Gonzales confirms the expected: Hopkins No. 1 QB
Oklahoma transfer not on Lobos’ roster
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – It wasn’t much of a secret this spring. Nor was it much of a mystery when University of New Mexico quarterback Dylan Hopkins took the podium at Mountain West football media days this week.
“To bring a transfer to media days when he’s been in your program for six months is pretty significant,” UNM coach Danny Gonzales said. “It’s a good tale of what our guys on our team think about him.”
On Thursday, Gonzales confirmed the expected: Hopkins will be the starter heading into training camp.The UAB transfer completed 291 passes on 450 attempts (64.6%) for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his final two seasons with the Blazers before reuniting this spring with UNM offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent.
“Coming in with a new offense, when you have the most important piece, that helps significantly with the install,” Gonzales said. “So we had a leg up there, and then Dylan’s a good player … players know who good players are. He’s really helped our program.”
Hopkins has 25 career starts over four seasons, making him the second-most experienced quarterback in the Mountain West behind only San Jose State’s Chevan Cordeiro (35). Starting UNM’s season opener at Texas A&M would also make him the 10th different opening day quarterback for the Lobos in as many seasons.
Gonzales added the competition for the backup spot between quarterbacks D.C. Tabscott, Justin Holaday and Devon Dampier is still unsettled and will be contested this fall.
Camp begins August 3. TRANSFER UPDATES: With the release of the 2023 media guide, all announced midyear and postspring transfers were listed on the roster – except for one. Oklahoma transfer safety and midyear headliner Bryson Washington will not be at UNM this fall, with Gonzales citing incomplete academic work.
The replacement? Another former four-star.
On Thursday, Gonzales confirmed the addition of Noa PolaGates, a Nebraska transfer safety who played primarily on special teams with the Huskers. While serving as the defensive coordinator at Arizona State, Gonzales recruited the Gilbert, Arizona native hard out of Williams Field High School before losing a national recruiting battle to Nebraska.
“He’s explosive, he’s talented and I’ve had a really good relationship with him and his family for the past five years,” Gonzales said. “It was an easy transition when he became available in the transfer portal.”
Pola-Gates is one of eight spring-window transfer additions Gonzales confirmed on Thursday. The only other defensive addition, East Los Angeles College transfer linebacker Kamron Robinson, had 55 total tackles (27 solo), one sack and one interception in 2022 and looks to play at linebacker and on special teams this fall.
“He’s fast, he’s twitchy,” Gonzales said. “He’s played significant time off the ball.”
Offensively, Gonzales also confirmed the addition of two Alabama State transfers in running back Jacory Merritt and offensive lineman Taurian Stafford. Wide receiver Jeremiah Hixon – also an Alabama State transfer – played a key role in UNM’s vetting process.
“(Merritt) and (Stafford) were in the portal and we asked Jeremiah Hixon about those guys,” Gonzales said. “The worst thing you can do is bring in a bad apple and he vouched for those guys.”
Colorado transfer Travis Gray joins Stafford as the other offensive lineman picked up through the spring window. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 324 pounds, Gray was “cut” as part of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders’ roster purge at the conclusion of spring practice.
“I think they made a mistake, which is our benefit,” Gonzales said. “(He’s) 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, which you can’t teach. He’s an athlete, but he’s a freshman. And you’ve got to develop those guys.”
The Lobos added Mississippi State transfer Kaydin Pope. As Gonzales tells it, the former threestar receiver made the decision to transfer due to Mississippi State transitioning away from the Air Raid offense of former coach Mike Leach, who died last December.
“Which is kind of ironic, because they’re changing to more of what we do … I think he really liked what we’re trying to build here,” Gonzales said.
Rounding out the spring additions, Gonzales confirmed the addition of two tight ends: 6-foot6 East Carolina transfer Max Lantzsch and 6-foot-6 Riverside CC transfer Wyatt McClour. Born in Dresden, Germany, Lantzsch joins Magnus Geers (Switzerland) as UNM’s second European-born tight end.
“They look the part,” Gonzales said of Lantzsch and McClour. “We’ll see if we can teach them to play like they’re supposed to.”
PREP ADDITIONS: Transfers weren’t the only new names on the roster. The new additions from the prep ranks: Dereck Moore (S); Edward Blacklock (CB); Hunter Wiggins (S); Aiden Armenta (QB); Jayden Wilson (LB); Skylar Cook (S); Ezra Sexton (S); Austin Ackel (LB); Zach Doyle (DL).