UNM FOOTBALL
Three standouts, two takeaways and one surprise from New Mexico's pro day
Scouts from 15 NFL clubs were in attendance for Monday's workouts
Published
New Mexico hosted scouts from 15 different NFL clubs for its annual pro day Monday, putting 17 Lobos through combine-style and positional drills ahead of next month鈥檚 NFL Draft.
There wasn鈥檛 a standout time or performance quite like Cam Watts鈥� jaw-dropping 4.31-second 40-yard dash, the major story out of UNM鈥檚 pro day last spring. Instead, there were a handful of players who tested well across the board, far more consistent than conspicuous with their measurables.
Here are three standouts, two takeaways and one surprise from the workouts:
Three standouts
WR Keagan Johnson
UNM鈥檚 leading receiver last season put up mostly good numbers, but probably notched his biggest win in the 40 with unofficial times of 4.42 and 4.45.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if my tape has a ton of me just breaking away,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 wanted to show that I could not just run routes, but run in a straight line. I feel like I did that today 鈥� It would be nice to touch (4.30s) but hey, I鈥檓 gonna live with what I did today.鈥�
Johnson鈥檚 36.5-inch vertical jump was also a mark he was proud of, if only to show 鈥渢hat I can go up and get the ball,鈥� he said.
RB Damon Bankston
The 5-foot-10, 186-pound running back said his 33-inch vertical jump was a little shorter than he hoped, but was 鈥減retty sure鈥� his unofficial 40 was marked in the 4.30 range.
Bankston also rang up 21 reps on the bench press and was the only Lobo to return kicks during the workout.
鈥淎 lot of people make teams in the NFL on special teams,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust having the opportunity to showcase that I could return kicks 鈥� you know, every team needs a good returner. Being able to show that, and also show that I can play punt return 鈥� it鈥檚 huge for getting to the next level.鈥�
S Azariah Levells
The 5-11, 186-pound senior notched a 38-inch vertical (a mark that would have tied for fifth among safeties at this year鈥檚 NFL Combine) and a broad jump that cleared 11 feet, better than any safety at the combine.
His unofficial 4.56 in the 40 wasn鈥檛 quite as freaky as the other marks. But for a player that was kept off the field with injuries last season 鈥� and remains one court ruling away from being able to return to UNM next season 鈥� Monday was a good showing.
Two takeaways
UNM could have more UDFA signees in the NFL
ormer Lobo defensive lineman Devin Brandt-Epps signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) last spring, but UNM hasn鈥檛 had many players ink those kinds of deals in recent years.
This pro day, however, a few more scouts were in attendance than UNM is normally accustomed to.
Bankston鈥檚 return background, paired with good measurables, should get him some attention. Johnson could have some options. And if Keyshawn James-Newby isn鈥檛 drafted (more on him later), it鈥檚 hard to imagine him not getting a chance somewhere.
Of course, it鈥檚 still more of a could than a will at this point. But in terms of getting players on UDFA deals, this feels like the best group UNM has had in a while.
It still feels like UNM鈥檚 draft hopes rest with one player
If you don鈥檛 count Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (a one-time Lobo who transferred to Arizona to finish out his college career), UNM hasn鈥檛 had a player drafted since the Seahawks selected Jerrick Reed in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
As of Monday, it still feels like James-Newby is the program鈥檚 best shot to be drafted this year.
The 6-2, 244-pound defensive end did not participate in position drills after tweaking his hamstring running the 40, but James-Newby鈥檚 unofficial 40s were clocked in the high 4.40s and 4.50s. That range would鈥檝e put him near the top of all edge rushers at the NFL Combine.
鈥�(I) ran a little bit faster than I was actually expecting myself to,鈥� James-Newby said. 鈥淪o, yeah, it was a good day in the 40.鈥�
One surprise
Brett Karhu takes reps at fullback, linebacker
During position drills, quarterback James Laubstein primarily threw Bankston and receivers like Johnson and Michael Buckley. But one other player hopped in for a bit and made the most of his routes: defensive end Brett Karhu, who finished second on the team in sacks last season.
In addition to those passing reps at fullback, Karhu also did some drills as a linebacker.
鈥淚 talked to a couple agents and they were like, 鈥榶ou never know what they (scouts) are going to put you through, so be ready for anything,鈥欌�� he said. 鈥淪o I trained with (linebacker Jaxton Eck), Keyshawn and then I was out here with (quarterback) Jack Layne running routes, too.鈥�
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
