Feb. 3, 2009
2009 Lobo Football Signing Day Central
Celebrate Lobo Football Signing Day On Thursday Night At Kelly’s
Get complete real time coverage of 2009 Lobo football signing day all day Wednesday on GoLobos.com – your exclusive source for official signing day news and updates. Visit this page from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for official updates on the 2009 signing class as the letters of intent arrive.
GoLobos.com senior writer Richard Stevens will kick off the signing day coverage with an article that gives fans a behind the scenes look at first year head coach Mike Locksley’s nationally acclaimed recruiting system.
New Mexico football media relations contact Alfredo Moreno will provide real time coverage throughout the day, updating fans with news, notes, and quotes on the signees as the letters of intent are certified and the recruits officially become members of the Lobo football program.
The signing day coverage will culminate with Locksley’s 3 p.m. press conference formally announcing the entire class of 2009. Video of coach Locksley’s address as well as all the signee highlights will be available on the GoLobos.com Signing Day Central page immediately after the press conference.
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2:50 p.m.
I feel like former Lobo kicker John Sullivan running off into the sunset after kicking the game-winner against Colorado State in ’07 with these final two confirmations:
RB Demond Dennis (Atlanta, Ga.)
OL Darryl Johnson (Baton Rouge, La.)
Kudos to Lee Roy at TheRedMenace.com for breaking the story this morning with the photo of Dennis rocking the Lobo cap during his school signing day event. Here’s the info on this talented RB who turned down an SEC scholarship to come to the Duke City:
First team all-state running back in Georgia Class 3A last fall when he rushed 125 times for 1,627 yards (13 yards per carry) and 20 TDs…offensive MVP of the 2009 O-D All-American game in Myrtle Beach, S.C., gaining 103 yards on 9 carries and a TD…helped the East team to a 29-3 victory…ran for 1,605 yards and 13 TDs his junior season…three-year starter at running back for head coach Darren Myles…clocked at 4.48 in the 40…plays center field and pitches for the Panthers baseball teams and also runs track.
And coach Locksley’s comments:
“Demond was one of the more highly recruited players in the state of Georgia because of his tremendous athletic ability. He rewrote the rushing records at Carver High with his explosive ability and his breakaway speed, but this is a gifted athlete, who could have success as a running back, a receiver or a defensive back. We are fortunate to have Demond at UNM.”
New Mexico has had a 1,000-yard rusher every year since 2002 and with a young stable of backs including junior-to-be Terence Brown, sophomore-to-be James Wright, redshirt freshmam-to-be A.J. Butler, Carrier, Dennis and maybe Vince Minor…hard to think of too many schools in the MWC that can match the Lobos’ talent and depth at this position.
Last, but certainly not least, Darryl Johnson gives coaches Mike Degory and Cheston Blackshear another promising talent to craft in the coming years:
Late bloomer who only played two years of high school football…all-district offensive tackle as a senior…participated in the U.S. Army Redstick Bowl, a postseason all-star game in Baton Rouge…played for head coach Mike Roach.
And one more quote from coach Locks:
“I can’t say enough about Darryl’s physical ability, but this also is a tremendous young man with great social skills and great leadership potential. He is a huge boost to our offensive line. When you get someone with Darryl’s desire and determination, you know you have a player who is a future leader of this program.”
Thanks for reading…hope you enjoyed the coverage!
-Alfredo
2:40 p.m.
Just about 10 more minutes before I need to wrap things up from my one-man war room in office 122 in the media relations department.
Wanted to remind everyone that we’ll be posting the complete signing class at 3 p.m., followed by press conference quotes and video from head coach Mike Locksley immediately after he finishes addressing the local media. We’re also working on getting a highlight video of all the signees uploaded to our website.
Also, coach Locks will be a guest on 610 The Sports Animal today at 5:05 p.m. and recruiting coordinator J.B. Gerald will be in studio with Scott Stiegler on 770 KKOB from 8-9 p.m. Gerald will be taking your calls tonight, so if you’ve got questions about the 2009 signing class and Lobo recruiting system feel free to call in.
