New Mexico DE Keyshawn James-Newby to play in East-West Shrine Bowl 

One of the Lobos’ All-Mountain West honorees is set to play in college football’s longest-running all-star game.

New Mexico defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby is set to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, the game announced Tuesday via social media.

After making 52 total tackles and nine sacks this season with UNM, the 6-foot-2, 244-pound fifth-year senior will join over 116-plus prospects on Jan. 27 in Frisco, Texas in a showcase sponsored by Shriners International. 

James-Newby represents the third Lobo to accept an invitation to the Shrine Bowl over the last two years. Running backs Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Andrew Henry both played in the game last January.

The Lobo star received his invitation to the game last week while training for the NFL Draft in Florida, calling it a “blessing” after exhausting his eligibility this season.

“I’m a small school guy, basically, coming up to that bowl game,” he said Tuesday. “There’s no such thing as messing up for a guy like me, especially coming (in) as an underdog. I can only do great things up there.”

After the Shrine Bowl, James-Newby said he’ll return to X3 Performance and Physical Therapy to continue training before heading back to Albuquerque for UNM’s pro day in March. Improving his speed and adding to his pass rush repertoire, he said, has been his focus ahead of the NFL Draft in April.

“And then working on sculpting my body and making sure my body passes more of an eye test for the scouts and whatnot,” he added. “(Letting) them know that when it comes down to me just working and training and eating properly, I could do that.”

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