January 6 – New year, new Lobos.
New Mexico landed five commitments in the transfer portal Monday, the next wave of additions under head coach Jason Eck.
UNM has now signed or received commitments from 12 players after losing as many as 17 in the portal. The fall transfer window closed for most teams on December 28, but registered players can still commit to new programs in the coming weeks and months.
The Lobos’ latest commitments:
TE Dorian Thomas
Summary: Thomas, a 6-foot-5, 246-pound tight end, played in two games and did not record any statistics after suffering an undisclosed injury last season with Arizona. The Kent, Wash., native was a three-star at Kentridge (Washington) High School and held portal offers from FIU and Georgia State.
Thomas has three years of eligibility remaining.
Mason Jones of OL
Summary: Jones, a 6-6, 326-pound guard, allowed three sacks in 11 games (four starts) with Bucknell this season. Notably, the Franklin, Tenn., native won the program’s C. Dale Wolfe Recognition Award, given annually to the Bison’s most inspirational player.
A graduate transfer, Jones has one year of eligibility remaining.
TE Keayen Nead
Summary: Nead, a 6-5, 230-pound tight end, caught nine passes for 60 yards and a touchdown in 12 games with Weber State last season. The Sugar Hill, Idaho native also held offers from Tulsa, Kent State, Idaho, Kennesaw State, Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan and State of New Mexico.
Nead has two years of eligibility remaining.
CB Frankie Edwards III
Summary: Edwards, a 5-11, 175-pound cornerback, made 25 total tackles and had one interception – returned for a 95-yard touchdown – in 12 games with Weber State last season. The Bellflower, CA native was a three-star at St. John Bosco (CA) High School and held portal offers from Kent State, Akron, Miami (OH) and State from Utah.
Edwards has three years of eligibility remaining.
BY Xavier Slayton
Summary: Slayton, a 6-3, 242-pound defensive end, had 31 total tackles with four sacks and six tackles for loss in 14 games for Idaho last season. The Crete, Illinois native also finished with 18 quarterback pressures, fourth-most on the team.
Slayton also held a portal offer from Kent State and has two years of eligibility remaining. He is the sixth former Vandal to follow Eck to UNM.
“This is something that can be dangerous with the portal,” Eck told the Journal after his introductory press conference on Dec. 17. “Sometimes it’s a whirlwind romance of a week… the guys (we know) and who played well — (who) entered the portal — (if) they played well against Wyoming, (if ) they played well against Oregon, (you) kinda know those guys are probably going to be guys that can help us out here.
“So I think that’s an advantage. I think there’s also some advantages to the FCS players that we saw that we knew were very high level players. And that’s good with these guys, it’s that when you go up a level, everything is better than what you think you’re used to,” he laughed.
Other incoming transfers – QB Jack Layne (Idaho) – WR Keagan Johnson (Kansas State) – OL Jaxton Eck (Idaho) – RB Deshaun Buchanan (Idaho) – TE Aiden Valdez (Campbell) – OL Kaden Robnett (Idaho) – DB Abraham Williams (Idaho)