Finally don’t forget to come down to Kelly’s in Nob Hill tomorrow night and celebrate the 2009 signing class during a special Lobo Talk with head coach Mike Locksley from 7-8 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
Don’t worry Lobo fans this isn’t the last big-time RB we’re going to talk about today, but there’s plenty to say about Pearland (Texas) HS standout Kasey Carrier who was among the first group of NLIs to get certified this morning.
Carrier was a flat out stud in high school, rushing for 4,415 yards and 61 TDs in a brilliant prep career at Pearland HS, which is a Houston suburb. He was named all-state by the Texas Sportswriters Association in 2008 when he finished third in Class 5A rushing with 2,117 yards (7.8 per carry) and also tied for the state scoring crown with a school-record 35 TDs.
Carrier helped the Oilers to the 2008 District 22-5A title and earned all-county and district 24-5A offensive player of the year as a junior. He’s been clocked at 4.5 in the 40 and is currently sprinting for the Pearland track team.
Think football is all this guy cares about? Think again. Carrier was very involved off the field as a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as a volunteer coach for the Pearland Hurricanes youth football team. After Hurricane Ike hit the area, Kasey removed heavy debris and destroyed furniture from the homes of the elderly and less fortunate living in his neighborhood.
Here’s what coach Locks had to say:
“Kasey comes from a great program in Pearland, Texas, where he excelled in the same style of offense we will be running here. Kasey has the athletic ability and the statistics that grab your attention, but this also is a young man of high character and a strong academic background that make you excited that he has decided to be a Lobo.”
2:18 p.m.
While I’m waiting to gush about Mr. Carrier and the final two members of the class of 2009, check out some of the signing day photos from around the country that Lee Roy has been posting on TheRedMenace.com as Lobo recruits become Lobo signees.
2:01 p.m.
Don’t worry Kasey Carrier, I haven’t forgotten about you! I know we’ve got a couple final NLIs that are getting processed by the compliance offices and I’m trying to save my analysis just in case one of those guys happens to play running back as well.
BUT, since we’re into overtime here on the inaugural signing day blog and the official press conference is looming ahead, I might be cutting it close.
Stay tuned!
1:57 p.m.
Let’s talk a little D-Fence with the big man from Little Elm, Texas, defensive lineman Jacori (ja-CORE-ee) Greer.
A three-year starter at defensive end for Newman Smith HS (located in Carrolton, a Dallas suburb), Greer had 62 tackles and 10 sacks for the Trojans as a senior. He was a two-time team captain and first team all-district 6-5A selection for head coach Paul Ressa. Greer is also a three-year member of the basketball team, and the Trojans are ranked No. 1 in state Class 4A as of this writing.
Greer becomes the next in a solid group of quick, athletic defensive linemen at New Mexico. Here’s what coach Locksley had to say about him:
“You want explosive quickness off the line and this is just one of the abilities that attracted us to Jacori. For a young player, his skills as a lineman are very advanced, especially his use of hands in fighting off blocks. He also has the foot speed to get off the line and chase down backs.”
1:47 p.m.
Got Syrup? Let’s take a look at the three new additions to the vaunted UNM offensive line group, better known as The Hitmen, that can look forward to seeing that famous “Got Syrup?” sign in The Red Menace section on gamedays at University Stadium.
We’ll break these three down biggest to slightly less biggest.
Believe it or not, DeMatha High School’s Calvin McDowney has trimmed down to a svelt 6-4, 340 over the past year after weighing in at 415 as a junior.
How did it he do it? Incredible self discipline and a rigorous daily regimen of: 1 hour on a stationary bike, 30 minutes on a treadmill, 1 hour on an elliptical machine, followed by weighlifting, and of course a better diet.
A first team all-metro, first all-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and second team all-county offensive guard as a senior, McDowney is one of two signees from DeMatha HS in Washington, D.C. along with prep teammate Emmanuel McPhearson. The duo helped the Stags win WCAC titles in 2006, `07 and `08.
Here’s what coach Locks had to say about Calvin:
“Calvin is a complete athletic package as a lineman, but he also comes from a program that stresses the same things we stress as Lobos. He comes from DeMatha Catholic in the D.C. area and that’s a program that instills unity, team effort and an unselfish, winning attitude. Calvin is an intimidating force with a strong, wide body and a strong belief that he will dominate his opponent.”
Namaan Forest HS standout J.V. Mason (6-5, 275) was a first team District 10-5A offensive right tackle as a senior and a two-year starter for head coach Bill Patterson at this high school in Dallas area Garland, Texas. A team captain his senior year, Mason helped lead Naaman Forest to 9-3 records and two rounds of the playoffs in 2007 and `08.
Locksley had this to say about J.V.:
“J.V. obviously has the size you want up front, but a tremendous addition to his package as a D-I player is his outstanding athletic skills. He shows outstanding tenacity and concentration in holding his blocks on both running and passing plays. He also has the quickness to pull and get down the field. J.V. also shows the desire and work ethic to be a great success as a Lobo.”
Look up the term “growth spurt” in the dictionary and you might see a photo of Dillon Farrell (6-5, 270). Amazingly, Dillon was 5-8 and 160 pounds as a 9th grader – he’s a little bigger than that now and coaches believe he’ll have a bright future on the offensive line for the Lobos.
A first team all-state offensive lineman as chosen by the coaches and the media following his senior year, Farrell helped lead tiny Christian Life Academy to a 12-2 record in 2008, finishing second in Class 1A, which is the smallest classification in the state of Louisiana. A four-year starter who was all-district as a junior, he also played on the defensive line for head coach Warren Capone.
Coach Locksley offered his thoughts on the rising Farrell:
“I’m not locking Dillon into a certain position, but when you look at his build, you think tackle. He has a long, lean look to him and tremendous athletic ability. Dillon has grown almost a foot since his freshman year and is still adding weight and muscle and there is no doubt he has some outstanding years as a Lobo in front of him.”
1:22 p.m.
Down the stretch we come folks! Now the big question is, will I get to touch on every official signee before a) I go blind from staring at my computer screen for the past 6 hours or b) I need to leave to start prepping for our 3 p.m. press conference?
Stay tuned to find out!
1:16 p.m.
Greg Remington just got off the phone with Emmanuel Yeager, so here’s some more detailed information on this highly touted signee:
Rated as one of the top-35 dual threat quarterbacks in the nation by Rivals.com…accounted for 7,024 yards of total offense and 76 TDs as a three-year starter in high school…attended Ballou HS his first two years, the same school as UNM head coach Mike Locksley…first team District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association selection as a senior, throwing for 1,950 yards and 17 TDs in just nine games…also rushed for 660 yards and 16 TDs…three-year totals were 5,586 passing yards with 51 TDs, plus 1,438 yards rushing and 25 TDs…also started at safety at Coolidge…played for head coach Jason Lane…played virtually every position except the line in his prep career, including punter and kicker.
I’m sure the Lobo offensive and defensive linemen are breathing easier knowing that the versatile (6-2, 190-pound) Yeager probably won’t be pushing for time at offensive guard or defensive tackle in 2009.
1:11 p.m.
You’ll notice that several of the players I’ve listed have multiple positions or simply ATH (athlete) next to their names. This class certainly has a lot of versatility and coach Locksley and his staff have worked hard to add raw speed and athleticism to the current roster.
Three of those multidimensional players are Emmanuel McPhearson (Columbia, Md.), Vince Minor (Fontana, Calif.) and Adam Watson (Houston, Texas).
McPhearson (5-10, 185) was a second team all-state (Maryland and District of Columbia), first team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, all-D.C. and all-D.C. Pigskin pick at wide receiver last fall at DeMatha HS when he caught 23 passes for 450 yards and 11 TDs. However, he also started at cornerback for the Stags and his father, Gerrick, played defensive back at Boston College in the early/mid 1980s and was a free agent signee of the New England Patriots. Emmanuel’s older brother, Gerrick Jr., was a cornerback at Maryland from 2002-05, and a 7th-round draft pick of the New York Giants in 2006. So while he was best known as a receiver in high school, there’s definitely a family history of success on the defensive side of the ball.
Here’s what coach Locksley had to say about McPhearson:
“Emmanuel is another great player from the DeMatha system. He is a dynamic athlete, who can play on either side of the ball. He has the hands, speed and elusiveness to have success as a receiver, but he also is tough enough and has the footwork to be an outstanding defensive back. He comes from a great family of athletes and knows first-hand what it takes to be successful.”
