Pronunciaton: RAY E Y
Academics: Named a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete for 2024-25.
2024 (Redshirt Sophomore Season): Did not see action.
2023 (Redshirt Freshman Season): Did not see action.
2022 (Freshman Season): Was one of four Japanese-born players in the FBS … redshirted.
High School: Lettered at Kosei-Gakuen High School in Mitika City, Japan, which is a suburb of Tokyo … was a two-time All-Japan player at running back, in 2020 and 2021 … was named NVP of the Japanese National Championship game in 2020 as his squad won the national title … finished national runner-up in 2019 and 2021 … scored 16 touchdowns in 2020 in just six games, rushing for 721 yards … played just three games in a 2021 spring season but had five touchdowns and 267 rushing yards … played for coach Takashi Kobayashi … came to learn about UNM and wanted to be a Lobo as his high school athletic trainer Tsuyoshi Kase attended UNM, and he is friends with former Lobo Mike Good.
Personal: Majoring in history … birthday is February 16, 2004 … parents are Ayumu and Ayako Iwai … can speak both Japanese and English … his sister Ran was a three-year letter winner with Florida State’s women’s soccer team, winning the 2021 National Championship, starting in the national semifinals against Rutgers.