Jan. 6—New year, new Lobos.
New Mexico landed five commitments out of the transfer portal on Monday, the next wave of additions under head coach Jason Eck.
UNM has now signed or received commitments from 12 players after losing up to 17 in the portal. The fall transfer window closed for most teams on Dec. 28, but registered players can still commit to new programs over the coming weeks and months.
The Lobos’ latest commitments:
TE Dorian Thomas
Summary: Thomas, a 6-foot-5, 246-pound tight end, made two game appearances and did not record a statistic after suffering an undisclosed injury last season with Arizona. The Kent, Washington native was rated a three-star prospect out of Kentridge (Wash.) High School, and held portal offers from FIU and Georgia State.
Thomas has three years of eligibility remaining.
OL Mason Jones
Summary: Jones, a 6-6, 326-pound guard, allowed three sacks in 11 games (four starts) with Bucknell this season. The Franklin, Tennessee native notably won the program’s C. Dale Wolfe Recognition award, annually given to the Bison’s most inspirational player.
A grad 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 one 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 New Mexico State.
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, Calif. native was rated a three-star prospect out of St. John Bosco (Calif.) High School, and held portal offers from Kent State, Akron, Miami (OH) and Utah State.
Edwards has three years of eligibility remaining.
DE Xavier Slayton
Summary: Slayton, a 6-3, 242-pound defensive end, made 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, the 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.
“That’s something that can be dangerous about the portal,” Eck told the Journal after his introductory press conference on Dec. 17. “Sometimes it’s a one-week whirlwind romance … 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 will probably be guys who can help us here.
“So I think that’s an advantage. I think there’s also some advantages to FCS players that we saw and we knew were really high-level players. And the great thing about those guys is, when you move up a level, everything’s better than what you were 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)