Minor (5-9, 175) was also a threat on offense and defense as he carried 157 times for 898 yards (5.7 average) and 10 touchdowns, plus 30 receptions for 575 yards (19.2 average) and 7 touchdowns for the Etiwanda Eagles as a senior. He didn’t play much on defense as a senior (29 tackles and 2 interceptions at cornerback), but earned all-league honors at DB as a junior.
Coach Locksley said he’s looking forward to the good problem of finding the perfect spot for such a versatile athlete.
“Vincent is another one of those athletes you love to have on your team because of his extreme versatility as a football player. He had great success at running back and as a defensive back and it will be a challenge for us to figure out the best place to put Vincent in order to take advantage of his ability.”
Watson (5-10, 175), meanwhile, brings top-flight speed (sub-4.5 40) to the mix and whichever position he settles into. He was first team District 13-5A at both wide receiver and kick returner as a senior at Houston Westfield HS. Watson caught 41 passes for 708 yards and 7 TDs last year and also had one kickoff return for a score. 5ATexasFootball.com called him a dangerous deep threat and excellent kick returner.
“Adam is another player who has benefited from an outstanding program and an outstanding coach, Corby Meekins. Adam has great success as a receiver because of his exceptional hands and quickness and those skills also make him attractive as a defender. Adam is a versatile athlete, who also has had success returning punts and kickoffs.”
12:50 p.m.
Let’s talk special teams now that we’ve received official confirmation about deep snapper Evan Jacobsen, to go along with punter Ben Skaer (pronounced SCARE), whose NLI was stamped in the first group this morning.
UNM has had a great tradition of outstanding deep snappers over the past decade with NFL draft pick Joe Maese, handing the ball to Martin Lovato, who was followed by Jon O’Brien. Jacobsen certainly has the resume to be the next in the line of standout snappers at New Mexico.
He was rated the No. 1 deep snapper in the country by Chris Rubio snapping and set the high school record for snapping accuracy at the Chris Sailer kicking event in Las Vegas last month. Jacobsen also set the high school record for the Rubio snapping index – a combination of time and accuracy averaged over 10 snaps – in 2008 and broke his own record in 2009. He has a consistent snap time of .75 seconds for a 15-yard snap and has been a deep snapper since 6th grade when he was thrown into the spot during a youth game.
And deep snapping isn’t even the most impressive thing Jacobsen does with his time. Evan and his father are the founders of Summit7, a non-profit organization raising funds for housing projects in the countries of Tanzania, Russia, Nepal, Australia, Argentina and the U.S. Summit7’s goal is to raise money over the next several years in conjunction with their efforts to summit the tallest peak on each of the world’s seven continents. Evan’s climbing experience includes Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia and Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, as well as several 10K+ peaks in California and Washington.
You gotta see it to believe it – click here for more info on Summit7
Skaer, meanwhile, gives UNM five players from the state of Illinois on the projected 2009 roster and will add to what should be a great punting and kicking competition this spring.
He is a two-time first team all-conference punter and kicker from Waterloo (Ill.) HS, located south of St. Louis, Mo. At the Kicking.com Combine Series in Houston in January, Skaer charted 1st with a 4.2-second hang time and 42-yard average on 10 punts. He was an all-state kicker as a junior and honorable mention all-state punter and kicker after his senior season. He had a 41-yard average on 41 punts and converted 32 PATs and 5-of-6 FGs with a long of 48 yards last fall. Skaer was a team captain who also saw time at wide receiver and safety. His kicking coach was 10-year NFL veteran Louie Aguiar (1991-2000 with Jets, Chiefs, Packers, Bears).
Coach Locks had this to say about the Lobos’ two newest specialists:
“While you love to have athletes with the ability to move around to different positions, I have a feeling I know exactly where Evan will be. He’ll have his hands on the ball when we use him, but I actually hope we won’t be calling his name too often. Evan is clearly one of the premier deep snappers in the nation and it’s a feather in our Lobo cap to land a snapper of his quality.”
“Actually, I’m hoping to keep Ben on the sidelines with Evan. Unfortunately, we’ll probably have to punt the ball a few times in 2009. Fortunately, we’ll have one of the top high school punters in the nation competing for that job in Ben. Ben’s numbers and his hang times in high school would make most college coaches happy and we’re very fortunate to have Ben in a Lobo uniform.”
12:32 p.m.
