Lobo Football Duo on Phil Steele's 2nd-Team all-MWC

[Mark]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- University of New Mexico senior football players Lamaar Thomas and Joseph Harris should have pretty good 2012 seasons, according to Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.

Both Thomas and Harris earned second-team honors on the publication’s preseason all-Mountain West team that was released on Thursday. Seven Lobos were named on the four-team roster.

Thomas is a transfer wide receiver from Ohio State who played in just four games last season because of injuries in 2011. He had nine receptions of 176 yards and two touchdowns in four games.

Harris, who played defensive back when he first came to UNM, was on the second-team defensive line. Harris was second on the team in sacks (two) and tackles for loss (6.5) and finished sixth in total tackles with 55 as a defensive end in 2011.

The Lobos, however, moved Harris to outside linebacker in the spring, and he’s expected to play there in 2012.

Other Lobos honored were senior tight end Lucas Reed, senior defensive linemen Ugo Uzodinma and Reggie Ellis and junior linebacker Dallas Bollema – all of whom earned third-team honors. Reed had 22 receptions for 241 yards in 2011 with opponents game-planning to stop him after he was a 2010 first-team All-MW selection with 33 receptions for 459 yards and five TDs.

Bollema finished third on the team in tackles with 68 despite missing two games with an injury last season. Uzodinma had 24 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, and Ellis had 16 tackles with four for loss.

Linebacker Javarie Johnson, who was hurt on the season-opening kickoff last fall, was named to Phil Steele’s fourth team.

Greg Archuleta
Assistant Communications Director
University of New Mexico