Ex-UNM running back heads to USC

New Mexico’s most explosive rusher has found a new home.

Former University of New Mexico running back Eli Sanders announced his commitment to the University of Southern California on Wednesday via a post on social media.

The 5-foot-11 Iowa State transfer rushed for 1,063 yards and nine touchdowns in his lone season with the Lobos, earning an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection in the process. He joins quarterback Devon Dampier (Utah) and wide receiver Luke Wysong (Arizona) in a group of highly prolific players leaving UNM for Power 4 programs.

Sanders has one year of eligibility remaining.

“Committed!!” he posted on X. “Fight on!!”

Sanders was perhaps UNM’s most publicly sought-after transfer, receiving offers from Power 4 programs that included Arkansas, Michigan State, Arizona and Virginia Tech after announcing his plans to enter the transfer portal on Dec. 6. But the Trojans won him over during a two-day visit last week, with the Oceanside, Calif., native citing USC as his “dream school” growing up.

Sanders is now in position to help replace senior Woody Marks (1,133 yards) and freshman Quinten Joyner (478 yards), who entered the portal on Dec. 9.

He said USC head coach Lincoln Riley, a Muleshoe native, and running backs coach Anthony Jones Jr. “just made the whole experience at USC awesome,” he told 24/7 Sports. “It was a family oriented atmosphere there ... The offense is a great fit for me.

“I feel very comfortable running counter, going either inside or outside zone. It’s perfectly fitted for my skill set.”

Sanders transferred to UNM from Iowa State in January 2023 and surged to the top of the Lobos’ congested running back room during spring practice and fall camp.

After a midseason lull, Sanders was most prolific for UNM in the back half of last season, notably exploding for a career-high 205 yards with two touchdowns in a 49-45 shootout loss to Wyoming on Nov. 2.

UNM’s most explosive back combined with Dampier, the team’s leading rusher, for 412 total rushing yards that day, the first time the Lobos have had two triple-digit rushers since UNM had three players do it in 2017.

One week later, Sanders anchored the offense with 175 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-16 win over San Diego State. He finished with 607 yards in the final four games of the season, one that saw UNM finish 5-7.

Sanders was one of four former Lobos to announce new schools on Wednesday. Cornerback Bryson Taylor, long snapper Hyrum Hatch and wide receiver D’Angelo Mayes were all signed out of the portal by Utah State, the program announced via social media.

A 6-0, 175-pound junior, Taylor served as UNM’s primary starter at boundary cornerback, making a career-high 58 total tackles in 12 games. He has one year of eligibility remaining.

Hatch, a 6-0, 196-pound freshman, appeared in all 12 games this season and has three years of eligibility remaining. Mayes, a 6-2, 175-pound Syracuse, Utah native, logged two tackles over the course of eight games; the true freshman has also three years of eligibility remaining.

Utah State is led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who was formally announced in his role on Dec. 6 after spending just one season with UNM. He was replaced by former Idaho coach Jason Eck this month.