Two more confirmed NLIs hot off the presses…we’re just a few names away from a complete class of 2009!
DS Evan Jacobsen (Laguna Niguel, Calif.)
OL Dillon Farrell (Baton Rouge, La.)
12:28 p.m.
Ever since a certain linebacker from Lovington, N.M. burst onto the scene in Chicago, Lobo football has been a real factor in the state of Illinois. LB/S hybrid Quincy Black (Chicago) was a first team all-Mountain West honoree in 2006 before moving on the Tampa Bay Buccanneers, Vince Natali (Park Ridge, Ill.) was the best center in the league as senior in 2007, and guard Bart Miller (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) started every game as a senior in ’07.
Sophomore-to-be Carmen Messina (Addison, Ill.) is one of the Lobos’ top linebacker prospects, Arlington Heights product Ty Kirk was on the travel squad as a true freshman WR last fall and LB Spencer Merritt (Aurora) is looking to work his way up the depth chart in his second season.
The latest signee from the Windy City (Chicago has nothing on spring winds in New Mexico though) is dual-threat quarterback Darren Jones. Jones was all-state as a senior and twice the SICA East conference player of the year for South Side Chicago Thornton Township HS. Running the spread, Jones’ 11-game numbers were 171 of 286 (60%) attempts for 2,350 yards, 17 TDs and just 3 interceptions. He also rushed 76 times for 843 yards (11 yards per carry) and 7 TDs.
Coach Locks weighed in on the 6-3, 195-pound Jones earlier:
“Darren is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, and has had tremendous success in high school. He has good size, the physical tools and confidence that you want from the quarterback position. I’ve seen his development since his sophomore year to now and our fans should expect good things from Darren.”
12:13 p.m.
Let’s keep it on the Rio Grande and talk about the defensive lineman from El Paso, Texas Mat McBain. This one is already stirring up some entertaining smack talk between Lobo and Miner fans on the message boards and as a UNM alumn and El Paso native, I can certainly appreciate the level of intensity that exists in this rivalry. Two years to wait for the next game in the series (Oct. 2, 2010 in Albuquerque) seems too long!
Here’s more on McBain (6-4, 265):
Four-year varsity starter on the offensive and defensive line…2008 preseason first team all-state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine which also named him one of the top-300 players in the state of Texas…first team all-district 1-4A defensive lineman as a senior when he had 47 tackles, 3 sacks, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal in just 8 games…66 stops, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 pass breakups and a blcoked field goal in 9 games his junior season, earning first team all-Region 1 honors…59 tackles, including 5 sacks, as a sophomore…all-city selection as an offensive lineman in 2008 when he helped pave the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers…helped Burges post a 7-3 regular season record last fall as the Mustangs advanced to the state playoffs for the first time since 2002…played for coach Lloyd Smith.
And coach Locksley’s quote:
“Mat has all the physical tools and the size to have a great career as a lineman for us. It’s a huge win for us to get one of the top players in Texas to come join our family of Lobos. Mat has great athletic ability and quickness, but he also shows tremendous intensity on the field, which, to me, reflects a love of the game and pride in how he plays that game.”
12:03 p.m.
I’ll be bouncing around from signee to signee in no particular order, so bear with me, but let’s bring it back to The Land Of Enchantment for a quick look at Las Cruces HS standout Dante Caro (pronounced CAH-row):
The UNM coaching staff said that they thought Caro was probably the best athlete in New Mexico last fall and believe he’s got the talent to play virtually anywhere (well maybe not anytime soon on the offensive line for the 6-0, 185-pounder).
He was the starting quarterback for the 2008 Class 5A state champion Bulldawgs and the 2008 Mr. Football award winner by nmprepsrivals.com. Caro completed 68% of his passes for 1,986 yards, 16 TDs and 3 interceptions as a senior and added 1,000 yards rushing on 94 carries (10.6 avg.), with 14 TDs.
It’ll be interesting to see where he ends up contributing for the Lobos…and of course to follow the rivalry chatter that always comes whenever a Las Cruces player chooses to play for UNM over his hometown team.
Here’s coach Locksley’s take on Caro:
“Dante and Dallas (Bollema) are out of the same mold as winners both on the field and in the classroom. Dante quarterbacked Las Cruces to an undefeated season and the Class 5A championship, which shows tremendous athletic ability as well as leadership ability. He runs the point for the Bulldawgs basketball team and could make an impact on either side of the line for us.”
