Despite losing them to the Power 4, NMSU embraces its NFL players as recruiting tool

Four former New Mexico State players were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. The caveat is that none of them were drafted from the Aggies.

Eli Stowers, Mike Washington Jr., Keyshaun Elliott and Seth McGowan all transferred away before their collegiate careers ended. Even the former NM State players who signed undrafted free agent deals like Diego Pavia and Shiyazh Pete finished elsewhere.

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That hasn't stopped the Aggies from honoring them. Not only did they publicly congratulate the four draftees on social media, but they, and others who have gone on to Power Four teams or the NFL, have become recruiting tools.

NM State even called itself a "pipeline to the pros" in that social media post.

"We're not shy about it," said Aggies general manager, assistant head coach and running backs coach David Cobb. "We pride ourselves on being able to develop and recruit better than anybody in the country, and I believe we do that, and I'm not shy to say that. I think we have one of the best staffs that evaluates talent, but also develops that talent. With this portal world, you just have to live in it."

A pipeline to the pros. Four former NM State Football players heard their names called in the 2026 @NFLDraft.🫡#AggieUp | #ProAggiespic.twitter.com/0U8LsV6GEg— New Mexico State Football (@NMStateFootball) April 26, 2026

Players leaving the Aggies for P4 schools en route to the NFL were part of a trend this year. Only 14 players were drafted from the Group of Five in 2026 compared to 231 for the P4. If each player remained at their first school, every G5 conference would've gained draftees, while three of the P4 conferences (except the ACC) would've lost some, with the SEC losing the most at 29.

NM State flips those losses into something positive. Aggies coach Tony Sanchez now pitches the program's development track record to recruits and transfers, highlighting players like McGowan as proof that NM State helps players reach their NFL dreams. The Aggies can also showcase switching Stowers from quarterback to tight end as proof of their astute evaluation, as that's when his career took flight.

"We should use it, because we're part of that journey," said NM State coach Tony Sanchez. "We're not afraid one bit to discuss it... I'll show recruits, when they come in, a PowerPoint of Seth McGowan. Where he started, what he did when he was here, where he went, and then the icing on the cake is him going to the NFL. I just think people need to know there's a clear path."

Sanchez and his staff embraced this after the 2024 season, once they saw the number of players from the Aggies' 10-5 2023 team experience success on power conference teams. NM State's coaches started mentioning it more to recruits that offseason, and it's picked up this offseason.

Attracting more P4 and NFL-worthy talent has also made the Aggies more confident in recruiting. They're not afraid to challenge multiple P4 schools for someone, and they worked past midnight on some days during the January transfer portal to scout, evaluate and obtain players.

Midnight Portal Planning. GRINDERS @ash_dazzle@madi_hunsaker@mikeymarquardt@mjgaynor#Portalhousepic.twitter.com/hhfd7BYADQ— HERCULES (@DCobb27) January 9, 2026

Strategies are applied differently depending on the player. But whether he's a hidden gem or a player in demand, development is now NM State's consistent calling card.

"We've done a good enough job going all the way back to when (former coach Jerry Kill) was here of evaluating guys and bringing them in," Sanchez said. "Obviously, we've done a good job of development, because you end up with nine or 10 guys that end up getting at least rookie camp deals. That's a big deal. There are a lot of programs in the country that cannot say that."

Continued player losses will inevitably raise questions about retention, but it's something that NM State got better at this offseason. NM State will rank 72nd in the FBS for returning production this year, up from 91st last season.

More NIL and revenue-sharing money would help. But sometimes, the Aggies can't compete with P4 resources. That's why Sanchez also shows players the unfortunate outcomes. Not every transfer plays at the P4 level, and while Sanchez celebrates the success stories, he also shows the potential downsides.

"We've shown guys that have played for us, that have moved on, that was it. They never played again," Sanchez said. "Some guys are making more money than they would make here, but they're being paid to be a backup.

"You're choosing: 'Do you want to go and not play football and make more money? Or do you want to start and try to live your dream to play on Sundays?' That's not a negative conversation; that's just reality."

The Aggies would love to retain more. But if someone leaves for the P4 and perhaps reaches the NFL one day, NM State says it can add another feather in its cap. The Aggies trust they'll find and develop the next man up.

"You want to keep them all, but you can't," Cobb said. "And if you can't, then it's a testament to your ability to develop and evaluate that guy's talent to be able to get him here before somebody else."

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU using 2026 NFL players as assets, even if all ended up in Power 4