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Draft Scout College Football Player News: New Mexico

Previous 15 Notes

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08/12/22 - Noah Avinger, rJr/2026, New Mexico + More +

San Diego State cornerbacks Noah Avinger and Dallas Branch were warming up before last year's game against Nevada when, within the span of a few minutes, both players suffered the same freak injury - a dislocated left shoulder. That didn't preclude either of them from playing but did require repair after the season. So two days after SDSU beat UTSA in the Frisco Bowl and two days before Christmas, both players had shoulder surgery. "Dallas went right before me," Avinger said. "The surgery went well, our training staff got us right back on the field, great treatment and I feel like I never left." Branch had a similarly successful recovery.

Rehabilitation prevented them from participating in spring camp, but both Avinger and Branch are good to go now. Avinger, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Cerritos, and Branch, a 5-11 senior from Redondo Beach, are locked in one of the more intense competitions of preseason camp. "Since I've been here, we've always had the one alpha coming back," SDSU cornerbacks coach Demetrius Sumler said. "The guy who was clearly the best player in the room, an all-conference-caliber player. "We don't have that guy we know is the guy right now, but I think we've got a pretty talented room. If we keep working, we're going to be good." - San Diego Union Tribune

rJr/2026

FS Noah Avinger, New Mexico
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
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08/10/22 - Jerrick Reed II, rSr/2023, New Mexico + More +

Shortly after safeties Jerrick Reed II and Tavian Combs were told that they were the University of New Mexico's top tacklers during a media interview, Reed immediately offered a correction. "Stop," Reed said in a playful tone. "I was the top tackler." Reed recorded 89 total tackles, 54 unassisted after playing every game for the 3-9 Lobos. Combs, in his second year, finished with 81 total tackles, 40 unassisted. He played in 11 of 12 games. The two safeties know they will be expected to make just as many tackles this season, which began with practices on Friday and Saturday. To prepare for the role, Combs added 20 pounds of muscle during the offseason. "It's the standard," Reed said of the safeties making tackles in Rocky Long's 3-3-5 defense. "People look at you to be that guy, you have to be that guy. You can't slack off because everybody will notice. Every day you gotta come in and work hard. Have the right mind-set, film study, eat right, take care of your body so that you can stay on top of your game and be that guy when your play is called."

Reed, a preseason All-Mountain West Conference pick for the second straight season, arrived at UNM in 2019, when the Lobos struggled mightily against the pass, the deep ball especially. The Lobos allowed 321.4 yards passing yards per game and ranked 130th and last in the Football Bowl Subdivision. But in 2021, UNM allowed 219.8 passing yards per game to rank 54th, its best passing defense since 2010 when the unit was ranked 53rd at 218.8 yards per game. "It's been night and day for sure," Reed said. "It was bad then, it's good now and we're gonna be better when the season comes." - Albuquerque Journal

rSr/2023

SS Jerrick Reed II, New Mexico
News Source: Albuquerque Journal
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08/03/22 - Luke Wysong, rJr/2026, New Mexico + More +

2022 PRESEASON PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST: Luke Wysong, New Mexico,...Wysong led the Lobos and all Mountain West freshmen in 2021 in receiving yards, catches, kickoff returns and punt returns, and could very well lead the way in 2022 as well. Wysong added around 15 pounds of muscle in the off-season and is still one of the fastest players in the league, starring in the 60-yard dash at the Mountain West Indoor Championships. - New Mexico Football

rJr/2026

WR Luke Wysong, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico Football
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07/26/22 - Jerrick Reed II, rSr/2023, New Mexico + More +

For the first time in five years the University of New Mexico football team has at least two players on the preseason all-Mountain West team. Senior safety Jerrick Reed II and punter Aaron Rodriguez were both named to the 27-player team. The 2017 Lobos had three players named all-MWC. Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener is the preseason offensive player of the year. The pick for the defense is shared by San Jose State defensive lineman Cade Hall and San Diego State defensive back Patrick McMorris. - Santa Fe New Mexican

rSr/2023

SS Jerrick Reed II, New Mexico
News Source: Santa Fe New Mexican
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07/13/22 - Dylan Hopkins, rSr/2024, New Mexico + More +

With offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent calling the shots this season, UAB's offense has the potential to be aggressive while maintaining its powerful and time-consuming rushing attack. Regardless of who takes the snaps, they should flourish with an experienced offensive line, a productive running back duo and one of the nation's best deep threats on the outside. Dylan Hopkins missed the entire 2020 season but returned with a vengeance last year, usurping Tyler Johnston III, following a minor injury to the latter, and leading the Blazers to within inches of another C-USA west division title. The redshirt junior threw at a 66 percent clip, amassing 2,274 yards, 18 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also scored five times on the ground and threw a 14-yard game-winning touchdown to Trea Shropshire to upend BYU in the Independence Bowl. - Birmingham Post Herald

rSr/2024

QB Dylan Hopkins, New Mexico
News Source: Birmingham Post Herald
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06/03/22 - Tirek Austin-Cave, rSr/2025, New Mexico + More +

