Recruiting New Mexico: ENMU Building Defense With NM Prospects

Eastern New Mexico head coach Kelley Lee didn't plan to have a majority of the home state prospects signed by the Greyhounds on the defensive side of the ball.   But that's the way it worked out since as many as 11 of the 17 signees from New Mexico are expected to play defense at the next level.   The group is highlighted by the state's No 2 tackler in 2022 – Hobbs MLB [player_tooltip player_id='138050' first='Kenyon' last='Singleton'] – and three signees from Carlsbad, all of whom followed former Cavemen head coach and current ENMU defensive coordinator Oliver Soukup to Portales.   Singleton was one of the top linebackers in New Mexico for the past two seasons and finished his career art Hobbs with nearly 300 tackles. Singleton is a classic example of  New Mexico prospect who possesses Division 1 talent but the “measurables” (height, weight, etc.) pushed him to the D2 level.      “Kenyon is exactly the kind of player you love as a D2 coach,” Lee told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Talent-wise and production-wise, he's probably a Division 1 player. But he doesn't fit the mold of what they're looking for. He's not tall enough or big enough. But there's not a better linebacker in the state of New Mexico. He's just as good as the guys going D1 but he doesn't have the right size.”   If Singleton was the top linebacker in New Mexico last season, [player_tooltip player_id='138069' first='Ryan' last='Stovall'] of Alamogordo was definitely close behind. He totaled 104 tackle and 7 TFL for the Tigers.   “He's tall and long,” Lee said. “He can play inside or outside linebacker. He has a lot of upside. He can run sideline to sideline. But he's also physical and a good tackler. He's another guy that was underrated.”      ENMU also signed one of the fastest players in the state, Albuquerque High DB Jabby Cooper, who consistently ran the 40 in the 4.4-4.5 range at camps last year.   “He's a guy with legit speed,” Lee said. “Very athletic. He did a lot for Albuquerque High and played both ways. We think he can become a lockdown corner in the future. He needs to put on some weight, but that's what our strength program is all about. But in terms of an athletic player who can really run, signing Jabby was a no-brainer.”   ENMU also added the ‘Thompson Twins' to the secondary – [player_tooltip player_id='544210' first='Zebadiah' last='Thompson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='545865' first='Zedekiah' last='Thompson'] from West Mesa.   “Those guys were really productive for West Mesa,” Lee said. “They have good ball skills in the secondary and came up with some big interceptions and pass breakups. We've had success during my time here with Albuquerque defensive backs. We usually let them redshirt and develop for a couple of years and then they turn into very good plyers as juniors and seniors. That's what we're hoping for with the twins.”       The three deserving Carlsbad defensive players signed by ENMU were OLB [player_tooltip player_id='138080' first='Austin' last='Blair'], DL Wesley McKibben and DE [player_tooltip player_id='138041' first='D.J.' last='Moore'].   “Obviously, there's some familiarity there,” Lee said. “Coach Soukup knows real well what these guys can do. We felt Blair was somebody who could help us in certain situations of a football game. Austin is a program kid who has experience with the scheme we're going to run. He's great high character player who will help our locker room as well.”   Soukup was impressed with McKibben's work ethic and toughness when he coached the Cavemen last season.   “Coach Soukup said he was probably the hardest worker in the Carlsbad program,” Lee said. “He's tough as nails. We think there's a role situationally  at the college level for Wesley. We can't get enough of those kind of guys in our program.”   Moore brings plenty of size (6-2, 235) and skill to the Greyhound defensive end spot. If we had to pick one New Mexico signee who could excel as a freshman in 2023, Moore is the guy.   “D.J. is elite,” Lee said. “He's going to be a very good player. I think he's going to contribute as a freshman as a pass rusher. He is athletic, has good size and gets off the ball quickly. I expect him to play as a freshman. Before the transfer portal era, he would have probably gotten a D1 scholarship offer.”   A fourth Carlsbad player, QB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='137916' first='Dane' last='Naylor'], was signed by ENMU as an athlete. Lee said the 6-foot-2 Naylor will likely start preseason camp at free safety or wide receiver. The speedy Naylor is an elite hurdler and possesses excellent speed.   “With his size and speed, we'll find a spot for Dane,” Lee said.     Socorro LB [player_tooltip player_id='270224' first='Caden' last='Moreland'] helps fill a need at linebacker for the Greyhounds.   “We needed to sign a lot of linebackers because they were a 4-2-5 team the past two years and we're going to be a 3-4 team,” Lee said. “We like Caden because he can play inside or outside. He's versatile. He has a great frame and can easily add weight. He did a lot for Socorro.”   Finally, 6-foot-7, 260-pound [player_tooltip player_id='138085' first='Dalton' last='Trapp'] from Class 3A champion Ruidoso will bring tremendous size to ENMU's defensive line.   “I thought Dalton was as good a prospect as there was in the state of New Mexico,” Lee said. “He's big. He can play defensive end or defensive tackle. He has long arms. Very physical. He's only going to get better as he matures into that big body. We put in a lot time and effort recruiting him. We're glad we got him. He was one of the top three or four players on our board that we were going after. It was a big feather in our cap to get him.”   2023 NM SIGNEES – EASTERN NEW MEXICO:   OFFENSE (5): Franklin Finch, OL (Sandia); [player_tooltip player_id='542468' first='Logan' last='Howell'], QB (Piedra Vista); [player_tooltip player_id='541112' first='Braxton' last='Masters'], OL (Clovis); Zach Mora-Dotson, RB/WR (Piedra Vista); [player_tooltip player_id='138039' first='Robert' last='Nora'], RB (Clovis).     DEFENSE (10): [player_tooltip player_id='138080' first='Austin' last='Blair'], OLB (Carlsbad); Jabby Cooper, DB  (Albuquerque High); Wesley McKibben, DL (Carlsbad); [player_tooltip player_id='138041' first='D.J.' last='Moore'], DL (Carlsbad); [player_tooltip player_id='270224' first='Caden' last='Moreland'], OLB (Socorro); [player_tooltip player_id='138050' first='Kenyon' last='Singleton'], LB (Hobb); [player_tooltip player_id='138069' first='Ryan' last='Stovall'], OLB (Alamogordo); [player_tooltip player_id='545865' first='Zedekiah' last='Thompson'], DB (West Mesa); [player_tooltip player_id='544210' first='Zebadiah' last='Thompson'], DB (West Mesa); [player_tooltip player_id='138085' first='Dalton' last='Trapp'], DL (Ruidoso).    ATHLETES (1): [player_tooltip player_id='137916' first='Dane' last='Naylor'], QB/DB (Carlsbad)   SPECIAL TEAMS (1): [player_tooltip player_id='335475' first='Kaden' last='Bell'], PK (Los Lunas).   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball/status/1620928765156270080 </div></figure>       <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball/status/1621214090898341888 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball/status/1620924464098873345 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball/status/1620922850654965763 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball/status/1620916592514338816 </div></figure>

Eastern New Mexico head coach Kelley Lee didn't plan to have a majority of the home state prospects signed by the Greyhounds on the defensive side of the ball.