Recruiting New Mexico: New WNMU coach keeps eyes on the prize

<p>Looking to continue the important in-state recruiting progress made by his predecessor, new Western New Mexico head coach Billy Hickman has signed four 2023 prospects from the Land of Enchantment.</p>   <p>The group includes a pair from Silver High School down the street from the WNMU campus, an offensive lineman from St. Michael's in Santa Fe and one of the top running backs in southern New Mexico.</p>   <p>Hickman, promoted from offensive coordinator and OL coach to Mustangs head coach, acknowledged WNMU was beaten by Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico for several in-state prospects, but vowed to keep battling for New Mexico players in the future.</p>   <p>“This is just the beginning,” Hickman told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We're going to fight tooth and nail to bring the best high school football players in New Mexico to Silver City.”</p>   <p>Regardless, Hickman is pleased with the quartet of prospects the Mustangs did sign. Locally, WNMU signed dynamic Silver defensive end/outside linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='544218' first='Reuben' last='Holguin']</strong>, who led the state in sacks with 14.5 in 2022.</p>   <p>WNMU also signed Holguin's teammate, LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270075' first='Mason' last='Lockett']</strong>.   </p>   <p>Not surprisingly, Silver head coach Jerome Ortiz is elated WNMU signed two of his best players.</p>   <p>“Western New Mexico is really building something special,” Ortiz told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “They're on the right track to getting it to where it was when Coach Vigil left. I'm pumped I get to see two of my best athletes go compete and hopefully earning a job this year or next year.</p>   <p>“I can't say enough about Reuben and Mason. Their work ethic and discipline is amazing. WNMU got two guys who I think can play there for the next four or five years." </p>   <p>St. Michael's OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='270232' first='Dillon' last='Pacheco']</strong> is an important signing for the Mustangs because it shows WNMU is making significant recruiting strides in  northern New Mexico, a region they have historically ignored.</p>   <p>Pacheco was recruited to play left tackle.</p>   <p>“The culture at WNMU reminded me of St. Michael's,” Pacheco told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “The coaches really push the players to not just be better football players but better students and people. The brotherhood the players were talking about on my visit really made it feel like home.”</p>   <p>WNMU assistant coach and recruiting coordinator James Lee, who has played a vital role in the Mustangs' enhanced in-state recruiting efforts, drove to Santa Fe last year and offered Pacheco in person. After that, Pacheco and Lee would frequently talk on the phone about football and, just as important, life.</p>   <p>“I liked how he would check in on me every so often to just talk,” said Pacheco, a three-year starter for the Horsemen. “Not even about football. I really loved that I had a lot of phone calls with the coaches.”</p>   <p>Pacheco and St. Michael's reached consecutive Class 3A state championship games in 2021 and 2022.</p>   <p>Finally, WNMU signed Deming RB/WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='541094' first='Fabian' last='Reyna']</strong>., who helped lead the Wildcats to the semifinals of the Class 5A playoffs.           </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WNMUFootball/status/1620901721164898306 </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/WNMUFootball/status/1620900292794490916 </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/WNMUFootball/status/1620876947906760709 </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/WNMUFootball/status/1620870058372370433 </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/CoachJamesLee_/status/1613622130167672832 </div></figure>

Looking to continue the important in-state recruiting progress made by his predecessor, new Western New Mexico head coach Billy Hickman has signed four 2023 prospects from the Land of Enchantment.