UNM offers dual-sport star Evan Nañez in football

One of the state’s most intriguing prospects has his first football offer.

Cleveland wide receiver Evan Nañez was offered by New Mexico last weekend, he announced Friday via social media.

“Blessed to receive my first Division I football offer!” he posted via X. “Thank you (UNM head coach Jason Eck) and (wide receiver coach Carson Walch) for believing in me.”

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound incoming junior caught 51 passes for 996 yards and 16 touchdowns last season with the Storm, emerging as one of the state’s top receiver prospects. He rushed for an additional 199 yards and four touchdowns as Cleveland won a state title and placed 10 athletes — Nañez included — on the Journal’s All-Metro team.

Nañez is also among New Mexico’s most prized basketball prospects, holding offers from New Mexico State, Southern Utah and Northern New Mexico. His father, Michael Nañez, walked on to the NMSU basketball team in the 1998-99 season.

Evan Nañez played basketball with and took classes at ABC Prep Academy last season, but will “probably” attend Cleveland in an attempt to play basketball with the Storm this season, a decision he’s been mulling over the last few weeks.

“We just thought it was a better decision for me … It’s a lot of driving (back and forth) for me,” he said.

Blessed to receive my first division 1 football offer! Thank you @Coach_Eck @Carson_Walch for believing in me. #2028 @Beau_Davidson @Coach_Ridenour @Coach_RGarza @coach_crow @PrepRedzoneNM @nmpreps @247Sports @UNMLoboFB @tony_mccoy3 @_teamgoi pic.twitter.com/ILePx0eBIm