Gonzales nets five additions for UNM football
On Wednesday, New Mexico Football announced five additions to its 2023 signing class as part of National Signing Day. Three players were offensive line transfers from the junior college and FCS ranks while the other two were high school freshmen.
UNM football coach Danny Gonzales added five more players Wednesday to his signing class of 2023.
(Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)
“Really happy to have filled the class, being very intent on filling in the gaps and bringing in not just great players but great students,” New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales said in a statement. “The competition we will have for playing time and reps will benefit us greatly as we head into 2023.”
Wednesday’s signers expand the Lobos’ class of 2023 to 34 players in total, with the possibility of further additions through the spring transfer window. Of those commits, 10 are prep recruits, 12 are college transfers, and 12 are Division I transfers.
Hunter Wiggins, a three-star safety from San Diego, was the highest-ranked Lobos rookie to commit on national signing day. Wiggins recorded 51 tackles and four interceptions as a senior at Lincoln High School while courting interest from Indiana, Colorado and Arizona.
Houston cornerback Edward Blacklock also signed with the Lobos. Blacklock recorded 44 tackles and two interceptions as a senior at Klein Forest High School and marks the eighth new player to join the New Mexico high school after seven players left through the transfer portal.
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After adding just two offensive linemen so far, the Lobos picked up three from the JUCO and FCS ranks. JUCO transfers Reese Steele and Ikani Tuiono join New Mexico with three years of eligibility remaining while FCS transfer Sam Telesa comes to the program with two years of eligibility.
Steele is Iowa Central Community College’s second commitment, joining wide receiver DJ Washington. In two seasons with the Tritons, Steele earned All-Conference honors from the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference and was a National Junior College Athletic Association Honorable Mention All-American following the 2022 season.
Tuiono spent his freshman season at Snow College before transferring to Independence Community College. He earned honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference honors in his only year with the Pirates in 2022 and was ranked the eighth best transfer JUCO lineman, according to 24/7sports.com.
Rounding out the class, Talesa started 16 games in four seasons with Georgetown and earned three Patriot League varsity team honors.
The Lobos are scheduled to start spring training on February 14 and will have their spring game on March 6.