Greyhound program plans standard signing class

PORTALES - Nothing has been normal for the Eastern New Mexico University football program since the COVID-19 pandemic began last March.

The last 10-plus months started with the Greyhound spring training season wiped out. Then the university decided it would sit out the 2020-21 Lone Star Conference season that got pushed into the spring. And that decision became a moot point when the LSC canceled spring football plans.

Today brings a rare moment of normalcy, with coach Kelley Lee reporting the Greyhound program plans its standard signing class between 50 and 60 athletes.

This is the first day student-athletes can officially sign binding letters of intent to Division II football programs like ENMU. Land of Enchantment prospects who have verbally committed to the Green and Silver include Las Cruces quarterback Marcos Lopez and the Goddard pair of receiver/defensive back Nate Stone and defensive end/tight end Fernando Rubio.

The Greyhound haul is a also anticipated to include Devin Bailey of Melrose. The Clovis pair of Ernesto Acuna and Jeston Webskowski had verbally committed to the Greyhounds, but both announced Tuesday night they had received offers from the University of New Mexico. Also, Clovis' Johnny Jimenez announced he will be signing with Western New Mexico.

Commitments made verbally are non-binding until a letter of intent is signed.

Other area coaches contacted by The News did not confirm any additional players planning to sign with ENMU or other programs.

Clovis did have two players sign during the early Division I period in December, with quarterback Chance Harris enrolled at Colorado State this spring and tight end/defensive end Jaden Phillips signing with the University of New Mexico.

Greyhound coach Kelley Lee, who is barred from discussing unsigned prospects under NCAA rules, said that losing an entire season to COVID-19 meant the recruiting scope dramatically changed.

"We just recruited every position," Lee said. "A normal recruiting class, you may concentrate on a few particular positions. This class looks like a whole freshman team. We tried to make sure we had a good balance between skill and the line."

Between the canceled LSC football season and the university honoring all athletic scholarships, no Greyhound player lost their year of eligibility. However, Lee said there's still turnover because holdover Greyhounds simply decided to finish up their degree and leave remaining eligibility on the table.

That's been seen in numerous programs - including the ENMU softball program, where starting outfielder Jenny McElroy and starting catcher Parker Smith graduated early and took high school coaching positions.

Any player choosing that path, Lee said, isn't dissuaded because a program should aspire to graduate players, and every early departure helps mitigate a roster crunch the mulligan approach put on LSC football rosters.

"We have a lot more kids wanting to sign than we can take," Lee said. "There are more players than there are opportunities right now."