UNM head football coach Mike Locksley dipped into the New Mexico talent pool and snagged two top athletes from the Land of Enchantment.
Incoming freshman Dante Caro was among the two New Mexicans to sign with the University. The other was Artesia's Dallas Bollema.
Locksley's recruiting class consists of 19 players. While many of those players will have to travel to Albuquerque from distant destinations, Caro is only three hours away.
Caro, the former quarterback for the Las Cruces Bulldawgs, helped lead his team to an undefeated season and a 5A State Championship.
His stats are impressive. He threw for an average of 150 yards per game, completed 67 percent of his passes and tossed 16 touchdowns in his senior season. He also showed that he can move with the ball: He dashed for an average of more than 10 yards per carry, and piled up 14 rushing touchdowns.
Caro made a name for himself under center, but he also played defense in high school.
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"This past year I actually had to make my coach put me on defense because he didn't want me there," Caro said. "Playing defense was a lot of fun this year, and that is kind of why I'm leaning toward (defensive back)."
As the leader of a championship team in New Mexico, Caro was a coveted acquisition for Lobo recruiting coordinator J.B. Gerald.
"You have to take care of your backyard," Gerald said. "That is one of the biggest things in college football. You can't let other schools come in and take your best talent."
But to keep Caro in New Mexico's backyard, the Lobos had to steal him away from his actual backyard - NMSU. The new staff and the educational opportunity drew him to Albuquerque, Caro said.
"(Staying in Las Cruces) would have been nice for me and my family, because I have a big family down here and a lot of support," Caro said. "But I just couldn't stay away from what UNM had to offer."
And Caro hopes to offer something in return. Caro took snaps behind the center in high school, but on the college level he is better suited for other positions because the Lobos have at least three capable quarterbacks ahead of the freshman. Instead, Caro said he will fill whatever position the coaching staff needs him to.
"He has the ability to do a slew of things, whether it is defensive back or wide receiver," Gerald said. "He probably won't be playing quarterback, but he has the ability to help us out on both sides of the football."
In fact, on the Lobo roster, Caro is not listed as defensive back, receiver or quarterback. The position next to his name is simply "athlete."
"That's what he is," Gerald said. "He's just an athlete. He is a guy who can do a bunch of things for you, and we are excited to have him."
Off the field, Caro hopes to get a degree in pharmacy, a competitive six-year program.
"I'm not that nervous about the football workload, but school-wise, it is going to be a lot more difficult. But I think I can handle it," Caro said.
And even though Caro is supposed to be a student-athlete, he said he has his priorities.
"I know my mom would want me to say I'm playing football to go to college and to get my education," Caro said. "But I like football. So, I think I am going to college to play football."
