Ben Skaer Class: Junior Hometown: Waterloo, Ill. High School: Waterloo HS Height / Weight: 6-0 / 185 Position: Punter Experience: 2L

NEW MEXICO: Directional punter with a strong leg and great poise under pressure...gained a lot of experience in 2010 and 2011...working on leg strength in the offseason to get more distance in 2012...redshirted in 2009, getting stronger and improving his technique...favorite to be the starting punter again this fall...last name is pronounced SCARE.

2011 (SOPHOMORE): Played a big role in 2011, punting the ball 73 times for 2,896 yards and an average of 39.7 yards per punt...landed 19 inside the 20 and had 10 efforts of more than 50 yards...hit a season-best 56 yards twice, including one in the season finale at No. 8 Boise State...best effort came in week five against New Mexico State when he averaged 43.3 yards on six attempts but landed four inside the Aggies' 20 and hit three of 50 yards or more...best day statistically came in week four against Sam Houston State, averaging 44.3 yards on six punts.

2010 (FRESHMAN): Emerged as a key weapon for New Mexico in 2010...had 85 punts for 3,442 yards and a 40.5-yard average...had a career-long punt of 59 yards against Colorado State...finished the year with 12 punts of 50+ yards and 18 kicks inside the 20...eight kicks for a 43.6-yard average against Utah, seven for 43.4 at Colorado State, five for 43.2 against Texas Tech and 10 for 42.5 against Texas Tech.

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time first team all-conference punter and kicker from this Illinois high school located southeast of St. Louis, Mo...at the Kicking.com Combine Series in Houston in January of 2010, Skaer charted 1st with a 4.2-second hang time and 42-yard average on 10 punts...all-state kicker as a junior and honorable mention all-state punter and kicker after his senior season...had a 41-yard average on 41 punts and converted 32 PATs and 5-of-6 FGs with a long of 48 yards as a senior...team captain who also saw time at wide receiver and safety...Illinois Football Coaches Association all-state team as a junior...three-year starter for head coach Dan Rose, but his kicking coach was 10-year NFL veteran Louie Aguilar (1991-2000 with Jets, Chiefs, Packers, Bears)...career punting average was 39.6 yards, plus 10 field goals and 76 extra points...had a 3.63 cumulative GPA.

PERSONAL: Born March 9, 1991, in Belleville, Ill...full name is Benjamin Garrett Skaer...son of Daryl and Lisa...an avid outdoorsman...interested in Business or Mechanical Engineering at UNM.