Progress and Challenges So Far

Welcome to the seventh installment of our twelve-part series, where we provide an in-depth look at each team’s recruiting efforts leading up to National Letter of Intent (NLI) Day in February. Today, we’re focusing on New Mexico, a team that experienced both highs and lows this past season.

Season Recap:

New Mexico had a rocky start to the year, but by the end of the season, they were one of the most thrilling teams in the Mountain West Conference. Despite an 0-4 start, the Lobos managed to finish strong, ending the regular season with a 5-6 record and a chance at a bowl game. Although they fell short of that goal, they proved they were a dangerous opponent, with an offense that was among the best in the conference. However, the defense was a major issue, leading to many high-scoring games.

The team’s success was marred by the unexpected departure of first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who left to take the Utah State job. This created an influx of players entering the transfer portal, which threatened to undo much of the progress the Lobos made during the season. Despite the challenges, New Mexico has still managed to sign a few recruits, though changes in leadership have complicated the process.

Recruiting Journey So Far:

New Mexico has never been considered a destination program in college football, and recruiting has often taken a backseat to other priorities. Under Coach Mendenhall, recruiting did not seem to be a top focus. The Lobos handed out offers throughout the year, but they did not secure their first verbal commit until late November. Initially, the team signed ten players, but due to the coaching change, only seven remain as of this writing. Roughly half of these signees are junior college players, with the rest being high school recruits. New Mexico focused its efforts primarily in California and Utah, with a few players from Arizona joining the class.

On offense, there is only one remaining player on that side of the ball, a junior college running back, Takeshi Faupula, who will join the team for the spring semester. He is expected to provide depth following the loss of their starting running back.

On defense, the Lobos made a concerted effort to bolster the secondary, though this has been impacted by the recent coaching change. Defensive line recruit Solo Langi, a JUCO transfer, will help strengthen one of the team’s weakest areas. He will be joined by edge players James Marshall V from Arizona and Jackson Irwin, an experienced recruit known for his length. Tydon Jones, a linebacker with good size, will also join the team. The two standout recruits of the class are defensive backs Abe Jager, likely a cornerback, and Chris Joe, who is expected to play safety.

Recruiting Overview:

• Number of players signed in December: 7
• Number of players enrolling early: 1
• 247 Composite Rankings (subject to change):
  • Overall ranking: 161st
  • Recruiting ranking: 161st
  • Transfer ranking: N/A

The Road Ahead:

Key Remaining Targets: QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, LB, DB

Even before the coaching change and the departure of several players, New Mexico had a long way to go in terms of recruiting. With the smallest number of signees in the Mountain West, the Lobos have significant holes to fill on both sides of the ball. They are in desperate need of talent at virtually every position, making any recruit they can sign a welcome addition.

Offensively, the Lobos face major losses, including their starting quarterback, running back, wide receivers, and offensive linemen. Defensively, the team needed help before considering the players who have transferred out. The program is in dire need of an influx of talent, and much of this will depend on the hiring of a new head coach. At the time of this writing, New Mexico has yet to hire a coach, which leaves the team in a bit of limbo.

However, there is a silver lining for the future coach: the Lobos’ roster is far from set, offering immediate playing time to potential transfers who could help turn things around. Expect New Mexico to be active in the transfer portal, and with the right moves, the team should look drastically different by February’s signing day.

Despite the challenges ahead, New Mexico has the opportunity to rebuild and turn a new page. For the right recruits and transfers, the Lobos’ turnaround could happen sooner than expected.

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