Demond Dennis Class: Sophomore Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. High School: Carver HS Height / Weight: 5-9 / 196 Position: Running Back Experience: 1L

NEW MEXICO: Left the UNM football program mid-way through the 2010 season...was the primary back for the first five games...Outstanding young running back who dazzled the coaching staff during his first training camp and emerged as one of the team's top offensive playmakers as a true freshman last fall...was slowed a bit by a knee injury during his rookie season, but when healthy showed flashes of being a future star at the position...excellent quickness through the hole and can get 3-4 yards upfield before the first defender is able to lay a hand on him...great open field speed, giving the Lobos a real homerun threat every time he touches the ball...unofficially timed at 4.48 in the 40 in high school...has displayed video game-like moves in space, juking defenders and breaking long cut-back runs, but isn't afraid to run hard in traffic either...has shown good hands and done a nice job in pass protection for a player his age...became the first Lobo true freshman RB since Art Celestine in 1991 to start the season opener...after his debut season was ended early by a knee injury Celestine moved over to the defense and enjoyed a fine career as a CB...one of the top-rated recruits in head coach Mike Locksley's first signing class at New Mexico, choosing UNM over several SEC schools and Illinois.

2009 (TRUE FRESHMAN): Became the first freshman since MWC and UNM all-time leading rusher DonTrell Moore in 2002 to lead the team in rushing and yards from scrimmage...played in 10 games with 6 starts...started the first 5 games of the year and was the team's feaured back the first 4 weeks before a torn meniscus in his knee sidelined him after the first series in week 5 at Texas Tech...missed the week 6 game at Wyoming (knee) and week 7 vs. UNLV (illness)...returned to full speed action in game 8 at San Diego State (9 carries, 45 yards)...put up 427 rushing yards (42.7/game), averaging 5.5 yards and a team-best 3 TDs on his team-high 78 attempts...4 runs over 20 yards, including 3 40+ bursts with a long of 62...100-yard game (133 - best by a Lobo in `09) in week 11 vs. Colorado State...also had 18 catches for 133 yards (7.4 avg., long of 29)...averaged 56 yards from scrimmage (560 total)...averaged 47 yards rushing and 62 yards from scrimmage in the 9 games he played healthy...also averaged 16.5 yards on his 6 kickoff returns, but played offense only after returning from his knee injury.

`09 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. Colorado State...Gave the offense a huge spark, coming off the bench to record his first career 100-yard game...piled up 133 yards - the most by a Lobo in `09 - on just 7 carries (19.0 avg.)...78 yards on 2 carries in the 4th quarter...had a 42-yard TD run 2 plays after CSU took it's first lead of the game late in the 3rd quarter...also had a 50-yard burst from his own 5 that kept the ball on the Rams' side of the field for the final 5 minutes...28-yard dash to set up a FG that cut the lead to 27-26 with 10:19 to play...also had 3 catches for 25 yards for a season-high 158 scrimmage yards on 10 touches...vs. New Mexico State...98 rushing yards on a season-high 16 attempts...ran up the middle and through arm tackles for a 62-yard gain on his first carry...kept his legs churning and fought his way into the end zone from 2 yards out for his first career TD 4 plays later...vs. Air Force...Got off to a great start, picking up 53 yards on just 6 carries (8.8 average), including a long of 15, before a fumble in UNM territory sent him to the bench...converted a pair of 3rd downs on the opening drive and was fighting through defenders at the end of a 14-yard run when the ball was stripped out...finished with 57 yards on 7 attempts (8.1 avg.) and had a 4-yard catch as well...season-long 26-yard gain on his lone kickoff return.

HIGH SCHOOL: First team class 3A all-state running back in Georgia as a senior when he rushed 125 times for 1,627 yards (13 avg.) and 20 TDs...offensive MVP of the 2009 O-D All-American game in Myrtle Beach, S.C., gaining 103 yards on 9 carries with a TD...ran for 1,605 yards and 13 TDs his junior season...three-year starter at running back for head coach Darren Myles...played CF and pitched for the Panthers baseball teams and also ran track.

PERSONAL: Born Sept. 23, 1989, in Atlanta...full name is Demond Willie Dennis...son of Gregory Johns...older cousin Jason Hill will be a senior offensive lineman at Georgia Tech in 2009...interested in sports management or coaching.