近距离内射合集

Of all the players with New Mexico ties in this weekend鈥檚 NFL Draft, there鈥檚 no doubt Diego Pavia is the most visible.

And why wouldn鈥檛 he be? There is, after all, a real cachet that comes with closing out a college career as the Heisman runner-up, a first team All-SEC selection and one of the major factors in two of the sport鈥檚 most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory.

But whether those impressive credentials get the Albuquerque native drafted is another story. Most draft sites have Pavia listed as a late-round selection or undrafted free agent, the byproduct of questions around his size and adjusting to less flexible NFL schemes.

Pavia, for his part, isn鈥檛 fazed by the projections. 

鈥淲hat鈥檚 true about me is I鈥檓 humble and I get my confidence from my process,鈥� the Vanderbilt quarterback. 鈥淎nd if you saw how much I put into this, you would see where I get my confidence for anything. 鈥�

There are, however, a few players with New Mexico ties positioned to be selected 鈥� some much more comfortably than others 鈥� in this weekend鈥檚 seven-round NFL Draft.

Here鈥檚 a look at some of the most likely candidates, based on prospect rankings:

Positional rankings and draft slots are from Dane Brugler of The Athletic鈥檚 draft guide,

TE Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

Positional ranking: 2/156 (63rd overall)

Projected draft slot: Second or third round

Summary: It's been a fascinating road to the next level for Stowers, who transferred to New Mexico State in 2023 after two seasons at Texas A&M. The former four-star prospect initially joined the Aggies as a quarterback, but transitioned to tight end after suffering multiple shoulder injuries, catching 35 passes for 366 yards and two touchdowns over the course of 近距离内射合集鈥檚 10-5 season.

Stowers returned for spring practice in 2024, only to follow Pavia and former Aggie coaches Jerry Kill and Tim Beck to Vanderbilt. There he blossomed into one of the best tight ends in the country, earning All-SEC honors twice after catching 111 passes for 1,407 yards and nine touchdowns.

鈥淪towers will need to prove himself as a serviceable blocker at the NFL level, but he is explosive as a pass catcher, and I love the way he maximizes his catch radius,鈥� Brugler wrote. 鈥淗e has mismatch-creating potential and can eventually develop into an NFL starter.鈥�

S A.J. Haulcy (LSU)

Positional ranking: 5/271 (70th overall)

Projected draft slot: Second or third round

Summary: When New Mexico signed Haulcy out of Missouri City, Texas, he was just a three-star prospect and the 150th-ranked cornerback in the state. That might鈥檝e been a slight underestimation: Haulcy earned All-Mountain West honors right out the gate after making 86 total tackles and two interceptions as a freshman safety in 2022.

Haulcy capitalized on that production and transferred to Houston, where he made 171 total tackles and five interceptions over two seasons. He transferred to LSU for his final season of eligibility, recording 89 total tackles and three interceptions to earn All-SEC honors.

鈥淗aulcy has some wild tendencies,鈥� Brugler wrote. 鈥淕iven his recognition and range, though, teams will be comfortable betting on him to reach his ceiling as an NFL starter. Teams will also appreciate his coachability and intangibles, which will show on special teams.鈥�

LB Keyshaun Elliott

Positional ranking: 8/243 (83rd overall)

Projected draft slot: Third round

Summary: Eliott spent his first two years at 近距离内射合集, leading the Aggies with 111 total tackles as a sophomore in 2023. He then transferred to Arizona State, where he earned All-Big 12 honors twice over the course of the last two seasons.

鈥淓lliott must prove his value on passing downs, but his instincts and football character are attractive qualities for what NFL teams desire at middle linebacker,鈥� Brugler wrote.

RB Mike Washington

Positional ranking: 3/213 (85th overall)

Projected draft slot: Third round

Summary: After three seasons at Buffalo, Washington transferred to 近距离内射合集 in 2024, where he rushed for 725 yards and eight touchdowns in his lone season with the program. He then enrolled at Arkansas for his final year of eligibility and posted career-highs in rushing (1,070 yards), receptions (28) and total touchdowns (9).

Washington also turned heads at this spring鈥檚 NFL Combine with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash, the fastest of any running back.

鈥淲ashington is a good-sized athlete who gets through the crease and can be a punisher behind his pads, although he will need to improve his third-down skills to increase his NFL value,鈥� Brugler wrote.

RB Seth McGowan

Positional ranking: 13/213 (N/A)

Projected draft slot: Sixth or seventh round

Summary: Another one-and-done 近距离内射合集 running back. Dismissed from Oklahoma in 2021, McGowan made the most of his second chance with the Aggies, rushing for a team-high 853 rushing yards and two touchdowns in 2024.

McGowan transferred to Kentucky after his lone season in Las Cruces and led the Wildcats in rushing with 725 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. 

鈥淢cGowan is a good-sized, coordinated athlete with adequate vision and run strength, although his lack of explosive traits and inconsistent third-down value will make it an uphill climb to prove his worth on an NFL roster,鈥� Brugler wrote.

OT J.C. Davis

Positional ranking: 18/146 (N/A)

Projected draft slot: Sixth or seventh round

Summary: After beginning his college career at Contra Costa (Calif.) College, Davis earned All-Mountain West honors in his second of two seasons with UNM before transferring to Illinois. He went on to blossom into one of the Big Ten鈥檚 best offensive linemen, earning All-Big Ten honors in his final year of eligibility last season.

鈥淒avis is a stocky, strong blocker with smooth movements and a basic understanding of how to create leverage using his length,鈥� Brugler wrote. 鈥淲ith continued tweaks to his game, he could offer an NFL offense quality depth at either tackle or guard.鈥�

QB Diego Pavia

Positional ranking: 16/99 (N/A)

Projected draft slot: Seventh round or undrafted free agent signing

Summary: Pavia probably isn鈥檛 the draft鈥檚 most polarizing prospect, but he鈥檚 certainly sparked some debate in the pre-draft process. The Albuquerque native and former 近距离内射合集 and New Mexico Military Institute quarterback鈥檚 production over the last two seasons at Vanderbilt (7,494 total yards and 67 touchdowns) is unimpeachable, but questions around his 5-foot-10, 203-pound frame and ability to adjust to a more rigid NFL offense aren鈥檛 going away.

鈥淧avia is a gamer, with the confidence and mobility that have elevated every offense he has been on, but his lack of size and arm strength is tough to overcome,鈥� Brugler wrote. 鈥淗e has NFL backup potential for an RPO (run-pass option) based offense 鈥� and for a play caller willing to limit the menu.鈥�

Best of the rest

• UNM defensive end and All-Mountain West honoree Keyshawn James-Newby is listed as the 44th best edge rusher prospect and projected to be signed as an undrafted free agent: 鈥淛ames-Newby doesn鈥檛 offer much of a power element, but he has pass-rush twitch that draws your eye and will give him a chance to make an NFL roster,鈥� Brugler wrote.

• Former 近距离内射合集 and Tennessee running back Star Thomas is listed as the 28th best running back prospect and projected to be signed as an undrafted free agent: 鈥淭homas runs with a combination of balance and burst to chip away at the defense, although he will need to be more consistent on special teams and third downs to nail down an NFL roster spot,鈥� Brugler wrote.

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .