UNM football: Lobos land commitment from three-star cornerback, former UCLA pledge

New Mexico is now 2-0 against UCLA this season.

Three-star cornerback Joshua Mensah has flipped his commitment from UCLA to UNM, he announced Tuesday via social media.

“Better days are coming. #Committed,” he posted on X.

A 6-foot, 165-pound senior at Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High School, Mensah decommitted from UCLA last week after initially pledging to the Bruins in June. He represents the 12th three-star recruit and 19th overall prep prospect to commit to the Lobos in the class of 2026.

In addition to UNM and UCLA, Mensah had offers from Cal, Arizona, BYU, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, San Diego State, San Jose State, Colorado State and Yale, per 24/7 Sports.

“Mensah is a two-way athlete who shows the ability to play on either side of the ball at the college level,” 24/7 Sports recruiting analyst Greg Biggins wrote of Mensah in June. “(He) offers a ton of positional versatility and can play receiver, safety or corner but likely projects best in the secondary. Has a corner frame, moves well and shows excellent football instincts … Mensah is an ascending player and someone who’s definitely trending in the right direction as a prospect.”

UNM’s class is currently ranked sixth in the Mountain West by 24/7 Sports. Only the five schools leaving the league after this season — Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State and San Diego State — are ranked higher.

Here’s some of the other recruits to commit to the Lobos in the last week:

RB Gabe Wilson

Analysis: The 5-8, 180-pound senior at Cypress Falls (Texas) High School has rushed for 655 yards and eight touchdowns this season with the Golden Eagles. Wilson committed to UNM on Sunday over additional offers from UTSA, Washington State, Arkansas State, UTEP, New Mexico State and Rice.

WR Dorian Patterson

Analysis: A 6-3, 190-pound senior at Crete-Monee (Illinois) High School, Patterson committed to UNM on Monday over the likes of Miami (OH) and Northern Illinois. He earned All-Area honors from The Daily Southtown after tying the Crete-Monee program record with 21 touchdown receptions last season.

DL A.J. Robinson

Analysis: A 6-2, 265-pound transfer defensive lineman, Robinson has made 43 total tackles and 9.5 sacks in two seasons at Independence (Kansas) Community College. The Chicago native and Wendell Phillips Academy (Illinois) High School graduate previously spent a season at Northern Illinois; he committed to UNM on Monday via social media.

Class of 2026

The updated list of UNM’s prep commits in the class of 2026:

- QB Cade Mitchell (Beaverton, Oregon)

- OL Derek Worden (Queen Creek, Arizona)

- OL Braden Chick (Queen Creek, Arizona)

- OL Ty Gates (Peoria, Arizona)

- OL Danzel Newell (Chicago)

- WR Jacob Maldonado (Rio Rancho)

- WR Massiah Mingo (Las Vegas)

- WR DJ Darling (Missouri City, Texas)

- WR Bailen George (Missouri City, Texas)

- WR Dorian Patterson (Crete, Illinois)

- TE Max Leeper (Claremont, Calif.)

- DL Brody Litton (Beloit, Kansas)

- DL Nick Barber (San Antonio)

- DL Jordan Njoku (Culver City, Calif.)

- LB Hayes Baum (Albuquerque)

- LB Ricklan Holmes (Del City, Okla.)

- LB Eli Cramer-Cronin (Chandler, Arizona)

- CB Azari Warren (Chino, Calif.)

- CB Joshua Mensah (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)

- ATH Jaron Liles (Queen Creek, Arizona)