Football Announces 35 Recruits Set to Join Program for 2017

SILVER CITY, N.M. -- The Western New Mexico University football team is pleased to announce that the following players have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program.
All 35 players will be incoming freshmen, with the most nine coming from both California and Texas. Eight are from New Mexico, six from Arizona, two from Nevada and one from Alaska.

Michael Lopez, 5-8/140, CB/SS, Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School
This past season while playing at Ironwood Ridge, Lopez tallied 30 tackles, 21 solo, along with an interception, a fumble recovery and six passes defended. Team finished the season 9-3.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4898492/michael-lopez

Christian Carrasco, 6-4/290, DT/NG, Socorro, TX/Socorro High School
Carrasco spent time playing along the defensive line during his career at Socorro where he compiled 110 total tackles, 61 solo, along with a forced fumble and 11 quarterback hurries.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4030447/cristian-carrasco

Isaiah Perez, 5-11/190, DE/TE, Carlsbad, NM/Carlsbad High School
Perez earned First and Second-Team All-District Defensive End, Second-Team and honorable mention tight end, MVP of the defensive line and also took home MVP long snapper of the year accolades.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/3329873/isaiah-perez

Phillip Cook, 6-4/230, DE, La Mirada, CA/La Mirada High School
Cook was named Defensive Player of the Year this past season. This past year he came away with 41 tackles, nine solo. The team had a strong season going 11-3.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4816207/phillip-cook

Lazarus Kyle, Jr., 5-9/170, WR/FS, North Las Vegas, NV/Canyon Springs High School
He was selected to play in the All-Star Lion's Club in 2017. This past year he caught three passes for 45 yards and also had one rush for 12 yards. The team went 8-2 this year.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2694618/lazarus-kyle

Kaleb Bost, 6-3/190, WR/OLB, Vail, AZ/Cienega High School
Bost caught six passes for 66 yards and a pair of scores, with a long reception of 19 yards. He also tallied a rushing touchdown during his junior year. On defense he compiled 25 tackles over the past two years, with 18 solo and added a sack and interception.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6260185/kaleb-bost

Kyle Hooper, 6-4/180, QB/P, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo High School
Hooper earned First-Team All-District, First-Team All-State, District MVP and First-Team All-State punter this past year. In leading Alamogordo to a 7-5 record, he completed 174-296 for 2,638 yards with 30 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. He had a long of 90 yards and averaged 219.8 yards per game. He also put together a strong junior year completing 188-298 for 2,674 yards with 22 touchdowns to just six interceptions, averaging 267.4 yards per game. His senior year, he rushed 124 times for 648 yards with 10 touchdowns. In the punting game, he punted 25 times for 859 yards for an average of 34.4 per game and had a long of 54 yards and four land inside the 20.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2009333/kyle-hooper

Jalen Bateman, 5-9/150, RB, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo High School
Bateman snagged 38 receptions for 712 yards and tallied eight touchdowns as a senior. He added 25 rushes for 187 yards and three touchdowns. He caught 15 passes for 196 yards and two scores his junior campaign. He also adds versatility returning eight kickoff returns for an average of 15 yards, with a long of 30. In the punt return game, he returned five for an average of 12.8 with a long of 43.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4677814/jalen-bateman

Scotti Velasco, 6-0/240, DE/MLB, Alamogordo, NM/Alamogordo High School
Velasco was named First-Team All-District, Second-Team All-District, top Defensive Lineman at Alamogordo and took home the Mr. Tiger award. During his senior season he accumulated 29 tackles, with 19 coming solo, along with an interception and sack.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5654885/scotti-velasco

David Apodaca, 6-4/260, DT/T, Tucson, AZ/Ironwood Ridge High School
Apodaca helped lead Ironwood Ridge to a 9-3 record this season. Over the past two years he came away with 66 tackles, 23 solo, along with four sacks, eight quarterback hurries and seven tackles for loss. His honors include 5A Football All-Stars First-Team Defense, All-North/West Team Second-Team and Frog and Firkin Second-Team Defensive honor.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6365366/david-apodaca

Carter Beene, 6-4/195, TE, Roswell, NM/Goddard High School
Beene was named First-Team All-District on offense and Second-Team All-District as a junior. As a senior, he was named to the First-Team All-District defense and Second-Team All-District offense. Beene helped Goddard to a six win season. In addition to football, he also plays track, basketball and baseball.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/4779035/carter-beene

