We’ve been following it all year long, and finally Super
Wednesday is here! Yes it is signing day for the University of New Mexico
football team and UNM has made good on 22 of their scholarship offers.
What is amazing about this class as we found out in our
interview with Coach Long last week is that the majority of young men that
visited UNM signed with UNM! It is well over 80% of the visitors committed and
of those 100% signed on the dotted line!
The University of New Mexico under Coach Rocky Long, and his
group of assistants worked hard last year bringing the Lobos to an 8-4 regular
season record capped off by a resounding victory over Nevada in the New Mexico
Bowl on national TV. To the victor goes the spoils, so Lobo fans here is the
benefits and hard work by this staff!
Lobo fans the 2008 Lobo football recruiting class (Thank you
golobos.com for the list and bios)
RECRUITING CLASS BIOS
Edrick Boger.....DB.....5-11.....170.....Fr-HS
Dallas, Texas (North Mesquite HS)
North Mesquite's Defensive Back of the Year…name is pronounced ED-rick
BOW-ger…played free safety and cornerback, defending against the
opponents' best receiver…6 interceptions, one returned for a 45-yard
TD…also 2 blocked field goals and finished third on the team in
tackles…led the Stallions to their first playoff appearance in five
years…played for head coach Mike Robinson…a sprinter in track,
advancing to regionals in the 200 as a junior…PERSONAL…born Oct. 19,
1989, in Dallas…age is 18…full name is Edrick Jahlil Boger…son of Erick
Boger and Michelle Arnold…cousin is Andrea Riley, a sophomore guard for
the Oklahoma State women's basketball team and one of 20 midseason
candidates for the John R. Wooden Award…Edrick interested in Computer
Engineering, business or multimedia at UNM…really interested in
graphics.
A.J. Butler.....RB.....6-1.....195.....Fr-HS
St. Petersburg, Fla. (St. Petersburg Catholic HS)
Honorable mention all-conference running back as a senior, rushing
93 times for 768 yards and 9 TDs…added 319 yards and 6 TDs as
receiver…also played linebacker and safety for head coach Tod
Creneti…selected to play in the Pinellas County All-Star
game…participating in track (sprints, high jump) for the Barons as
well…PERSONAL…born Nov. 26, 1989, in St. Petersburg…age is 18…full name
is Alan Joseph Butler…son of Alphonso and Sharon…older brother, Martin Teal, was a wide receiver at Troy, completing his eligibility in
2006…A.J. is interested in Architectural Engineering at UNM.
Jake Carr.....DL.....6-3.....240.....Fr-HS
Murrieta, Calif. (Vista Murrieta HS)
Three-year starter on the defensive line and an all-state defensive
tackle as a senior…the defensive MVP in the Southwestern League and for
Riverside County last fall…posted 94 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 11
sacks and 10 hurries for head coach Coley Candaele…had 13 tackles two
times…also saw time at full back and tight end…the Broncos finished
11-1, falling to Corona Santiago HS in the state quarterfinals…also
throws the shot put…PERSONAL…born March 7, 1990, in Portland, Ore…age
is 17…full name is Jacob William Russell Carr…son of Bill and Kate…dad
played offensive tackle at Portland State in the early 1980s…undecided
on a major, but possibly History.
Ben Contreras.....OL.....6-2.....300..…Jr-Tr
Pleasanton, Calif. (City College of San Francisco)
Transfer who enrolled at UNM in January…All-America offensive
lineman for the junior college national champions…the Rams finished
12-1, including a 31-28 victory over Mt. San Antonio in the California
State championship game…it’s CCSF’s fifth national championship…played
for head coach George Rush…has a redshirt year available…HIGH SCHOOL…a
2005 graduate of Amador Valley HS in Pleasanton…two-year letterman for
head coach Rick Sira…the Dons were 12-1 and conference his senior
season…favorite sports memory came in high school when he recovered a
fumble (on a quarterback sneak) in the end zone for a touchdown…also
lettered in wrestling…PERSONAL…born June 3, 1987, in Pleasanton…age is
20..full name is Benjamin Leon Contreras.
Nathan Enriquez.....DB.....5-10.....180.....Fr-HS
Las Cruces, N.M. (Mayfield HS)
Versatile performer who was first team all-state at wide receiver
and defensive back…also played running back, quarterback and he punted
last fall for the 3-time state champion Trojans…Mayfield, 39-1 from
2005-07, finished 12-1 and beat Clovis 49-48 in overtime to win the
2007 title…27 receptions for 607 yards and 10 TDs…a team-high 7
interceptions, one returned for a TD in the win over Clovis…2 punt
returns for TDs, a 22-yard average on kickoff returns and a 39-yard
punting average…prep teammate Freddy Young also signed with UNM… played
for head coach Michael Bradley…current Lobo receiver Chris Hernandez
graduated from Mayfield in 2006…also a pitcher and catcher for the
baseball team… PERSONAL…born Feb. 10, 1990, in El Paso…age is 18…full
name is Nathan Gonzalo Enriquez III…son of Jimmy and Nora…undecided
about a major.
Karlin Givens.....OL.....6-3.....295.....Jr-Tr
Ridgeland, Miss. (Holmes CC)
Transfer who enrolled at UNM in January…has a redshirt year
available…spent the past two years at Community College in Goodman,
Miss…honorable mention all-state offensive tackle for the Bulldogs in
2007…selected to play in the Mississippi Junior College North-South
all-state game…played for head coach Danny Robertson…HIGH SCHOOL…a 2006
graduate of Ridgeland (Miss.) HS…a three-year letterman in football and
basketball…two-time first team all-Madison County for head coach Kenny
Burton…also all-district in basketball for the Titans as a junior and
senior…PERSONAL…born July 1, 1988, in Ridgeland…age is 19…full name is
Karlin D’Andre Givens…son of Carl and Jennifer…majoring in Criminology
and would like to be an FBI agent.
Tray Hardaway.....LB.....6-0.....215.....Jr-Tr
Olive Branch, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
Junior college linebacker who will enroll at UNM in the
summer…all-state and all-Region XXIII linebacker last fall for
Copiah-Lincoln CC, which is located in Wesson, Mississippi…posted 90
tackles, 16 hurries, 7 sacks and 4 forced fumbles for head coach Glenn Davis…the Wolfpack finished 9-3 in 2006, including a 21-0 victory over
Georgia Military College in the Golden Isles Bowl Classic…former Lobos
Daniel Gawronski and Sidney Wiley (2002 recruiting class) and current
Lobo DeAndre Davis (2007 class) also attended Copiah-Lincoln…HIGH
SCHOOL…a 2006 graduate of Bastrop (Miss.) HS…led Bastrop to a perfect
15-0 record and the 4A state championship as a senior…limited to seven
games his senior season due to a torn right ACL…still had 114 tackles,
5 sacks and 4 forced fumbles for head coach Brad Bradshaw…also competed
in powerlifting…PERSONAL…born Dec. 7, 1986, in Memphis, Tenn…age is
21…full name is Devin Datray Hardaway…son of Charlotte …undecided about
a major.
Joe Harris.....LB.....6-2.....215.....Fr-HS
Denver, Colo. (George Washington HS)
All-state linebacker last fall when he totaled 139 tackles, 14
sacks, 6 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries…a
three-year starter at linebacker and running back for head coach Steve
Finesilver…returned 2 interceptions and a fumble for TDs…also 1,300
yards rushing…first Lobo signee from the state of Colorado since former
Lobo Luke Walters (ThunderRidge HS) in 2005…former Lobo Kevin Walton
(2000 signee and 4-year letterman from 2001-04) also attended George
Washington…the Colorado 5A state triple jump champ as a junior, helping
the Patriots to the team title…a 3.7 cumulative GPA…PERSONAL…born Jan.
1, 1990, in Miami, Fla…age is 18...full name is Joseph Alexander
Harris…son of David and Renee…distant cousin of James Mungro, who
played running back for the Indianapolis Colts from 2002-06…Joe is
interested in digital applications, graphic arts or animation after
college.