Name, Image and Likeness dominates many conversations in college athletics today, but still some are more focused on playing time than short-term profit. Sophomore linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave is transferring from Miami to West Virginia with the hope of earning more playing time in Morgantown than he did at UM. He had been primarily used on special teams in his two years with the Hurricanes. He hopes to receive regular reps at middle linebacker with the Mountaineers. "I didn't want to go somewhere just to add depth," said the Camden (N.J.) High graduate. "If I just wanted to add depth, I would have stayed where I was, soaking up as much NIL money as I could. "For me, it wasn't about the money. It was about going to the best situation where I could play, help the program and help myself. I felt like West Virginia was the best fit for that, a place I can play right away." Miami is one of the athletic departments out front in the current NIL world.

South Florida billionaire and UM grad John Ruiz is the leading force behind a group of Hurricane boosters paying Miami student-athletes substantial money for NIL deals. Austin-Cave recently told the MetroNews Statewide Sportsline that he received "$40,000" in NIL money while at UM. "I could have stayed around for that, but that wasn't my thought process," he noted. Instead Austin-Cave is more concerned about seeing game action. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2025

ILB Tirek Austin-Cave, New Mexico
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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05/17/22 - Tirek Austin-Cave, rSr/2025, New Mexico + More +

Last week, linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave revealed his intention to transfer from Miami (Florida) to West Virginia. On Monday, WVU confirmed the official signing of the 6-foot-1, 225-pound sophomore. A native of Pennsauken, New Jersey, Austin-Cave is the ninth transfer from a Division I college to sign with the Mountaineers as part of their class of 2022. Running back Lyn-J Dixon (Clemson), defensive back Marcis Floyd (Murray State), placekicker Parker Grothaus (Florida State), defensive lineman Zeiqui Lawton (Cincinnati) and tight end Brian Polendey all enrolled at WVU in January and went through spring practice with coach Neal Brown's program.

A three-star prospect coming out of Camden (New Jersey) High School, Austin-Cave picked Miami over an offer list that also included West Virginia, Baylor, Minnesota, Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, Nebraska and others. He had 148 tackles, 11 sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt as a senior in high school in 2019, leading Camden to the New Jersey Central Group 2 championship game. The inside linebacker earned first-team all-conference, first-team All-South Jersey and first-team all-state honors in his senior season. Austin-Cave is expected to be used at middle linebacker by the Mountaineers, where he'll compete for playing time with Lee Kpogba, a junior college transfer who enrolled at WVU in January. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2025

ILB Tirek Austin-Cave, New Mexico
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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05/09/22 - Tirek Austin-Cave, rSr/2025, New Mexico + More +

It took a bit longer than West Virginia had originally hoped, but linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave is a Mountaineer. Originally recruited by Neal Brown's first WVU staff in 2019 out of Camden High School in New Jersey, Austin-Cave committed to the University of Miami, where he saw action on special teams as a true freshman in 2020 and spot duty as a backup linebacker in 2021. He also had offers from Power Five schools Baylor, Kansas State, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Rutgers and Syracuse. With three years of eligibility remaining, Austin-Cave has plenty of time to work his way into the rotation at WVU.

He will be joining the competition for time behind expected starters Lee Kpogba and Lance Dixon at the mike and will positions, where Exree Loe, who missed all of spring with an injury, and young Ja'Corey Hammett are currently spotted as backups. With his size and strength, Austin-Cave could also slot in as a bandit if the need arises, or if his skill set proves more suited to that position. - Charleston Gazette-Mail

rSr/2025

ILB Tirek Austin-Cave, New Mexico
News Source: Charleston Gazette-Mail
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02/28/22 - Luke Wysong, rJr/2026, New Mexico + More +

2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Luke Wysong, PR,...Wysong was one of just two freshmen to be named to Honorable Mention squad, joining Kekaula Kaniho of Boise State. Wysong was the league's top freshman in terms of receptions, receiving yards, receiving yards per game, all-purpose yardage, punt returns and kickoff returns, and despite being a receiver, he was second among all freshmen behind his own teammate Aaron Dumas. He returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown against Colorado State and averaged 11.0 yards per punt return, leading a punt return unit to 21st in the country, despite having seven true freshmen starting on that unit for most of the season. He is the first true freshman to lead UNM in all-purpose yardage since 2011. - New Mexico Football

rJr/2026

WR Luke Wysong, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico Football
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02/28/22 - Kyle Stapley, rSr/2022, New Mexico + More +

