UNM FOOTBALL
Lobo receiver Keagan Johnson accepts invitation to New York Giants rookie minicamp
Former Kansas State, Iowa WR is second player from UNM to accept invite
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Another Lobo is getting a chance to prove himself at the next level.
New Mexico wide receiver Keagan Johnson has accepted an invitation to the New York Giants鈥� rookie minicamp, the program announced Monday via social media.
After leading UNM in catches and receiving yards last season, Johnson is the second Lobo to accept an invite to a minicamp since the NFL draft concluded Saturday. Kicker Luke Drzewiecki also accepted an invitation to the Las Vegas Raiders鈥� minicamp, events that serve as three-day orientations for draft picks, undrafted signees and non-roster tryouts.
At minicamp, Johnson will be joined by UNM running back Damon Bankston, who signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent Saturday. Hours before, Lobo defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby was drafted in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Giants鈥� division rival.
has received an official invite to the @nygiants! You have New Mexico backing you up! 馃惡
鈥� New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB)
In his lone season with UNM, the 6-foot, 178-pound Johnson started 12 of 13 games and posted career highs in catches (61) and receiving yards (772). He logged three games with 100-plus yard receiving yards, including a 40-35 win at UNLV in which he caught six passes for 158 yards and one touchdown 鈥� yards-wise, the best game of his career.
Johnson earned All-Mountain West honorable-mention recognition after the season and, with his eligibility exhausted, declared for the NFL Draft. At UNM鈥檚 pro day in March, he recorded a 36.5-inch vertical jump and a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, a time he was pleased with.
鈥淚 wanted to show that I can run,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if my tape has a ton (of plays) of me just breaking away 鈥� I can live with what I did out there today. If no one calls, I did the best of my ability and I鈥檒l just leave it at that.鈥�
Johnson transferred to UNM after two years at Kansas State, where he made 44 catches for 586 yards and three touchdowns. Before that, he started in nine games as a freshman at Iowa and recorded 11 receptions for 363 yards and two touchdowns in two seasons with the Hawkeyes.
He鈥檚 one of a handful of rookie receivers expected to be in attendance for New York鈥檚 minicamp. Notre Dame receiver Malachi Fields was drafted by the Giants in the third round with the 74th overall pick Friday after catching 36 passes for 630 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
