Lobos land commitment from JUCO defensive end

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The Lobos have a little more help on the way.

Transfer defensive end Brayden Ellis committed to New Mexico on Friday via social media, representing the first transfer to commit to the Lobos since winter.

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound sophomore chose UNM over UTSA after making eight total tackles last season at College of San Mateo. Before that, he played one year at City College of San Francisco, where he made 33 total tackles and four sacks in 2024.

Ellis has two years of eligibility remaining.

“Blessed to announce I’ve committed to (UNM)!” he posted Friday on X. “Thank you to (head coach Jason Eck) and (defensive line coach Hebron Fangupo) for the opportunity! Thankful for my coaches and teammates (at College of San Mateo)!”

Blessed to announce I’ve committed to the @UNMLoboFB! Thank you to @Coach_Eck and @LoniFangupo for the opportunity! Thankful for my coach’s and teammates @CSM_Football! #golobos #back2work @coachTcsm @tlbutler5 @Coach_Sekona @coach_schrider pic.twitter.com/7BywHoe3fQ

— Brayden Ellis (@Ellis_Brayden13) May 22, 2026

A Union City, Calif. native, Ellis prepped at Saint Francis (Calif.) High School. He made 17 total tackles and 1.5 sacks as a senior with the Lancers in 2022.

Ellis joins defensive end Albert Tuakalau as the second College of San Mateo transfer to join the Lobos this year. The 6-5, 235-pound Tuakalau is firmly in the mix to start for UNM after joining the program over the winter.

Ellis also played with former UNM punter Daniel Hughes at City College of San Francisco. Hughes started every game for the Lobos last season before transferring to Florida State.

The Lobos completed spring practice in April and were recently listed by three national sportsbooks as the odds-on favorite to win the Mountain West under Eck, UNM’s second-year head coach.

UNM has not been favored to win the league since joining in 1999. The program has not won a conference title since winning the WAC in 1964.

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

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