Former Cleveland Star having a breakout year for UNM

RIO RANCHO — One of the best players to ever put on a Cleveland Storm uniform is having a breakout season for the University of New Mexico football team.

Despite only being four games into the season, UNM receiver Luke Wysong has already topped his previous season’s bests for catches, targets and receiving yards. So far, Wysong has 30 catches, 407 receiving yards, two 100-yard games and one touchdown. He also has five carries for 27 rushing yards.

At this pace, Wysong is projected to finish the season with 90 catches, 1,221 yards and four touchdowns. If the projections are true, he would be the first UNM football player to eclipse 1,000 yards since Marcus Smith and Travis Brown both did in 2007. He would also have a shot at owning the UNM single-season records for catches and receiving yards.

• Current UNM record for single-season receptions: Marcus Smith, 91 catches (2007)

• Current UNM record for single-season receiving yards: Terance Mathis, 1,315 yards (1989)

If UNM’s most recent game against Fresno State on Sept. 21 was any indication, in which he had 10 catches and 126 yards, Wysong isn’t just having a breakout season but is clearly the top target for the UNM offense.

On Sept. 14, against heavily favored Auburn, the offensive gameplan out of the gate was to get Wysong the ball. Clearly, the UNM coaches believed that the best path toward upsetting a Southeastern Conference (SEC) team was through Wysong, and that really is a testament to his role on the team. The first play of the game was a tunnel screen pass to Wysong, and the second play was a RPO to Wysong, who rushed for a first down. On the third play of the game, Wysong, in motion, baited two defenders on a post route, which left UNM receiver Ryan Davis wide open for a catch. At the conclusion of the first quarter, Wysong had five touches on seven targets, and three of his touches went for first downs.

Wysong’s best game of the season so far came against ranked University of Arizona on Aug. 31. Arizona’s tall and lengthy defensive backs, led by projected first round pick (in the 2025 NFL Draft) Tacario Davis, struggled to keep Wysong in check. Wysong caught the ball eight times for 129 yards and a touchdown. On third-and-20, Wysong made an unbelievable contested catch for 31 yards. On that play, he was double-covered by defensive backs Gunner Maldonado and Treydan Stukes, caught a wobbly ball, and took a big hit in the process. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), a football analytic database, Wysong finished the game with an elite offensive grade of 87.3.

If Wysong continues his stellar season, then there will be a strong case for him being selected in the 2025 NFL draft — if he decides to declare. Wysong is athletic, understands the position and knows how to get open and consistently catch the ball. The cherry on top is Wysong’s experience as a return specialist, especially given the new NFL kickoff rules.

“Luke has an unmatched work ethic. Regardless of constant coaching changes at UNM, Luke emerges as a team captain and leader by example. ...He is the measuring stick when it comes to effort and attitude on a football team. ...He is constantly drawing the defenses best coverage people, yet he continually gets open and makes contested catches in critical situations. His consistency in both practice and in games is what will ultimately give him a shot to play in the NFL. I do believe he will get an opportunity to play in the NFL,” said Cleveland coach Heath Ridenour, who coached Wysong at Cleveland and at UNM. “Luke knows more than anyone that success is a process and not a destination. He will continue to keep his nose to the grind and he will be ready for any opportunity presented to him in the future.”

While at Cleveland, Wysong lettered in football under Ridenour and in track under Coach Kenny Henry. He is also Cleveland’s only student to be named Gatorade Player of the Year in two different sports: football (2020-21 season) and track and field (2020-21 season).