11:53 a.m.
It’s no secret that coach Locksley is well-known in his hometown of Washington, D.C….he made a national name for himself recruiting the D.C. area at his previous coaching stops and now that pipeline has brought a QB-WR tandem from Coolidge HS to Albuquerque…let’s take a look at WR Derrell (pronounced da-RELL) Person and QB Emmanuel Yeager:
New Mexico certainly wasn’t alone in recruiting the talented WR Person. The 6-1, 208-pounder played only two years of high school football as he is also one of the top basketball players in the area. However, he earned first team all-District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association honors both seasons on the gridiron.
He followed up a tremendous junior season with a huge senior campaign, catching 42 passes for more than 1,400 yards and 13 TDs from his teammate Yeager last fall. Person was voted best wide receiver in the Washington metro area as a junior after 48 catches for 1,011 yards and 18 TDs.
Here’s what coach Locks had to say about Derrell:
“Derrell probably could be playing D-I basketball, but we are happy he decided to be a football player. He has played only two seasons of football, but his tremendous athletic ability quickly turned him into one of the top recruited athletes in the D.C. area. Derrell is a big, strong, fast explosive athlete who surely will be a crowd pleaser for Lobo fans.”
Yeager, meanwhile, was rated as one of the top-35 dual threat quarterbacks in the nation by Rivals.com and was a first team District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association selection as a senior.
Coach Locksley had this to say about Yeager:
“Emmanuel was an outstanding quarterback in high school. He has a great combination of arm strength, vision and touch. He also has the speed and the agility to be an effective runner. He has a great football IQ and understands the quarterback lifestyle.”
11:30 a.m.
I had a feeling this would happen…the names are coming through fast and furious now, so I’ll release them ASAP and then go back for some additional info on each guy…here’s the latest group to be confirmed:
WR/DB Emmanuel McPhearson (Columbia, Md.)
QB Emmanuel Yeager (Washington, D.C.)
DL Mat McBain (El Paso, Texas)
RB Kasey Carrier (Pearland, Texas)
ATH Dante Caro (Las Cruces, N.M.)
11:24 a.m.
Let’s start right here in New Mexico with Artesia LB Dallas Bollema (pronounced BOW-la-ma).
This guy was a tackling machine for the Bulldogs, racking up 507 in his career, including 189 stops last year en route to state Defensive Player of the Year honors by PrepNewMexico.com.
Coaches said they loved how mobile the 6-2, 210 Bollema was believe he’s got a great upside in the new system. Plus, the Lobos have had great success with in-state linebackers in recent years (Mike Mohoric, Zach Arnett, Nick Speegle, George Carter, etc.)
Here’s what coach Locks had to say about Dallas:
“Dallas is another Lobo with a strong resume of skills and accomplishments. He is a proven scholar, a standout basketball player and obviously one of the top football players in New Mexico. One of our recruiting goals as Lobos is to get the very best local players and landing Dallas is a tremendous step in that direction.”
11:17 a.m.
And here we go folks!! The first batch of official signees in the class of 2009 are in:
DL Jacori Greer (Little Elm, Texas)
QB Darren Jones (Chicago, Ill.)
P Ben Skaer (Waterloo, Ill.)
OL Calvin McDowney (Glenarden, Md.)
WR Adam Watson (Houston, Texas)
LB Dallas Bollema (Artesia, N.M.)
OL J.V. Mason (Sachse, Texas)
ATH Vince Minor (Fontana, Calif.)
WR Derrell Person (Washington, D.C.)
I’ll have notes, quotes and thoughts on these guys shortly!
11:05 a.m.
Here’s what coach Locksley had to say about Peter:
“Peter is our lone transfer at this point and we think he has the ability and the experience to provide us with more depth on the line. At 6-foot-4, 295 pounds he has the size and the strength to be an impact player for us up front and it’s nice to have a lineman who has seen a few snaps at the college level.”
11:01 a.m.
Still waiting for high school NLI confirmations of course, but there is one name that I can officially talk about and it’s the big junior transfer defensive tackle from Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. – Peter Gardner.
