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In the spring of 2023, Keyshawn James-Newby was a sophomore defensive lineman at NAIA Montana Tech. He had earned first-team All-Frontier Conference honors with the Orediggers the season prior, making him an attractive candidate to maybe enter the transfer portal and cash in somewhere new. 

He had no plans of doing so. 

鈥淚 genuinely was content,鈥� James-Newby told the Journal in July. 鈥淟ike, I was super content. And then I think I had like a nine-sack season and then I had a few people calling me like, 鈥榙ude, you shouldn鈥檛 be here,鈥� you know?鈥�

Three years and two schools later, he鈥檚 set to play in the NFL. 

After spending last season with New Mexico, James-Newby was drafted Saturday by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 252nd overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL draft. 

The 6-foot-2, 244-pound edge rusher is the first Lobo selected in the draft since the Seattle Seahawks took safety Jerrick Reed in the sixth round in 2023. James-Newby also is the first UNM defensive lineman drafted since Larry Dibbles was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1976 draft. 

James-Newby did not respond to the Journal鈥檚 request for comment Saturday evening. 

A Helena, Montana native, James-Newby exhausted his eligibility after playing the 2023 and 2024 seasons under current UNM head coach Jason Eck at Idaho. But thanks to his status as a former NAIA player, he was eligible for a waiver to play an extra season after Diego Pavia challenged the NCAA鈥檚 eligibility rules. 

James-Newby later emerged as one of the Lobos鈥� best defensive players, leading the team in sacks (9) and tackles for loss (15) last season to earn first-team All-Mountain West honors. In turn, UNM led the Mountain West in sacks (36) and rushing defense (112.7 yards per game) on its way to a resurgent 9-4 season under first-year coach Eck. 

After declaring for the draft, James-Newby was listed as The Athletic鈥檚 44th-ranked edge rusher and projected as a late-round selection or undrafted free agent (UDFA).

鈥淛ames-Newby doesn鈥檛 offer much of a power element, but he has pass-rush twitch that draws your eye and will give him a chance to make an NFL roster,鈥� The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote. 

Locally made

Pavia, the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 native and prolific quarterback for Vanderbilt, was not selected in the NFL draft and has not signed as an undrafted free agent at the time of publication.

The former New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State signal caller passed for 3,539 yards, 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season with the Commodores and finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Rio Rancho native and former New Mexico receiver Luke Wysong has signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent, the club announced Saturday night. 

The 5-foot-10, 186-pound Cleveland High School graduate made 134 receptions for 1,465 yards and three touchdowns from 2020-24 with the Lobos. He notably earned All-Mountain West honors after catching 69 passes for 840 yards and one touchdown in 2024, one of the most prolific seasons of any Lobo receiver in recent memory. 

Wysong transferred to Arizona for his final season of eligibility, catching 24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns last season. 

Around the league 

The full list of players with New Mexico ties drafted, signed, or invited to rookie minicamps by NFL clubs Saturday at the time of publication: 

• Former New Mexico State running back Mike Washington Jr. was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the 122nd overall pick in the fourth round. 

• Former UNM offensive lineman J.C. Davis was selected by the New York Giants with the 192nd overall pick in the sixth round. 

• Former NMSU running back Seth McGowan was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 237th overall pick in the seventh round. 

• Lobo running back Damon Bankston has signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent, UNM announced via social media. 

• Lobo kicker Luke Drzewiecki has been invited to the Baltimore Ravens鈥� rookie minicamp, UNM announced via social media. 

• Former UNM cornerback Noah Avinger has signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent, Utah State announced via social media. 

• Former UNM defensive back D鈥橝rco Perkins-McCallister has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, Aaron Wilson of KPRC Channel 2 (Houston) reported via social media. 

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .