UNM football notebook: Which recruits visited the Lobos last weekend?

Saturday was more than just a scrimmage for New Mexico football.

The Lobos hosted over a half-dozen recruits for the team’s first full scrimmage and the weekend at large, all of them entering either their junior or senior seasons at the prep level.

The list of recruits making an appearance at University Stadium, verified by posts on social media:

QB Jahleel Lewis

Summary: Lewis threw for 1,613 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions with 367 rushing yards last season with Albuquerque’s Sandia High School, leading the Matadors to a 5-6 finish. This fall will be the 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior-to-be’s second season as Sandia’s starter.

OL Hunter McKinney

Summary: A 6-4, 300-pound offensive lineman, McKinney has played both guard and tackle at Lake Creek (Texas) High School. The junior is the son of Steve McKinney, an 11-year NFL veteran lineman who played for the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks.

OL Jesus Diaz III

Summary: Diaz, a 6-4, 200-pound offensive lineman, won a 6A state championship last season with Centennial (Arizona) High School. The junior started his prep career at Glendale (Arizona) High School before joining the Coyotes ahead of last fall.

CB Curtis Flakes III

Summary: A 6-0, 155-pound cornerback, Flakes was one of three defensive backs named to the Journal’s All-Metro team after coming up with 31 total tackles and three interceptions for St. Pius X High School last season. The rising junior is the son of Sartans head coach Curtis Flakes II, a defensive back at UNM in the early 2000s.

WR Kellen Marchand

Summary: Marchand, a 6-4, 182-pound receiver, caught 18 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore last season at Legend (Colorado) High School. The Titans finished as 5A runners-up, falling in the state championship game to Cherry Creek (Colorado) High School.

S/LB Antonio Para

Summary: A 5-11, 187-pound safety and linebacker, Para made 62 total tackles last season for Desert Edge (Arizona) High School as the Scorpions claimed a 5A state title. The junior also clocked a personal-best 10.98 second 100-meter dash this spring.

WR Cayl Cox Liggins

Summary: A 6-3, 155-pound receiver, Cox Liggins led St. Pius X in receiving with 64 catches for 1,112 yards and 12 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign last season. In light of those efforts, the sophomore was named to the Journal’s second team All-Metro squad.

ADDITIONAL OFFERS: While they weren’t in attendance over the weekend, a pair of recruits landed offers from UNM in the last week:

Carlsbad (N.M.) High School linebacker Colton McKibben was offered by UNM after making 95 total tackles and one interception last season. The 6-3, 215-pound sophomore also has offers from Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Arizona State, TCU and New Mexico State.

Millikan (Calif.) High School cornerback Odell Simms Jr. received an offer from UNM after racking up 21 total tackles last season. The 6-0, 167-pound freshman also has offers from Colorado State, UNLV, Washington, Sacramento State, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Arizona State.

UNM also offered one transfer Monday: Trent Whalen, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound grad transfer linebacker in the portal from Kent State. The Las Vegas, Nevada native joined the Golden Flashes for the spring, but announced his decision to leave earlier this month; he spent the first five seasons of his career at FCS Southern Utah University.

THEMED: UNM has announced themes for all six of its home games this season:

Sept. 6 (Idaho State): Running of the Freshman and Family Weekend

Sept. 27 (New Mexico State): “We are New Mexico” and Hispanic Heritage

Oct. 18 (Nevada): Homecoming and Pink Game

Oct. 25 (Utah State): Military Appreciation and Alumni Weekend

Nov. 15 (Colorado State): Indigenous Heritage

Nov. 29 (San Diego State): Senior Day