The miracle didn't happen this time around, and now New Mexico coach Mike Locksley has some work to do.

Offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, listed among the top prospects in the country, committed to defending national champion Auburn rather than take a chance with the Lobos, whom his listed among his top five choices. Kouandjio never signed his letter-of-intent, and speculation was rampant that Alabama was still in his mind.

New Mexico was not.

Last year on signing day, defensive tackle Calvin Smith shunned then-defending national champion Alabama and put on a New Mexico hat.

Now, the Lobos must begin rebuilding a team coming off back-to-back 1-11 seasons with a class that addresses concerns on the offensive line and the defensive backfield.

New Mexico also must incorporate four new coaches -- two of whom head coach Mike Locksely has yet to hire -- into a program in dire need of a quick turnaround. Fan support has dropped significantly in Albuquerque, and Locksley has a mandate to win next season or else.

This year serves as the last season of New Mexico's three-year NCAA probation that stripped 15 scholarship offers during the period. The task ahead of Locksley is to find a way to show enough improvement in the coming season to keep his job and compete on equal footing with New Mexico's Mountain West Conference brethren starting in 2012.

During Locksley's news conference, he said the program still was able to gain speed sorely lacking his first two seasons -- despite its limitation in scholarship signings.

"When you watched us play last year, there were times it was very noticeable that we weren't as athletic as we needed to be," Locksley told the Albuquerque Journal. "This class is by far, in my opinion, the most athletic class from top to bottom that we've signed, and I'm excited about it."

With games in 2011 against Arkansas, Texas Tech, Nevada, Boise State and TCU, the Lobos better be more athletic.

TOP OF THE CLASS

OT Korian Chambers (Arizona Western Junior College) -- could be the successor to LT Byron Bell, whose eligibility was exhausted after the 2010 season. He started at guard and tackle at Arizona Western and was Western States Football League first-team all-region. Chambers, who will be a junior, is a three-star athlete who spurned offers from Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

DB Deshon Marman (City College of San Francisco) -- He was a Rivals.com three-star recruit. He was a first-team all-conference selection in 2010 with 61 tackles, an interception and nine pass breakups. The Lobos are counting on his physical nature to help as much in the run game in their five-DB base defense.

RB Crusoe Gongbay (Rockville, Md.) -- He is a three-star Rivals recruit from the heart of coach Mike Locksley's stomping grounds. The true freshman will give New Mexico the speed at tailback it lost when Demond Dennis was ruled academically ineligible last season and left the program. Gongbay had more than 5,000 career rushing yards at Rockville High School, including 2,142 his senior year. He made the 2010 Maryland Consensus All-State team.

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