NMHU Sings 49 Players
by NMHU Athletics
Las Vegas, NM: NMHU Head Coach Chad Roanhaus is pleased to announce his first recruiting class at NMHU. Roanhaus was hired on December 17th of this year after the contract of former Cowboy Head Coach Pablo Cano was not renewed after the 2007 season. The Cowboys’ new Head Coach and his staff hit the ground running as they have signed a record 32 freshmen to the Cowboys program. They have also added in 17 transfers from both junior colleges and four-year institutions. That brings Coach Roanhaus’ total to 49 new faces that will suit up for the Cowboys next fall.
The Cowboy coaching staff centered their recruiting class around the offensive line, a problem spot for the Cowboys in the years past. The Cowboys have 8 freshmen and 6 transfers to bring some depth to the trenches. This class of offensive linemen may be young, but they are some large individuals. Texas offensive linemen, Jake Deutchman (6’7” 310 pounds), Jared Benton (6’5” 325), and Broderick Humphrey (6’2” 285) will add some needed depth to the Cowboys offensive line. Deutchman was a 5A All-District Linemen for Austin HS in Austin, TX. Benton was a 5A All-District and 5A All-State lineman for North Shore HS in Houston, TX. Humphrey, another Houston product, was a 5A All-District lineman for Clear Brook HS. The Cowboys have also added Chris Snyder (6’4” 260), Ray Keith (6’3” 330), and Gabriel Rodriguez (6’1” 250). Snyder is a top 10 offensive line recruit from Eagle Crest HS in Parker, CO. Keith is a 4A All-District lineman and was named 1st team All-State by NMpreps.com from Espanola Valley HS in Espanola, NM. Rodriguez is a 4A All-District and All-State selection for Artesia HS in Artesia, NM. In addition to the talented freshman class, the Cowboys have added 8 transfers to bring some experience to what will be a very young offensive line in 2008. They are; Chase Denton (6’2” 280, Clovis CC), Jordan Hinze (6’1” 300, ENMU), Tim Rogers (6’3” 300, NMMI), Preston Moran (6’0” 275, Victor Valley JC), Christian Tellez (6’1” 260, West LA JC) and Manuel Contreras (6’2” 320, Cabrillo JC). Denton, Hinze, Rogers, and Moran are already on campus and will be ready for the 2008 season.
Coach Roanhaus is very excited about these new linemen and looks forward to them, “being the cornerstones of his team”. Coach Roanhaus states, “This is a group of great offensive linemen who are not only gifted athletes, but great people off the field. They have great character and work ethic, which will help our offense be one of the best in the RMAC. They will be great building blocks for the future success of Cowboy Football.”
Coach Roanhaus and staff just didn’t look for linemen, they had some holes to fill from the large group of seniors that finished the 2007 season. Kick-Off Returner / Wide Receiver, Travis Lee (5’10” 175, JR, Mount San Antonio JC), will be someone to watch in the 2008 season. Lee averaged 30+ yards on punt returns for the Mounties and also was a phenomenal kick-off returner. “Travis will be doing big things for us in the fall” says Coach Roanhaus when asked what he thinks of Lee. Another notable transfer is Defensive Tackle, John Hampton (6’0” 320, College of the Siskiyous JC). Hampton is a tenacious pass rusher who will only add to the depth of the Cowboy defensive line that posted 31 quarterback sacks in 2007.
The Cowboy Coaching Staff has also set another precedent in Cowboy Football by recruiting 17 freshmen from New Mexico. That has not been the norm for the Cowboys in the past as the last coaching staffs have recruited predominantly Junior College players and out-of-state freshmen. “ We are New Mexico Highlands University, I think that it’s about time that we have some athletes from New Mexico on our roster.” says Roanhaus. The Cowboys finished 4-6 overall and 3-5 in RMAC play in 2007. Coach Roanhaus and staff look to take their first step in improving last year’s record with the start of Spring Ball on April 7th and will complete their spring drills with the Purple - White Scrimmage on April 26th at 1:00pm at Perkins Stadium in Las Vegas, NM. The Cowboys open their 2008 season on the road with an August 28th game against MIAA opponent, Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS.
NMHU Signees and Mid-Year Transfers
FRESHMEN
Name Height Weight Position Year HS / Previous School Hometown
Adam Romero 6'1" 220 DE FR Mullen HS Littleton, CO
Doug Hitchens 6'1" 240 DL FR Steele HS Cibolo, TX
Mark Moulton 6'2" 190 QB FR Capital HS Santa Fe, NM
Jordan Mendoza 6'3" 195 QB FR Clovis HS Clovis, NM
Jake Deutchman 6'7" 310 OL FR Austin HS Austin, TX
Ray Keith 6'3" 350 OL FR Espanola Valley HS Espanola, NM
Corey Nickerson 6'1" 188 DB FR Temecula HS Temecula, CA
Steven Nickerson 6'4" 190 DB FR Temecula HS Temecula, CA
Chris Snyder 6'4" 260 OL FR Eagle Crest HS Parker, CO
Gabriel Rodriguez 6'1" 250 OL FR Artesia HS Artesia, NM
Derek Nunez 6'0" 190 QB FR Santa Fe HS Santa Fe, NM
Corey Roybal 6'2" 220 DE FR Cibola HS Albuquerque, NM
Justin Kemp 6'0" 175 WR FR Lenzinger HS Long Beach, CA
Tony Kemper 5'9" 180 RB FR Stanley Lake HS Stanley Lake, CO
Tommy Cogburn 5'9" 170 WR FR South El Monte HS El Monte, CA
Joaquin Orejel 5'9" 170 DB FR Cordova HS Rancho Cordova, CA
Dominic Medrano 6'1" 190 ATH FR Capital HS Santa Fe, NM
Steve Maestas 6'1" 180 ATH FR Santa Fe HS Santa Fe, NM
Billy Ortiz 6'0" 240 ATH FR Santa Fe HS Santa Fe, NM
Marshall Markham 6'2" 200 WR/OLB/S FR Capital HS Santa Fe, NM
Dillon Lucero 6'0 200 OL / TE FR Mayfield HS Las Cruces, NM
Greg Rivera 6'1" 190 K/P/DE FR St. Pius X HS Albuquerque, NM
Dock Rich 5'10" 170 DB FR Mandarin HS Jacksonville, FL
Eric Dyer 6'0" 190 WR FR Spring Valley HS Las Vegas, NV
Gabe Olivas ??? ??? WR FR Raton HS Raton, NM
Jason Burns 6'1" 265 DE FR Clovis HS Clovis, NM
Broderick Humphrey 6'2" 285 OL FR Clear Brook HS Houston, TX
Jared Benton 6'5" 325 OL FR Northshore HS Houston