As many of you know, Peter has already enrolled at UNM and been working out with his new teammates in new football strength & conditioning coach Troy Hatton’s offseason program.
I’ve had a chance to meet with Peter a couple times and let me tell you the guy is a legit 6-4, 295.
With UNM moving to a traditional 4-3 defensive front under new defensive coordinator Doug Mallory, getting a guy like Gardner was key. New Mexico could return two DTs that saw significant time last year as senior Wesley Beck is awaiting word on an NCAA appeal to get an extra year of eligibility and sophomore-to-be Brett Kennedy showed great potential. Gardner’s physical presence should make an immediate impact in the new scheme though.
Here’s the rest of the details about Peter:
Spent the past two seasons starting on the defensive line for Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa…all-conference defensive tackle for the Falcons last fall when he had 40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles…47 tackles and 5 sacks his freshman season…played for head coach Mark Duda…attended South Carolina State the 2006-07 academic year, but did not play football.
HIGH SCHOOL…a 2006 graduate of Bloomfield (Conn.) HS…all-state defense as a senior, totaling 70 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 5 forced fumbles…played in the Rhode Island-Connecticut all-star game.
PERSONAL…born July 16, 1988, in Hartford…age is 20…full name is Peter Howard Gardner…son of Howard and Pamela…interested in Business at UNM.
10:42 a.m.
First of all, thanks to all of you who have emailed me with praise of our noble effort here in the inaugural Lobo Football Signing Day blog. Believe me, I’m as anxious as all of you to start announcing names ASAP. I’ve been in touch with our compliance office and I know Dawn’s working hard to get a few things to ironed out with one or two names before we can make official announcements.
I appreciate all your patience. Keep checking back as I’m chaining myself to my desk until we start seeing some action here.
Right now, the No. 1 thing I’m thankful for is that I’m not doing live audio signing day coverage. You all would be hearing some terrible stories from my grade school football glory days right now!
10:05 a.m.
Well folks the real time blog is definitely a work in progress! The 9 a.m. start was probably a little ambitious as I’m still waiting for confirmation from the compliance office on our first signees of the day.
Glancing at the message board on TheRedMenace.com, there’s some exciting news brewing…can’t wait to make some official announcements soon!
9:08 a.m.
Still playing the waiting game here, but while we’ve got some time, be sure to check out Richard Steven’s article and interview with head coach Mike Locksely which was just posted on GoLobos.com. Here’s the link:
The quote from Locksley that should get Lobo fans excited about the future of football recruiting at UNM is right at the top of the story:
“You have not seen anything yet in how we will recruit. This was the condensed, fast version.”
8:20 a.m.
For those of you who are curious, here’s the very simple basics how signing day works at the University of New Mexico.
Recruits complete their national letters of intent and fax them into the Lobo football offices at the L.F. “Tow” Diehm Building. From there the letters go to UNM Compliance Director Dawn Martinez and then on to the compliance office at the Mountain West Conference. Once the NLIs are approved by Dawn and the MWC, the recruit is officially a Lobo and we’ll make our announcement.
I know it may seem like an intensive process to get official word on the newest Lobos, but the UNM Department of Athletics is committed to making sure every “I” is dotted and every “T” is crossed when it comes to compliance with the NCAA. This is the way we handle signing announcements with all our sports here, including men’s and women’s soccer and track/cross country, which can also announce signees today.
Beleive it or not, things will start to move quickly once the wheels start in motion. The first faxes arrived at the football office early this morning and we expect to start receiving official confirmation from the MWC within the hour.
8 a.m. (Mountain) – Coleen J. Maloof Administration Building
Good morning Lobo football fans! Alfredo Moreno here, I’m the media relations contact for the UNM football team (since 2002), along with Greg Remington and Chris Deal, and I’ll be doing my best to keep you updated with signing day news and notes as it happens throughout the day on our first ever signing day blog on GoLobos.com.
If you have any questions during the day, feel free to email me at avmoreno@unm.edu and I’ll do my best to answer them for you.
Hope you’re ready for an exciting and historic day for this up-and-coming program. This is Mike Locksley’s first signing class as a head coach and the start of a new era of Lobo football.
Rocky Long left a strong foundation of talent and toughness in this program and the new coaching staff is excited to blend the new players we’ll be announcing today into an already solid team.