Lobos get two linebacker commitments; QB Montes decides on school
Jan. 12—Two junior-college linebackers committed to attend the University of New Mexico this week, giving UNM four known commitments in addition to its 11 signees announced on Dec. 21.
Official recruiting visits this weekend could produce more commitments from potential mid-year enrollees. The school's spring semester starts on Tuesday.
100% committed to The University Of New Mexico❗️Ready to get to work #GoLobos #AGTG @UNMLoboFB @CoachGonzUNM @JrothschillerNM @CoachReffett @srjcfootball @DanteDepaola @lwagner31 pic.twitter.com/0jzH1dk8Wy
— Dimitri Johnson (@Dimitri1Johnson) January 12, 2023
On Thursday, Santa Rosa (California) Junior College linebacker Dimitri Johnson announced his commitment to UNM on Twitter. On Wednesday, linebacker Mihalis Santorineos of Sierra College (Rocklin, California) tweeted out his commitment.
Officially Signed and 100% committed to the University of New Mexico‼️ #AGTG #GoLobos #Win5 @UNMLoboFB @CoachGonzUNM @JrothschillerNM @CoachReffett @SierraFootball1 @Coach_Noonan @Coach_Aidan pic.twitter.com/iEDCvKHiBm
— Mihalis Santorineos (@mihalis_S53) January 11, 2023
Earlier, long snapper Brendan Durkin (University of Albany) and running back Andrew Henry (Louisiana-Monroe) announced their commitments.
Santorineos (6-foot-2, 232 pounds) would come to UNM with three years of eligibility plus a redshirt year. Johnson (6-2, 235) played two years at Santa Rosa and would have three seasons at UNM in which to play two.
Johnson made 62 tackles for Santa Rosa this season with 3 1/2 sacks, six tackles for loss and two interceptions. He was voted All-Big 8 Conference and All-State.
Santorineos was in on 56 tackles for Sierra with two sacks and 5 1/2 tackles for loss.
The two junior-college players would add depth and quality to a position group that lost starters Cody Moon, the team's leading tackler (transfer portal, San Diego State), and Reco Hannah, who exhausted his eligibility.
On signing day three weeks ago, Gonzales said he was looking forward to hosting recruits last weekend and this weekend. Johnson and Santorineos committed after last weekend's official visits.
Several other recruits who visited UNM last weekend have yet to announce commitments. Among them:
—Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College quarterback Dylan Laible (177-of-318, 2,319 yards, 22 touchdowns, three interceptions);
—Alabama State wide receiver Jeremiah Hixson (31 receptions, 364 yards four TDs) and his younger brother Josiah "JoJo" Hixson, a defensive back from Spanish Fort (Alabama) High School;
—Defensive back Quincy Milhomme (four interceptions in 2022) of Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
CJ's A RAM: No, not Colorado State. Former UNM quarterback CJ Montes announced on Twitter that he's committed to attend Fordham University.
The New York City-based Rams went 9-3 in 2022 and lost 52-42 to New Hampshire in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs' first round.
Fordham's starting quarterback, FCS All-American Tim DeMorat, has exhausted his eligibility.
Montes, who has three years of eligibility remaining, announced on Jan. 4 that he was entering the transfer portal.
The California native might well experience some culture shock in the move to the East Coast. But another Californian and former Lobo quarterback, JaJuan Lawson, transferred to Rhode Island in 2017 and passed for almost 3,000 yards in two seasons as the starting QB for the — guess who — Rams.
