All-Mountain West tight end Dorian Thomas to enter transfer portal 

New Mexico tight end Dorian Thomas is entering the transfer portal, his representation confirmed to the Journal on Monday.

The 6-foot-4, 239-pound first team All-Mountain West selection caught 56 passes for 560 yards and four touchdowns this season with UNM.  A former Arizona transfer, he has two years of eligibility remaining.

After joining UNM in January, Thomas made an immediate impact with the Lobos, catching 10 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown in a season-opening 34-17 loss to No. 14 Michigan. His 560 receiving yards were the most of any tight end in the Mountain West this season; no other league tight end had more than 390 yards.

Thomas did not respond when reached by the Journal for comment. He is represented by Joe Gazza, an NFL Players Association-certified agent.

Another UNM tight end also announced his plans to enter the portal Monday: Marcus Vinson. The 6-4, 247-pound senior and former UTEP transfer appeared in one game for UNM this season, and has one year of eligibility remaining. 

“Thank you UNM, (head coach Jason Eck) and his staff for the opportunity to be a part of this team’s journey,” Vinson wrote Monday in a post via X. I’m very blessed and grateful to even be in this position and give (all glory to God). With that being said, I plan on entering (my name) into the transfer portal with one year of eligibility left. Thank you to the city of Albuquerque.”

The transfer portal opens Friday, Jan. 2 and closes on Jan. 16. 

The full list of Lobos who have announced their plans to enter the portal as of Monday evening:

-TE Dorian Thomas

-TE Marcus Vinson

-P Daniel Hughes

-OL Travis Gray

-OL Jordan Mora

-TE Aiden Valdez

-LB Randolph Kpai

-DL Max Lantzsch

Set to return 

UNM tight end Cade Keith has signed to return for next season, the program announced Monday via social media.

The 6-5, 239-pound redshirt freshman caught 20 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning score in a 23-17 double-overtime win over San Diego State on Nov. 28. 

A former TCU transfer, he has three years of eligibility remaining.

“I believe in coach Eck and his four pillars of championship behavior: accountability, toughness, urgency and grit,” Keith said in a statement released Monday via X. “I’m excited to play for (tight ends coach Jared Elliott) and I’m excited to win a championship next year with my teammates here in Albuquerque." 

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.