s last four games, and in the finale against San Diego State, his sack on second-and-goal from the 19 forced a fumble and knocked the Aztecs further back from the end zone.
He also had a sack on UNLV’s final drive of the game when the Rebels were down five at 40-35 with under 20 seconds left. He broke up five passes on the season, and per PFF, he leads all Mountain West players, regardless of position, in total pressures with 63 and hurries with 45. He is second in quarterback hits with nine, and also per PFF, he is tied for second in the FBS among all defensive players in total pressures and second in hurries. He leads the Mountain West in PFF pass rush grade at 91.4.
New Mexico will play the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, December 26. The game will be played at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lobo fans have been gobbling up tickets, and fans can get tickets in the Lobo section by purchasing tickets at golobos.com/BowlTickets.