The Lobo football team likely will be two players light when it looks for redemption in the Las Vegas Bowl against Oregon State University Dec. 24.
Head coach Rocky Long suspended starting wide receiver Adrian Boyd and backup receiver/special teams player Jonathan Harrell for academic reasons.
"We have certain requirements and they're just not meeting them," Long said. He would not elaborate on whether the players had missed too many classes or were earning sub-standard grades. For Boyd, a 6-foot, 175-pound senior, missing the Las Vegas Bowl would mean the end of his Lobo career.
But Long said the team's leading receiver's case - Boyd has a team-high 41 catches this season - is still up in the air.
"Adrian is working on some classes right now, but it doesn't look good," he said.
The Lobos will certainly miss Boyd. He was moved from running back to wide receiver last season after coaches realized his 4.5-second 40-yard dash and 38-inch vertical leap could be better utilized as a receiver.
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Harrell, a 6-foot-2, 200 pound freshman, however, is definitely suspended for UNM's second consecutive appearance in the Christmas Eve bowl, Long said.
If Boyd fails to meet the team's academic standards, neither player will make the trip to Las Vegas, he said.
Long downplayed the significance of heading into the game without the two players, saying their absence shouldn't have any negative impact on the Lobos' chances.
"Jonathan hasn't been playing much in the last half of the season anyway," he said. "We'll be OK. We still have what I consider five quality receivers."
Senior Dwight Counter leads the team in receiving yards, with 713 on 29 catches. Boyd has the second most - 581. Both receivers have had two 100-plus yard games.
Boyd has started all but three games this season; he has not missed an outing. Harrell started once, against New Mexico State University, and last saw action Nov. 15 against Air Force.
