Lobos Ink 24 on National Signing Day
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — University of New Mexico head football coach Danny Gonzales had to put a staff together quickly, and they in turn had to hit the pavement to make the 2020 signing day class a reality.
Reality is an understatement. The staff hit the ground running and turned two tremendous official visit weekends into a signing day class of 24 on National Letter of Intent Day. True to his work, Gonzales went heavy on high school recruits, bringing in 22, along with one junior college recruit that has four years to play three, and a graduate transfer on the offensive line.
The Lobos were able to sign 11 student-athletes on offense and 12 on defense along with one athlete. On offense, Gonzales inked five to the offensive line, three receivers, two tight ends and a running back. Defensively, there are five linebackers, four defensive backs and three defensive linemen.
UNM did not sign anyone to the class in the early signing period of December 18-20. Gonzales was officially announced as head coach on December 17 at halftime of the Lobo-Grand Canyon basketball game and he was formally introduced to a packed press conference the next day on December 18.
Gonzales stated in that opening presser, and again in other interviews, that his goal was to build the program and classes back up with high school graduates, and he did just that with 19, including several from state title teams. He also felt that due to numbers, UNM would have to go heavy on young linemen on both sides of the ball, and eight of the 24 in the class (33%) are linemen, including both non-freshman signees.
“I’m really excited for this class of Lobos,” said Gonzales. “In proud of the hard work of our coaches and everyone at UNM. Our recruiting weekends were very positive for us, and there were a lot of people that helped make our new student-athletes feel at home and a part of our family. It’s a great day for Lobo Football, and for our school, city and state!”
Click on each name for bios of the complete 2020 signing class:
 Leke Asenuga OL | 6-2 | 306 | Fr | HS Richmond, Texas George Bush HS |
 Jer’Marques Bailey OL | 6-6 | 320 | Fr | HS Humble, Texas Atascocita HS |
 OJ Bartley DT | 6-2 | 275 | Fr | HS Stockton, Calif. Edison HS |
 Greg Brown II OL | 6-1 | 283 | Fr | HS Pearland, Texas Shadow Creek HS |
 Tavian CombsS | 6-2 | 190 | Fr | HS Amarillo, Texas Randall HS |
 Ben Davis OL | 6-3 | 317 | Sr | TR Elk Grove, Calif. Minnesota |
 Isaak Gutierrez OL | 6-2 | 317 | So | JC Chico, Calif. Butte College |
 Dion Hunter LB | 6-2 | 220 | Fr | HS Rio Rancho, N.M. Cleveland HS |
 Donald Jones CB | 6-0 | 163 | Fr | HS Baton Rouge, La. Broadmoor HS |
 Nathaniel Jones RB | 5-11 | 205 | Fr | HS Bellflower, Calif. St. John Bosco HS |
 Conner KinslowTE | 6-4 | 226 | Fr | HS Fulshear, Texas Obra D. Tompkins HS |
 Elijah Lash LB | 6-3 | 253 | Fr | HS Walnut Creek, Calif. Las Lomas HS |
 Ray Leutele LB | 5-11 | 214 | Fr | HS Anaheim, Calif. Mater Dei HS |
 Darius McCray ATH | 5-11 | 180 | Fr | HS Fresno, Calif. Washington Union HS |
 AJ Odums II CB | 5-11 | 150 | Fr | HS Houston, Texas Westfield HS |
 Quinn Potts S | 6-0 | 208 | Fr | HS Compton, Calif. Dominguez HS |
 Elijah Queen WR | 6-5 | 191 | Fr | HS Carson, Calif. Narbonne HS |
 Syaire RileyLB | 6-0 | 235 | Fr | HS Inglewood, Calif. Palisades HS |
 Bryce Santana DE | 6-3 | 260 | Fr | HS Los Lunas, N.M. Los Lunas HS |
 Ian Shewell DL | 6-3 | 236 | Fr | HS Gilbert, Ariz. Williams Field HS |
 Semaj Sims LB | 6-1 | 211 | Fr | HS Oakland, Calif. McClymonds HS |
 Jace Taylor WR | 6-5 | 197 | Fr | HS Lake Havasu, Ariz. Lake Havasu HS |
 Connor Witthoft TE | 6-3 | 212 | Fr | HS Tucson, Ariz. Salpointe Catholic HS |
 Bobby Wooden WR | 5-11 | 179 | Fr | HS Pearland, Texas Dawson HS |