B.R. Holbrook.....QB.....6-3.....175.....Fr-HS
Stevenson Ranch, Calif. (Hart HS)
All-C.I.F. quarterback who completed 165-of-280 passes (59%) for
2,656 yards, 25 TDs and only 6 interceptions last fall for the
Indians…also gained 739 yards rushing on 151 carries with 6 TDs…first
team all-Foothill Conference pick, team offensive MVP and team
captain…Hart finished 12-1-1 with the only loss coming against Ventura
St. Bonaventure (42-28) in the Div. 1 Southern Section championship
game…best performance was in a 49-13 victory over Golden Valley when he
was 15-of-16, no interceptions, 325 yards and 4 TDs…played for head
coach Mike Herrington…will also be a 4-year letterman in lacrosse,
playing the attack position…same hometown as Lobo women’s basketball
player Brandi Kimble…PERSONAL…born Nov. 22, 1989, in Tarzana, Calif…age
is 18…full name is Brent Robert Holbrook…son of Gary and Janet…father
is a policeman with the Los Angeles Police Department…oldest sister,
Stacey, played volleyball at Washington State…B.R. is interested in
medicine.
Mark Hunter.....DL.....6-2.....235.....Fr-HS
Spring, Texas (Klein Oak HS)
First team District 16-5A defensive end last year when he racked up
a team-high 100 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hurries, 3
sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries…is also a deep
snapper…the Panthers finished 10-2 and advanced to the second round of
the playoffs…a three-year starter for head coach David Smith…PERSONAL…born May 14, 1990, in Houston…age is 17…full name is
Mark Andrew Hunter…son of Gerhart and Mary…father is a
geologist…father's cousin, David Marshall, played defensive tackle at
SMU during the "Pony Express" days in the early 1980s…older brother,
Matt, will be a junior at TCU in 2008, but he does not play
football…Mark is interested in Geology as a major…his goal is to "find
oil."
Rufus Johnson.....DL.....6-5.....230.....Fr-HS
Dallas, Texas (Spruce HS)
First team District 13-4A pick last fall for head coach Melvin
Lark…team captain who had 82 tackles, 13 sacks and 2 fumble
recoveries…clocked at 4.65 in the 40…Spruce was 8-4 last season,
falling in the second round of the state playoffs…also played tight end
for the Timberwolves as a junior, catching 13 passes…member of the "B"
Honor Roll…PERSONAL…born Aug. 28, 1990, in Mesquite, Texas…age is
17…full name is Rufus Johnson Jr…son of Rufus and Sandra…father, who is
a police officer for the Dallas Transit, lettered in football at Texas Tech in 1983…mother is a Special Education teacher…has two younger
brothers and a younger sister…interested in Criminal Justice as a
major…would like to be a police officer.
Ty Kirk.....WR.....6-2.....180.....Fr-HS
Arlington Heights, Ill. (Rolling Meadows HS)
All-state receiver who had 37 catches for 552 yards and 5 TDs last
fall for this Chicago-area school…Kirk scored 7 TDs on the season,
including one rushing and one on a punt return…had 241 yards in kickoff
and punt returns as a senior…the Mustangs went 9-2 last fall…a
three-year starter for head coach Doug Millsaps…also played
cornerback…a four-year letterman for the basketball team and an
accomplished performer in track…all-state in the triple jump, and he
finished 7th nationally at a Junior Olympics meet last summer with a
leap of 48-6 1/2…PERSONAL…born Nov. 20, 1989, in Hoffman Estates,
Ill…age is 18…full name is Tynell Limuel Kirk…son of Cheri Kirk…would
like to be a chef after playing days are over…interest in cooking
originates from a 7th-grade Home Economics class, and he’s taken
cooking classes in high school.
Jonathan Mader.....QB.....6-4.....200.....Fr-HS
Albuquerque, N.M. (Cibola HS)
Honorable mention all-state quarterback who led Cibola to a 10-2
season…the Cougars fell to eventual state champ Las Cruces Mayfield in
the semifinals…district and metro player of the year, completing 87 of
167 passes for 1,654 yards and 22 TDs, and just 8 interceptions…also
501 rushing yards and 4 TDs…1,650 yards passing and 19 TDs and 431
rushing and 7 TDs his junior season…played for head coach Judge
Chavez…a four-year letterman for the basketball team and he throws the
javelin in track…older brother Josh played baseball at UNM from 2002-04
while cousins Jeff (football/baseball) and Tim Grady (baseball) were
Lobos as well…PERSONAL…born Feb. 22, 1990, in Albuquerque…age is
18…full name is Jonathan Robert Mader…son of Andy Mader and Deanna
Clark…undecided on a major.