2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Kyle Stapley, OL,...Stapley earned his second honor. UNM's senior leader in terms of games played, Stapley finished his career as a starter in all 43 games that he played, including the first 40 at center. He also started games at right guard and left guard. Stapley played on 654 plays on the season and he finished his career with 2,821 career snaps. - New Mexico Football

rSr/2022

OG Kyle Stapley, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico Football
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02/28/22 - Jerrick Reed II, rSr/2023, New Mexico + More +

2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Jerrick Reed, DB,...Reed, who was a First Team pick in 2020 after leading the Mountain West in interceptions, led the team in tackles with 89 and in pass breakups with seven. He also recorded double-digit tackles three times including a high-water mark of 14 against Air Force and 13 against Colorado State. He picked off a pass against New Mexico State and had two breakups against both UNLV and UTEP. - New Mexico Football

rSr/2023

SS Jerrick Reed II, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico Football
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02/28/22 - Joey Noble, rSr/2022, New Mexico + More +

2021 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): Joey Noble, DL,...While no Lobo made the first or second team, a case can certainly be made that Noble should have been somewhere among the eight defensive linemen on the first and second teams. Noble recorded 18.5 tackles for loss which is 10th all-time at UNM and tied for second in the Mountain West. The 18.5 TFLs also is tied for fourth in the country in the FBS. His 72 tackles were the most for any defensive linemen in the Mountain West as Noble led a defense that showed tremendous statistical improvement, ranking 49th in total defense at 363.1 yards allowed per game, better than the 447.1 yards allowed in 2020 (101st) and nearly a 122-yard improvement from the 485.7 allowed in 2019 (129th). - New Mexico Football

rSr/2022

OLB Joey Noble, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico Football
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12/20/21 - Tyler Kiehne, rJr/2026, New Mexico + More +

When Danny Gonzales was hired as University of New Mexico football coach in December of 2019 he tried to recruit former Los Lunas standout Tyler Kiehne to the Lobos, but Gonzales was a little late as Kiehne had already committed to UCLA. However, Gonzales was able to lure him back "home," after Kiehne recently entered the transfer portal. Kienhe, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman, said on Twitter on Tuesday night that he is transferring to UNM. He has four years of eligibility remaining after he did not see game action with the Bruins this past season. He was rated as a three-star recruit by 247sports.com, ESPN, and Rivals.com as a Los Lunas senior. - Albuquerque Journal

rJr/2026

DT Tyler Kiehne, New Mexico
News Source: Albuquerque Journal
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12/20/21 - Miles Kendrick, rSr/2023, New Mexico + More +

The Kansas football program's quarterback depth for 2022 took a hit when two reserves - Miles Kendrick and Conrad Hawley - decided to leave via the transfer portal. KU head coach Lance Leipold confirmed Wednesday during his early signing period press conference that both QBs are moving on. Leipold said their departure was one of the factors in KU recruiting and signing Class of 2022 quarterback Ethan Vasko, out of Chesapeake, Virginia. A redshirt senior for the Jayhawks in 2021, Kendrick could have potentially used the NCAA's 2020 Covid waiver for an extra year of eligibility to remain at KU, if that was a scenario both he and the coaching staff wanted to pursue. - Lawrence Journal World

rSr/2023

QB Miles Kendrick, New Mexico
News Source: Lawrence Journal World
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12/18/21 - Dylan Hopkins, rSr/2024, New Mexico + More +

Dylan Hopkins broke the Independence Bowl record for completion percentage, connecting on 19 of 23 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in UAB's 31-28 victory over No. 12 BYU on Saturday. With UAB (9-4) facing fourth-and-7 with six minutes remaining, coach Bill Clark passed on a field-goal attempt, and Hopkins threw a 14-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass to Trea Shropshire, the only player from Louisiana on either roster. BYU (10-3) appeared to be in good position to at least tie it game, but Samson Nacua fumbled after making a catch inside UAB's 25 with 3:36 remaining.

DeWayne McBride ran for 183 yards and a score on 28 carries for UAB. BYU and running back Tyler Allgeier fought back from a 14-point deficit, tying it twice and eventually taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Allgeier ran for 192 yards and had three touchdowns. Allgeier ripped off a 62-yard touchdown run to tie it again 1:17 into the third quarter. His 1-yard run put the Cougars up 28-24 on the second play of the fourth quarter. - UAB/AP College Football

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