From coast to coast, UNM football gets commitments

Back from Florida, lineman in San Diego say they’ll be Lobos

A commitment to UNM football seems like a weekly occurrence these days.

Raheem Toombs, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back from Immokalee High in Florida, is the latest to have announced his commitment to the University of New Mexico for the 2021 season via Twitter.

The Lobos’ recent recruiting efforts also includes work for the upcoming season with 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive lineman Vincent Santos committing to UNM, also making his announcement on Twitter. Santos is coming in from Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Toombs becomes the 13th commit for UNM’s 2021 class, and he’s the first running back and first from Florida in this class. There are seven from Texas, two from California and three from New Mexico. Commitments are nonbinding.

Toombs chose the Lobos over Southern Mississippi, Kentucky and Liberty. He said one of the reasons he chose UNM was because of the energy generated from a new coaching staff that includes head coach Danny Gonzales and running backs coach Jordan Somerville. Toombs said he connected with Somer

ville, the Lobos’ director of recruiting.

“The momentum has been great for New Mexico since they have gotten new coaches,” Toombs said in a phone interview on Thursday. “They have gotten more and more commitments. I think the 2021 class can be great.”

Toombs recently visited UNM virtually and spent time with Gonzales and his staff on a Zoom call.

Santos, a guard, earned All-CIF honors as a lineman for Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California before playing for the Navy prep school last year.

Santos, 19, who is in San Diego, said he plans to move to Albuquerque in July.

“I’m excited to play football for New Mexico,” Santos said. “I always put it up for my pops. He passed away, but that’s why I play football. I’m excited to make an impact for New Mexico.”

Santos’ father, Atonio “Nio” Santos, played as a standout defensive lineman for San Diego State in the early 1990s.