Andre McQueen.....WR.....5-11.....175.....Fr-HS
Dallas, Texas (Pinkston HS)
First team District 14-4A selection at wide receiver last fall when
he had 42 catches for 853 yards and 10 TDs…was a two-year starter for
the Vikings and head coach James Argenti…played centerfield for four
years and in a member of the National Honor Society…PERSONAL…born April
30, 1990, in Dallas…age is 17…full name is Andre McQueen Jr…son of
Glenda Roy…has been interested in music since the sixth grade…enjoys
writing rap and R&B lyrics.
Maurice Mears.....OL.....6-4.....295.....Soph-Tr
Miami, Fla. (Rock Valley College)
Transfer who will enroll at UNM this summer, and he’ll have three
years of eligibility remaining at UNM…listed as the nation’s 8th-best
junior college offensive line prospect by Rivals.com…spent last fall at
Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., where he was a second team
all-conference offensive tackle…also the Golden Eagles' team MVP…played
for head coach Jeremy Warren…signed with Alcorn State out of high
school and was a redshirt during the 2006-07 academic year…HIGH
SCHOOL…a 2006 graduate of Miami (Fla.) Carol City HS…a two-year starter
at offensive tackle for head coach Walt Frazier…all-district as a
senior…Carol City was 6A state champs Mears' sophomore season…also
played basketball two years and was a member of the school's Honor
Roll…PERSONAL…born Oct. 8, 1987, in Miami…age is 20…full name is
Maurice Hilary Mears…son of Hilary and Olivia…mom is a third-grade
teacher…has a 1-year-old sister, Chania…Maurice is interested in sports
management.
Spencer Merritt.....LB.....6-2.....205.....Fr-HS
Aurora, Ill. (Waubonsie Valley HS)
First team all-state performer in Class 8A last fall for a high
school west of Chicago…also Rivals.com all-state pick, logging 122
tackles in 10 games…defensive MVP of the conference for the Warriors
and head coach Paul Murphy…a two-year starter on defense and he also
played tight end as a junior…PERSONAL…born Oct. 23, 1989, in
Barrington, Ill…age is 18…full name is David Allen Spencer Merritt…son
of David and Isabella…father is a corporate attorney…older brother,
Charles, will be a sophomore defensive tackle at St. Cloud (Minn.)
State in 2008…Spencer is interested in Political Science at UNM…has
ambitions of working in government law enforcement.
Lucas Reed.....TE.....6-6.....215.....Fr-HS
Tucson, Ariz. (Sabino HS)
Prep standout who led all Arizona high school tight ends with 41
receptions for 761 yards and 7 TDs in 2007…first team all-state pick by
the Arizona Republic…also had 36 tackles and 2 sacks from his defensive
end position…a real late bloomer as Reed was just 6-2 and 185 pounds
entering his junior season…the Sabercats were a perfect 10-0 in the
regular season before losing to Prescott 34-28 in the first round of
the 4A playoffs…played for head coach Jay Campos…was on the wrestling
team in 2006 and '07, and currently competes in the shot put, discus,
long jump and 200 meters for the track team…older brother, Brooks, will
be a sophomore defensive end at the University of Arizona in 2008…the
Wildcats play in Albuquerque Sept. 15, 2008…PERSONAL…born Jan. 29,
1989, in Tucson…age is 19…full name is Lucas George Reed…son of Bob and
Kathleen Reed…interested in Computer Science, Business or Architecture
at UNM.
Carmeiris Stewart.....WR.....6-3.....190.....Fr-HS
Apopka, Fla. (Apopka HS)
All-district (6A-4) receiver last fall when he had 25 receptions
for 510 yards and 4 TDs…first name is pronounced car-MEAR-us…played in
the Florida Athletic Coaches Association North-South all-star
game…former Lobo OJ Swift and current UNM linebacker Herbert Felder are
also Apopka High grads… the Blue Darters finished 12-2 in 2007, falling
to Orlando Boone in the regional finals…played for head coach Rick
Darlington…Stewart also participates in track (400 meters, long and
triple jump)…PERSONAL…born June 25, 1989, in Richmond, Va…age is
18…full name is Carmeiris Marcel Stewart…son of Carl and Rocinda…father
is a lieutenant colonel in the Army and served in Iraq…the family has
lived in Virginia, Germany, Colorado, Michigan and Florida…interested
in Mechanical Engineering or Business Marketing at UNM.
