Baum Ready To Join Lobos; Four NM Prospects sign with UNM

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cibola High standout linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum'] is ready to move on to the next chapter in his life.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baum, one of the top 2026 prospects in the state, signed with New Mexico last week and intends to enroll at UNM in January, allowing him to participate in spring practice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“My plan is to be there during spring ball,” Baum told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “All I have to do is finish up two on-line classes and I should be ready to go. I'm very close to graduating. It's pretty exciting.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished his senior season with 116 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks, 7 QB hurries and 2 interceptions. He was recruited by the Lobos as an inside linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-0, 220-pound Baum was named District 6A-1 Defensive Player of the Year, a notable achievement considering Cibola was in the same district as Cleveland, Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista, and earned First-Team All-State honors from the New Mexico High School Coaches Association.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But it was his offensive exploits for the Cougars that may have raised the most eyebrows. The Cibola coaching staff created an offensive package for Baum as the Wildcat quarterback. Baum ended up rushing for 653 yards and 17 TD on 100 carries. When Cibola reached the red zone, Baum was usually the guy with the ball in his hands, and he typically bulldozed his way into the end zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Playing on offense was always something I wanted to do,” Baum said. “I had a blast. When Coach Howes told me this was something they wanted to do, I lit up. Being able to play both sides of the ball and impact the team in a positive way made me happy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baum was one&nbsp; of four New Mexico players to sign with the UNM Lobos during last week's early signing period. Cleveland WR [player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado'], Hobbs WR [player_tooltip player_id='1599800' first='Justice' last='French'] and 6-foot-5, 285 pound Eldorado OL [player_tooltip player_id='1672549' first='Matheu' last='Alderman'] also signed with the Lobos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“As soon as I join the Lobos, I know I'll be at the bottom of the totem pole,” Baum said. “But I love that. I know I have to get to work and prove myself. I'll get the opportunity to learn the system from a lot of older guys and great players. Learning, working my butt off and doing the best I can for the team on and off the field are my goals for next season.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with first-year head coach David Howes, Baum led the revival of the Cibola program in 2025. The Cougars were a combined 2-18 in 2023 and 2024. This past season, Cibola was 5-5 during the regular season and earned a spot in the Class 6A playoffs. They lost a close battle to Volcano Vista, 14-10, in the first round of the playoffs, but the foundation for future success was laid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Those two down years really helped me deal with adversity better and helped me become a better leader,” Baum said. “Coach Howes told us this year and this senior class was the start of turning the program around. We put in a lot of work. We wanted to accomplish a little more, but it didn't work out that way. We were competitive in every game.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">116 TACKLES <br> 902 YARDS <br>17 TDS<br> 7 SACKS <br>2 INTS <br> 12 TFL <br> <br>Such a blessed year<br>Jeremiah 29:11 ✝️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/agtg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#agtg</a> <a href="https://t.co/db4HWNv7Dq">pic.twitter.com/db4HWNv7Dq</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum'] (@The__Baum) <a href="https://twitter.com/The__Baum/status/1989853470258548915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congrats to [player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum']. He signed today to play football at UNM. <a href="https://twitter.com/The__Baum?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@The__Baum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesDYodice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JamesDYodice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNMLoboFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNMLoboFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/0hEXCLh5Gc">pic.twitter.com/0hEXCLh5Gc</a></p>&mdash; Cibola High School (@CibolaCougars) <a href="https://twitter.com/CibolaCougars/status/1996316913610506738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗠 another Lobo joins the pack ✍️🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/The__Baum?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@The__Baum</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoLobos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoLobos</a> | 🐺⬆️ | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSD26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSD26</a> <a href="https://t.co/ap1YNnSb1C">pic.twitter.com/ap1YNnSb1C</a></p>&mdash; New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNMLoboFB/status/1996263134303293599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HAPPY AND BLESSED TO BE 6A DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR!! 💣💣💥💥🦍🦍<a href="https://t.co/FNaEngEHAi">https://t.co/FNaEngEHAi</a> <a href="https://t.co/D7DQiCnt3j">pic.twitter.com/D7DQiCnt3j</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='854199' first='Hayes' last='Baum'] (@The__Baum) <a href="https://twitter.com/The__Baum/status/1990558296714182802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->