Vodrey Gates, 5-6/144, WR/RB, Surprise, AZ/Valley Vista High School
Gates earned Second-Team All-State honors as a returner, along with Offensive Player of the Year for 6A Southwest Region. He put together a strong senior season catching 61 passes for 1,162 yards and 12 touchdowns. He had a long reception of 85 yards and averaged 105.6 yards per game. He rushed seven times for 21 yards, but found the end zone twice. His junior year, he caught 43 passes for 605 yards and three scores. On defense, he snagged two interceptions and posted 14 tackles, with nine coming solo. He returned six kickoffs for an average of 28 yards and had a long of 89 yards. Gates returned 15 punts for an average of 19.3 yards, with a long of 74 yards. He also participated in basketball and track.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5639234/vodrey-gates

Jacob Mendez, 5-11/160, RB/OLB, El Paso, TX/Parkland High School
Mendez garnered First-Team All-District honors. He helped lead the team to eight wins this year as he rushed 118 times for 840 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had a solid junior year carrying the ball 128 times for 1,083 yards with 12 touchdowns. Mendez caught 26 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown his senior year. He returned three kickoffs for an average of 35.7 yards, with a long of 73, while he also took six punts back for an average of 13.7 yards and a long of 33. Mendez is a dual-threat athlete having been a track regional qualifier.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4742729/jacob-mendez

Luis Villegas, 6-3/205, TE/DB, El Paso, TX/El Paso High School
Villegas earned All-District honors since his sophomore year, being named to the First-Team his sophomore year and then Second-Team both junior and senior years. He caught 22 passes for 446 yards and six touchdowns this past year. For his career he ended up with 58 receptions for 1,006 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed 21 times for 155 yards and a score this past season. He tallied an interception and six tackles, with four coming solo in 2016.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4255912/luis-villegas

Brandon Vesterdal, 6-1/180, WR, Vail, AZ/Cienega High School
Vesterdal was part of a team that went 12-1 this past season. During the past two seasons he caight 18 passes for 244 yards and two scores. On defense he added seven tackles, with four coming solo.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/4169168/brandon-vesterdal

Omar Morales, 5-10/250, G/DT, El Paso, TX/Del Valle High School
Morales was named First-Team All-District at center this past year. As a junior, he was a Second-Team All-District selection at left guard and as a sophomore, he earned honorable mention honors at nose tackle. The team won seven games this past season and during his career he came away with 67 pancake blocks, two fumble recoveries, 52 tackles, with 27 coming solo. Morales also competes in track.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/3167807/omar-morales

Jason Compton, 6-3/180, WR/OLB, Farmington, NM/Piedra Vista High School
Compton tallied Second-Team All-District honors and his team became District Champions this past year. He caught 16 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5184620/jason-compton

Sean North, 5-10/175, DB/WR, Corona, CA/Santiago High School
North was touted as the No. 1 ranked in L.A. Region for the Nike Rating Day. He was named the Offensive Player of the Year twice and captain of the football team, earning the Leadership Award. During the past two years he caught 39 passes for 703 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had a long reception of 71 yards this past year. He also plays baseball.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2947492/sean-north

Dante Lopez, 6-1/170, QB, Las Cruces, NM/Centennial High School
Lopez was a four-year letterman and the only quarterback in New Mexico to attend the Rivals QB challenge in L.A. He was a three-year captain, First-Team All-District in 5A/6A and the team was District Champs in 2015 and 2016, along with being the state runner-up. In addition to playing football, Lopez was a state qualifier in the 4x200, two-year letterman in basketball and also took home a letter in track. He did well in the classroom being honored all four years with an academic letter.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2739293/dante-lopez

Brendan Thrasher, 5-7/152, FS/RB, Clayton, NM/Clayton High School
Thrasher was a First-Team All-State recipient as a running back and earned seven Player of the Game awards. He caught 10 passes for 138 yards, while also rushing 103 times for 558 yards and two touchdowns. On defense Thrasher tallied 50 tackles this past year, with 14 coming solo. He also recorded three interceptions, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/4026471/brendan-thrasher

Chris Castaneda, 6-3/201, OLB/RB, El Paso, TX/Riverside High School
Castaneda tallied All-District honorable mention as a sophomore, Second-Team All-District both his junior and senior years. He was named a defensive team captain. He rushed 18 times for 82 yards with two touchdowns. On defense the past two seasons he compiled 133 tackles, 85 solo, with 11 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three quarterback hurries. Castaneda was also a regional finalist in wrestling.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/3410962/chris-jaquez

Troy Hall, 6-1/190, DB, Hesperia, CA/Silverado High School
This past season, Hall tallied 106 tackles, 56 solo, along with three interceptions and four forced fumbles in helping lead Silverado to an 11-3 campaign. Some of his honors include All-League, All-CIF, honor roll and was a track letterman.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/6084032/troy-hall

