NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The majority of incoming freshmen on the UNM football team arrived last week
Last week, as University of New Mexico freshman Andrell Barney Jr. settled in his new home in Albuquerque, he took a moment to walk around the campus by himself.
The 5-foot-11 defensive back from Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona made sure to familiarize himself with his new surroundings as he never had the opportunity to do so because of the coronavirus pandemic last year.
Barney and the majority of the incoming freshmen arrived last week at UNM for what they believe will be a special season.
“I was like, ‘I’m really here,’” Barney said as he walked around UNM. “I was just thinking that at this point that I’m here, it’s just time to play football and have fun.”
Barney was one of two freshmen, including offensive lineman Larry Luna, who spoke to the media prior to a special dinner event for the freshmen and their families on Friday night on the third floor of the Tow Diehm facility.
A reporter told Barney that the UNM defensive backs have struggled recently against the pass, giving up big plays that would sometimes sway momentum in favor of the opponent.
“That’s why I’m here,” Barney said with a smile. “We gotta shore it up. We will.”
Barney has done his research on UNM, but he knew about the Lobos long before choosing to play for them. His stepmother is Brandi Kimble, a former guard who played for the UNM women’s basketball team 13 years ago.
Barney says Kimble still has a nice outside shot and has used it against him when they
have played against each other.
“It was by coincidence that I chose UNM,” Barney said. “It was never in my mind. I never thought about UNM and that she went there until I got the offer. And then I thought it would be cool. As I started to see more and thinking that I might be going here, she told me it was great. You’re basically a celebrity here because there’s no big team here. So everyone knows you.
We went to Walmart a couple of days ago to get some stuff for my dorm. Everyone was excited to see us and talking about, ‘Oh my god.’ It felt good. It was nice.”
Barney, who will most likely play cornerback, is one of five defensive backs among the 20 incoming freshmen who are on scholarship. His roommate is Coryon Francis, a 6-2, 180-pound defensive back from North Crowley High in Fort Worth, Texas.
Barney is known for his versatility, as he lettered in football, baseball and track and field at Basha. He also played receiver, with six receiving touchdowns in 2020, and returned punts and kickoffs.
Luna, who played for Goddard High in Roswell, was also excited to be settling in at UNM and meeting his new teammates and coaches.
Friday was a unique night, Lobo coach Danny Gonzales said. The UNM head man spent his first football season in Las Vegas, Nevada as the Lobos were relocated because of the COVID-19 restrictions in Albuquerque. UNM went 2-5. Gonzales and his staff did their best to recruit with so many limitations, meeting with the freshmen virtually.
Barney said he bought into UNM because Gonzales’ background is defense and he learned from Rocky Long, the former UNM and San Diego State head coach who is the Lobos’ defensive coordinator.
Luna actually committed to UNM in February of 2020, less than a month before the coronavirus pandemic began. His recruiting contact was offensive line coach Jason Lenzmeier, who also played for the Lobos, as Gonzales and Long did.
“I’m excited to get into a new program and a season of rebuilding,” Luna said. “I think it’s cool because all of us are new to it. We’re all going to come together to build one team. It’s going to be a great experience.”