UNM football roster preview: Key defensive players, transfers, sleepers and freshmen to watch

New Mexico football’s nearly-finalized roster is public, with the vast majority of incoming transfers and freshmen already training for the season ahead.

The Lobos currently have 105 players listed on the roster; a handful are expected to be added as they arrive over the summer.

Here’s a look at some key players, transfers, sleepers and freshmen currently listed at each defensive position:

Defensive line

What the room looks like: Keyshawn James-Newby (1), Gabriel Lopez (9), Darren Agu (10), Xavier Slayton (15), Okiki Olorunfunmi (17), Landon Williams (31), Brett Karhu (45), Jake DeVos (46), John Sierra (48), Carlos Barela (52), Sa’Kylee Woodard (55), Jubilee Siitia-Tasi (60), Marcus Stevens (74), Grey Smith (90), Brian Booker (92), Jalen McIver (94), James Marshall V (95), Cody Thumlert (97), Max Lantzsch (98), Jack Burzynski (99)

Key player to watch: Keyshawn James-Newby. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Idaho transfer was a monster for the Vandals last season, coming up with 36 solo tackles, 10.5 sacks, 55 pressures and two forced fumbles to earn AFCA FCS All-American honors. Despite missing all of spring practice with an injury, he’s the most credentialed pass rusher the program’s had in years, and is expected to factor heavily into UNM’s plans at the Jack (boundary end) position.

Transfer to watch: Brian Booker. The 6-3, 331-pound Texas Southern transfer is still relatively early in his shift over from the offensive line, but Booker gradually came into his own as a force on UNM’s interior defensive line this spring. Expect him to carry a lot of the load up front this fall.

Sleeper to watch: Gabriel Lopez. Ok, he isn’t much of a sleeper in the traditional sense — after all, few would mistake the Lobos’ longest-tenured defensive lineman as much of an unknown entering his third season with the program.

But after two seasons on the edge, Lopez is doing something new. The 6-2, 250-pound redshirt senior is now playing on the interior, and the early returns have been promising for the room’s de facto veteran.

“We started it situationally, but it’s become more of a permanent move now,” UNM head coach Jason Eck said of Lopez’s shift this spring, “and he’s done a good job (there). I think we got to keep to gain some weight over the summer and those things, but his athleticism shows up rushing against guards a little more than (it) showed rushing on the edge.”

Freshman to watch: Jubilee Siitia-Tasi. The 6-3, 210-pound former three-star recruit made 46 total tackles and seven tackles for loss last season at Roosevelt (Wash.) High School before choosing the Lobos over Oregon State, Nevada and Montana State.

Linebacker

What the room looks like: Jaxton Eck (6), Mercury Swaim (16), Ky’Won McCray (20), Dimitri Johnson (22), Thomas Pettus (27), Randolph Kpai (33), Hunter Haemker (54)

Key player to watch: Dimitri Johnson. The 6-1, 232-pound senior made 77 total tackles, two sacks and one game-sealing interception last season over the course of 12 starts and a grueling 818 snaps – the seventh-most among FBS linebackers in the regular season. Bank on him to get his fair share this season, too.

Transfer to watch: Jaxton Eck. Before following his dad to UNM, the 6-1, 228-pound Idaho transfer earned first team All-Big Sky honors after making 134 total tackles and 3.5 TFLs. Eck was injured this spring, but is expected to factor into UNM’s linebacker rotation during fall camp.

Sleeper to watch: Mercury Swaim. The program never announced it and neither did Swaim. But the 6-0, 206-pound Colorado School of Mines transfer is, in fact, on the team as a post-spring transfer. Keep an eye out for the redshirt junior who earned second team All-NEC honors at St. Francis (Penn.) last season.

Freshman to watch: Thomas Pettus, the only true freshman in the room. The 6-1, 190-pound Volcano Vista High School graduate was selected to the Journal’s All-Metro team after making 76 tackles, 11 TFLs and three sacks last season.

