Open Announce
University of New Mexico Lobos athletics
Dion Hunter - Football - University of New Mexico Lobos Athletics
Position

Linebacker

Height

6-2

Weight

241 lbs.

Class

RS-So.

Hometown

Rio Rancho, N.M.

Previous School

Cleveland HS

EXP

2VL-RS

Selected in 2021 and 2022 to wear No. 42, Bobby Santiago’s number.

2022 (Redshirt Sophomore Season): Saw action in the final nine games of the season, starting five games … finished the season with 69 tackles with a QB Hurry and a pass breakup … also added 2.0 sacks and 3.0 TFLs … finished fourth on the team in tackles with 69 tackles despite missing the opening three games of the season … had a pair of double-digit tackle games, including a career-best 13 tackles (four solos) against Fresno State along with a pass breakup … also had 12 tackles against Air Force … had nine tackles with a sack at Utah State … also had a pair of eight tackle games, which tied his freshman season best … had eight tackles with a sack and 1.5 TFLs against UNLV … added eight tackles against San Diego State … had five tackles three times, against LSU in his season debut, Wyoming and Colorado State.

2021 (Redshirt Freshman Season): Played in all 12 games, earning his first career start in the season finale against Utah State … was eighth on the team with 39 tackles, recording 1.0 sacks, 2.0 TFLs and three quarterback hurries … had a career-high eight tackles against Utah State in his first career start … opened the season with five tackles, which tied his then-career-high, adding his first career sack, this for nine yards … also had five tackles against Colorado State … had a TFL as part of a four-tackle game against UNLV … recorded quarterback hurries against Texas A&M, San Diego State and UNLV.

2020 (Freshman Season): Saw action in four games, earning a redshirt … recorded seven tackles and 0.5 TFLs … had a career-high five tackles against Hawai’i, and followed that up with a pair of tackles with a half-tackle for a loss against Nevada, before an injury sidelined him for much of the rest of the season … did return for the finale, and nearly registered a safety in the game.

High School:  Lettered at Cleveland High School for coach Heath Ridenour … named First Team All-State by the NMHSCA and First Team All-Metro by the Albuquerque Journal … also named First Team All-State by USA Today … helped Cleveland High to a state title as a freshman in 2015 and to a finals appearance in 2018 as a senior, going 12-1.

Personal: Birthday is September 16, 2000 … majoring in history.