ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico football coach Bob Davie has added three early junior college signees to the program, and all three will enroll at UNM for the spring semester. They will also count towards UNM’s national signing day allotment, of which that full class will be announced on February 4.
The Lobos are adding three players on the offensive side of the ball in quarterback Austin Apodaca, running back Richard McQuarley, and offensive lineman Tevita Fonua. All three come with big credentials and should all be in line to battle for playing time during spring camp.
“I like what all three of these young men bring to the table in terms of what our football team needs,” said Davie. “We’ve watched Tevita for two years now, and really feel in love with his explosiveness and his potential as an interior lineman for us. He brings a big powerful presence for us.”
“Richard McQuarley gives us a chance to have that big powerful back. He’s 215 pounds, and he is a downhill runner, and he has four years to play three. He adds an element to our offense that late in the season we didn’t have,” said Davie. “With Austin, we have been recruiting him hard since he was in high school and we have known his family for three years. I think he is a tremendous fit for us. He brings us some experience and really adds to the depthand experience to a young, talented quarterback position.”
Head coach Bob Davie was true to his word in adding a quarterback, running back and an offensive lineman. Davie had stated in his November 18th press conference that in addition to looking for a quarterback, a running back was a priority.
“We have three spots open mid-year, one of them is going to be a running back and that’s part of the equation,” said Davie in response to a question from Marty Watts of 101.7 The Team. “We need a bigger back to come in because right now on paper we have Pressley, Romell Jordan and Teriyon Gipson back with David Anaya and the two young backs Tyrone Owens and Diquon Woodhouse. We have pretty good backs, but we do need a bigger and stronger back I agree.”
Of the three, Apadoca, highly recruited out of Mesa CC, has previous Division I experience playing his freshman season as a back-up quarterback at Washington State. Apodaca saw action in the 2013 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, meaning he is the one recruit that has played a game at Branch Field at University Stadium.
McQuarley and Fonua came from successful JC programs that not just won games, but had terrific offenses.
Below are the bios for all three of New Mexico’s early signees.
AUSTIN APODACA, QB, 6-2, 200 Longmont, Colo.
(Mesa CC/Washington State/Silver Creek HS)
NEW MEXICO: Strong armed quarterback with solid college experience who will immediately battle for playing time … has actually had experience on Branch Field at University Stadium, as he served as a holder for Washington State in the 2013 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, a game WSU lost 48-45.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Lettered at Mesa Community College, where he played for Ryan Felker … went 233-of-394 passing (59.1%) for 2,534 yards and 27 touchdowns with nine interceptions, a quarterback rating of 131.2 … averaged 290.8 yards passing in four road games … rushed 40 times for 133 yards with four touchdowns, with a long of 41 yards … was at his best against New Mexico Military Institute, going 29-for-45 for 3131 yards with six touchdown passes, and another one rushing as he ran five times for 39 yards.
WASHINGTON STATE (2013-REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Saw action in all 13 games for Washington State, but just three as a quarterback (the rest were as a holder on PATs and FGs) … overall went 21-for-42 passing for 187 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions … had his most effective day against No. 5 Stanford in Seattle, going 15-for-29 for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns … threw an interception in that game, and rushed for 10 yards … had his debut against Southern Utah, going 3-for-7 for 27 yards … went 3-for-6 for 22 yards against Oregon State with an interception
2012-FRESHMAN: Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football at Silver Creek High School, playing for Mike Apodaca … led the Raptors to the state title game and a 12-2 mark (5-0 in league) as a senior, earning All-Colorado honors by the Denver Post … was also named all-state by Prep Colorado.com … was named the North Conference Offensive Player of the Year … threw for 3,849 yards as a senior, leading the state … added 44 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and nine rushing touchdowns on 203 yards on the ground … after his senior season he was ranked the No. 12 quarterback prospect in the West by Scout.com, and the was a three-star recruit from Scout.com … he was also named one of the Denver Post’s top 15 seniors to watch … threw for 2,367 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior, along with 256 rushing yards and three touchdowns as he won his first North Conference Offensive Player of the Year award … Raptors went 8-4 during his junior season, 3-2 in the league … was honorable mention All-Tri-Valley Conference as a sophomore.
PERSONAL: His parents are Mike and Melissa Apodaca … has a sister Amanda, and a brother Andre … birthday is February 22, 1994 … Will major in liberal arts with an emphasis in physical education or special education.
TEVITA FONUA, OL, 6-2, 305 Oakland, Calif.
(Laney College/John F. Kennedy HS)
NEW MEXICO: Big physical offensive lineman who has been starting at guard for two seasons … should make an immediate impact in spring camp … projected to be a guard or center … has three years to play two.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Lettered for two seasons at Laney College, where he played for John Beam … helped anchor an offensive line that led the Eagles to the 2013 Bay Bowl title and an appearance in the 2014 Bulldog Bowl … helped Laney score an average of 34.4 points per game last season … helped Laney to a share of the CCCAA National – Valley title … in 2012 as a freshman his Eagle went 8-3 and won the Golden Gate Conference … in 2013 Laney averaged 410.5 yards per game, including 252.8 on the ground …. Averaged 38.2 points per game.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football at John F. Kennedy School.
PERSONAL: His parents are Sisi and Mele Fonua … has a brother Sonatane and a sister Ana … will be majoring in liberal arts … birthday is March 15, 1994.
RICHARD McQuarley, RB, 5-11, 215 Meridian, Miss.
(Itawamba CC/Meridian HS)
NEW MEXICO: Bruising running back who can initiate contact … will add to UNM’s already stable and talented group of running backs … put up big numbers in his lone JC season, and will have three seasons of eligibility with UNM … hoping to continue the strong lineage of football players from ICC, a list that includes Duce Staley, Joe Horn, Tim Bowes and Kareem Moore.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Lettered for one seasons at Itawamba Community College in Fulton, Mississippi, playing for head coach Sean Cannon … led the Indians in rushing with 1,243 yard on 213 carries over nine games … averaged a solid 5.8 yards per carry … scored eight touchdowns on the ground … was second on the team in receptions with 26, going for 257 yards … caught one touchdown pass … his 1,500 all-purpose yards, and 166.7 all purpose yards per game were more than triple any other member of the team … rushed for 100 yards in seven of his nine games, and he never rushed for less than 84 … had his best game in a 38-19 win over Northeast Mississippi Community College, rushing 22 times for 258 yards and three touchdowns, with a long of 53 yards … followed that up with three more TDs in his next game, and they were all needed in a 52-48 win over Mississippi Delta Community College … had 138 yards on 30 carries in that matchup … broke the 160-yard mark three times on the season in nine games.
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football at Meridian High School … helped Meridian to a 10-4 record as a senior … rushed for 1,203 yards on 190 carries with 16 touchdowns during his senior season … added 39 receptions out of the backfield for 498 yards and six more touchdowns … added 473 kickoff return yards and 158 punt return yards, including one kickoff return for an 82-yard touchdown … averaged 166.6 all-purpose yards per game … led team in rushing as a junior with 887 yards and eight touchdowns on 135 carries in only nine games … averaged 98.6 yards per game … had one receiving touchdown, eight catches, and 131 yards receiving.
PERSONAL: His mother is Sharon McQuarley … will major in liberal arts with an emphasis in physical education … birthday is January 17, 1995.