Safety

What the room looks like: Albert Nunes (0), David Murphy (3), Tavian Combs (7), Clint Stephens (8), C.J. Johnson (11), Chris Gant Jr. (13), Caleb Coleman (18), Elijah Brody (19), Austin Brawley (21), Nick Wheeler (23), C.J. McBean (26), Aaron Smith (29), Keshawn Monroe (30), Victor Villafuerte (35)

Key player to watch: Austin Brawley. The 5-10, 178-pound Ohio transfer was a mainstay in the secondary this spring after making 38 total tackles and one interception with the Bobcats last season. He’s far and away the most well-versed player in defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky’s defense, and that showed with his usage this spring.

Transfer to watch: C.J. Johnson. The 6-2, 200-pound former three-star prospect didn’t see the field in two years at Auburn, but remains an intriguing addition at boundary safety with his physicality and athleticism.

“I feel like that fits my skills in the perfect way — being in the run support more than the free safety, but also covering slot (receivers), tight ends, (the) middle (of the) field,” Johnson told the Journal of his likely position in May. “Coming down and playing the zone underneath and also coming off the edge on the blitz, that fits me perfect.”

Sleeper to watch: David Murphy. The 5-10, 197-pound Cleveland High School graduate and former walk-on found himself in a far more pronounced role this spring, notably coming in as an extra safety to fill out UNM’s posse (dime, or six defensive backs) package.

“Big, big fan of David Murphy,” Nowinsky said this spring. “ … He gives you all he has. Does he make mistakes? Oh, absolutely. But he makes them full speed.

“Even if it’s wrong, because of his efforts and his ability to be very, very physical, it’s not gonna be as bad of an error. It’s going to be not as noticeable …. I’m okay with whatever the result is with a guy like that on the field.”

Freshman to watch: C.J. McBean. The 6-2, 185-pound former three-star prospect and Idaho commit made 82 total tackles and three interceptions as a senior last season at Serra (Calif.) High School; McBean was also a prolific receiver, catching 41 passes for 841 yards and six touchdowns.

“He’s a big hitter in the secondary with plenty of range … an easy Power 4 prospect and is easily among the most underrecruited players for his talent level in (California),” 24/7 Sports recruiting analyst Greg Biggins wrote in an evaluation of McBean.

Cornerback

What the room looks like: Abraham Williams (2), Jayden Sheridan (4), Frankie Edwards III (5), Jon Johnson (12), Melaki Gutierrez (14), Azariah Levells (24), D’Sean Martinez (25), Jahmir Torres (28), Keith Reddix (39), Drew Speech (47)

Key player to watch: Abraham Williams. The 6-1, 189-pound Idaho transfer was UNM’s CB1 this spring, routinely shining in coverage after making 16 tackles in an injury-shortened season last year. Williams is also expected to get plenty of time at kick returner; the former FCS All-American has an unbelievable five career 100-yard kickoff return touchdowns.

Transfer to watch: Jon Johnson. If Williams debuted at the front of UNM’s corners this spring, Johnson wasn’t far behind: the 5-11, 169-pound Montana State transfer got plenty of run with the first team defense after coming up with 22 total tackles and two interceptions last season with the Bobcats.

Sleeper to watch: Drew Speech. With UNM’s secondary decimated by injuries, the 6-2, 192-pound redshirt junior was a surprise contributor down the stretch last season, putting up near-lights out coverage in the Lobos’ 38-35 win over then-ranked Washington State. Speech made some plays this spring, too — could a young, but productive, holdover play his way into an expanded role this season?

Freshman to watch: Jahmir Torres. The one true freshman in the room is listed at 6-0, 185 pounds and he chose the Lobos over offers from Arizona and UNLV after making 34 total tackles and three interceptions last season at King/Drew (Calif.) High School. Like McBean, Torres also made an impact on the offensive side of the ball, catching 34 passes for 800 yards and 11 touchdowns.