Joe Stoner.....DB.....5-11.....215.....Fr-HS
Midwest City, Okla. (Carl Albert HS)
First team all-state safety last year, totaling 86 tackles and 3
interceptions on defense…recognized by the Jim Thorpe Foundation as one
of the state’s top defensive backs…550 rushing yards and 14 TDs on
offense…the Titans finished 10-2, losing to Bixby 37-31 in the second
round of the state playoffs…played for head coach Gary Rose…also a
three-year letterman in basketball and a four-year letterwinner for the
track team…placed 7th in the long jump at the state meet as a
sophomore…member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the
Principal’s Honor Roll…PERSONAL…born Sept. 13, 1989, in Oklahoma City,
Okla…age is 18…full name is Joseph Antoine Brion Stoner…son of Shanae
(sha-NAY)…Joe is interested in Sports Medicine at UNM…would like to
work in athletic training or therapy.
Joshua Taufalele.....OL.....6-2.....320.....Jr-Tr
San Jose, Calif. (Foothill College)
Junior college offensive lineman who enrolled at UNM in January…has
a redshirt year available…last name is pronounced tau-fuh-LAY-LAY…spent
the past two seasons at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif.,
where he was a first team all-league and all-California offensive guard
for head coach Doug Boyett…the Owls finished 10-1 and 5th in the junior
college national rankings in 2006 and 10-1 and 4th nationally in
’07…HIGH SCHOOL…a 2006 graduate of Independence High in San
Jose…three-time all league for the 76ers, including the Most
Outstanding Lineman award as a senior…also on the Honor
Roll…PERSONAL…born Sept. 28, 1988, in San Jose…age is 19…full name is
Joshua Alexander Taufalele…son of Dave Taufalele…Joshua is majoring in
Sociology with a minor in Psychology…interested in coaching and being a
counselor.
Bryant Williams.....WR.....5-11.....180.....Soph-Tr
Edina, Minn. (Coffeyville CC)
Transfer from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College who enrolled at
UNM in January…a redshirt in 2006 so Williams has three years of
eligibility remaining at UNM…a team-high 14 catches for 192 yards and 1
TD for the run-oriented Red Ravens in 2007…also 2 rushes for 36 yards,
and he returned punts and kickoffs…played for head coach Jeff
Leiker…HIGH SCHOOL…a 2006 graduate of Edina (Minn.) HS, a suburb of
Minneapolis…all-conference receiver as a senior for head coach Kim
Nelson…also played cornerback and he lettered in
basketball…PERSONAL…born March 14, 1988, in Fort Wayne, Ind…age is
19…full name is Bryant Turnell Williams…son of Bobby Williams…Bryant is
interested in Computer Science at UNM.
Freddy Young.....DB.....5-11.....180.....Fr-HS
Las Cruces, N.M. (Mayfield HS)
First team all-state defensive back and second team all-state
receiver last fall for the state champion Mayfield Trojans…the son of
former Seattle Seahawks (1984-87) and Indianapolis Colts (1988-90)
linebacker Fredd Young…the older Young played at New Mexico State from
1980-83 and in the NFL for seven seasons…Freddy had 6 interceptions - 2
for TDs - from his cornerback position, plus 42 catches for 506 yards
and 3 TDs as a receiver…Mayfield, 39-1 over the past three seasons,
finished 12-1 and beat Clovis 49-48 in overtime to win the 2007
title…prep teammate Nathan Enriquez also signed with UNM…current Lobo
receiver Chris Hernandez also graduated from Mayfield…played for head
coach Michael Bradley…also pitches for the baseball team…PERSONAL…born
Aug. 10, 1990, in Las Cruces…age is 17…full name is Freddy Kimball
Young…son of Fredd and Terry.
|