Michael Tobin, 5-10/180, WR, Perris, CA/Citrus Hill High School
During the past two seasons, Tobin caught 27 passes for 342 yards and two scores. He also rushed 78 times for 634 yards and four touchdowns. On defense he added an interception and two pass breakups as a junior. He was named All-League both junior and senior years.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2926358/michael-tobin

Froilan Rodriguez, 6-3/225, DL, Thermal, CA/Desert Mirage High School
During the past three season, Rodriguez tallied 164 takles, 99 solo, along with 23 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and 40 quarterback hurries. As a senior, he ran the ball 32 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. He was named to the All-League First-Team on both offense and defense, honor roll every year of high school and was a soccer letterman.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/4200980/froilan-rodriguez

Josh Nieto, 6-3/290, OL, El Paso, TX/Ysleta High School
Nieto was named to the District 2-5A Second-Team as a sophomore and he participated in the showcase game at the Sun Bowl this past year.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4292737/joshua-nieto

Casey Courtney, 5-11/150, DB, El Paso, TX/Coronado High School
Courtney tallied 89 tackles, 69 solo, along with an interception and forced fumble this past season. He also had a strong junior year with 99 tackles, 81 solo, two tackles for loss and five interceptions.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/3933281/casey-courtney

Phil Tito, 6-2/250, DL, Las Vegas, NV/Desert Pines High School
Tito is the cousin of current Mustang Joe Tito (Las Vegas, NV/Cimarron-Memorial). He started both on the offensive and defensive line in helping the team win state this past season. He earned First-Team All-League and First-Team All-State.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4589901/philip-tito

Nathan Green, 5-9/175, WR, Katy, TX/Cypress High School
Green had a strong senior season with 43 catches for 543 yards, with his top game of eight receptions for 173 yards. He was named to the 17-6A All-Academic Team, 17-6A Second-Team All-District, THSCA Academic All-State honorable mention Week 4 VW Cast Receiver of the Week and was a three-year letterman on the team.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2836402/nate-green-jr

Eric Doria, 5-9/175, S, Oxnard, CA/Oxnard High School
Doria earned First-Team All-League, Defensive Player of the Year and was also tabbed the Defensive MVP.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/4080936/eric-doria

Ben Collier, 5-10/165, WR, Surprise, AZ/Valley Vista High School
Collier caught 46 balls for 718 yards and eight touchdowns, with a long of 48 yards this past season. His junior year he snagged 37 passes for 566 yards and two touchdowns, with a long of 70. During his senior season on defense added 23 tackles, with 12 solo and two interceptions.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/3416490/ben-collier

Calvin Phelps, 6-3/255, OL, Katy, TX/Cypress High School
Phelps played in all 10 games along the offensive line for Cypress. The team averaged 174 receiving yards per game and rushed for 205 yards per game, while piling up 38 touchdowns.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/2835640/calvin-phelps

Dominique Calahan, 5-11/180, DB, Perris, CA/Citrus Hill High School
Calahan helped lead the team to seven wins this past season. During his junior year he tallied 79 tackles, with 51 coming solo, along with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and six sacks. He was named the Team Defensive MVP.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5538071/dominique-calahan

Matthew Macon, 6-2/170, DB, Hesperia, CA/Hesperia High School
Macon tallied 29 catches for 298 yards and two scores over the past two seasons. On defense he added 41 tackles, 32 solo, along with 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and four passes defended. He was named All-League and participated in the All-Star game.
http://www.hudl.com/profile/5307259/matthew-macon

Dominic Dighton, 6-2/185, ATH, Riverside, CA/La Sierra High School
Dighton tallied 31 carries for 140 yards and two scores over the past two seasons. He also caught 75 passes for 1,184 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 81 tackles, 44 solo, along with two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Dighton earned First-Team All-League and Eagle Award (Team Award).
http://www.hudl.com/profile/3968314/dominic-dighton

LaTraviaus Kingsland, 5-10/180, ATH, Anchorage, AK/Bartlett High School
Kingsland played defensive back, running back and wide receiver at Bartlett. He rushed 49 times for 466 yards and six touchdowns this past season. He also caught 14 balls for 403 yards and six scores. On defense he came away with 18 tackles, 16 solo, along with four interceptions, three passes defended, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/3969862/latraviaus-kingsland

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Players Mentioned

#13 Joe Tito: ATH; 6' 3"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#13 Joe Tito
: 6' 3"; Sophomore
: ATH

Players Mentioned

#13 Joe Tito

Players Mentioned

#13 Joe Tito