UNM football: Lobos gain All-Big Sky RB, lose three key starters

The good news for Lobo fans? New Mexico football is set to add one of the Big Sky’s most productive players.

The bad news? Three of the program’s most reliable starters are headed for different schools.

All of which happened on a busy Thursday for UNM, as Weber State transfer running back Damon Bankston committed to the Lobos while safety Christian Ellis, wide receiver Caleb Medford and tight end Trace Bruckler announced new schools via posts on social media.

UNM has added 17 players and lost 20 to the transfer portal since it opened on Dec. 4. Twelve of those additions have notably come from the FCS ranks after former Idaho head coach Jason Eck was announced in the same role at UNM on Dec. 14.

Bankston, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior, earned second team All-Big Sky honors last season after rushing for six touchdowns and a career-high 1,104 yards — the second-best mark in the league. He also added 11 catches for 142 yards and one touchdown, and has not fumbled once in his four-year college career.

A Katy, Texas native, Bankston brings 2,324 career rushing yards, 22 touchdowns and one year of eligibility remaining to a program trying to rebuild a running back room decimated by the portal. After rushing for 3,043 yards last season, UNM is set to return only 100 yards worth of that production after quarterback Devon Dampier (1,166 yards) and running backs Eli Sanders (1,043 yards), Na’Quari Rogers (382 yards) and Javen Jacobs (277 yards) all opted to transfer.

Bankston represents the second running back to commit to UNM under new head coach Jason Eck. The Lobos also added Idaho freshman Deshaun Buchanan, who led the Vandals in rushing last season with 567 yards and five touchdowns.

But as the portal gives, it also takes.

Ellis, a 6-0, 202-pound junior safety, committed to Virginia Tech on Thursday after spending the last three years with UNM. An All-Mountain West honorable mention selection, the Jacksonville, Florida native made a team-high 99 total tackles with one interception and a fumble recovery touchdown last season.

In 2024, Ellis started all 12 games and notably played 900 snaps — the most of any FBS safety to not play in a bowl game last season. He joins the Hokies with one year of eligibility remaining.

Medford and Bruckler also announced commitments to Kansas State and Ole Miss, respectively. Both have one year of eligibility remaining.

Medford, a 6-1, 198-pound junior, will join the Wildcats after catching 18 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns in his second season with the Lobos. A former TCU transfer, he leaves Albuquerque with 48 career catches, 887 yards and five touchdowns.

Bruckler, a 6-3, 244-pound junior, caught a career-high 22 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns over 12 starts last season. The Frisco, Texas, native finishes his UNM career with 31 catches, 421 yards and five touchdowns.

Transfers out (19)

- QB Devon Dampier (Utah)

- RB Eli Sanders (USC)

- RB Javen Jacobs (Utah State)

- RB Na’Quari Rogers (Utah)

- WR Luke Wysong (Arizona)

- WR Caleb Medford (Kansas State)

- WR Nic Trujillo (Louisiana-Monroe)

- WR Ryan Davis (Utah)

- WR D’Angelo Mayes (Utah State)

- OL McKenzie Agnello (Houston)

- OL Wallace Unamba (Kentucky)

- OL LaJuan Owens (Cal)

- TE Trace Bruckler (Ole Miss)

- Edge Max Elkman (Southeastern Louisiana State)

- LB Jayden Wilson (UTEP)

- CB Pierre Kemeni Jr. (Ohio)

- CB Bryson Taylor (Utah State)

- S Christian Ellis (Virginia Tech)

- S Bobby Arnold III (Utah State)

- LS Hyrum Hatch (Utah State)

Transfers in (17)

- QB Jack Layne (Idaho)

- RB Damon Bankston (Weber State)

- RB Deshaun Buchanan (Idaho)

- OL Kaden Robnett (Idaho)

- OL Mason Jones (Bucknell)

- OL Tyler Lawrence (Air Force)

- TE Dorian Thomas (Arizona)

- TE Keayen Nead (Weber State)

- TE Aiden Valdez (Campbell)

- WR Keagan Johnson (Kansas State)

- WR Isaiah Blair (Rancho Cerritos Junior College)

- DL Keyshawn James-Newby (Idaho)

- DE Xavier Slayton (Idaho)

- LB Jaxton Eck (Idaho)

- Edge Darren Agu (Vanderbilt)

- DB Frankie Edwards III (Weber State)

- DB Abraham Williams (Idaho)