Returning Starters (1): Donte Martin
Starters Lost (1): Corey Hightower
Other Letterwinners Returning (1): A.J. Odums,
Other Letterwinners Lost (2): Tony Collier, Nic Wilson
Redshirts Returning (1): Andrell Barney
Squad Members Returning (0): None
Incoming Freshmen (1): Zach Morris
Incoming Transfers (2): Hunter Sellers, Josh Williamson
Lydia Alvarado Photo
There might not a ton of cornerbacks on the Lobo roster, but boy is there talent. In fact, this might be the most talented group yet for Danny Gonzales, and you can probably go back a few years too.
Donte Martin is the dean of the corners, having played in 30 games over four seasons, and he still has a COVID super senior year available to him. Martin played in 10 games last year with nine starts and overall has started 26 games. He very well could end up breaking the Lobo record for games played, which is 52, by Aaron Jenkins, and he has a shot at tying or breaking the games started record, which is 50, also by Jenkins.
Martin owns 20 PBUs for his career, the most on the current roster, and he could move into the top 10 for a career this year. He affords corners coach Troy Reffett a luxury of knowing what he’s got on half of the field. On the other side, it will be some untested by highly touted players vying for spots. A.J. Odums proved as a true freshmen that he couldn’t be kept off the field, and he turned in a lockdown performance against Texas A&M and will get the first shot out of the gate. He is joined by three other newcomers in true freshmen Zach Morris, and transfers Hunter Sellers and Josh Williamson.
Morris was the revelation of camp, quickly picking up Rocky Long’s defense and showing that he could be a star in the making. Sellers brings big experience after a year at Pitt, and he has Lobo blood in his veins as his brother Trent was a stellar defensive lineman for UNM. Williamson has shown great coverage and tackling ability, giving UNM plenty of options.
The other returner is Andrell Barney, who redshirted last year but saw action in four games on special teams. There, he showed his deft tackling ability, twice taking down Texas A&M punt returners with solo stops. Barney just adds to UNM’s depth at corner, and those six should give opposing teams fits in the pass and run games.
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Fans can lock in season tickets for the 2022 season, which starts on Saturday, September 3 at 6 pm against Maine by heading to www.golobos.com/2022FBSeasonTix. Single game tickets are on sale as well at www.golobos.com/SGT.