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One scouting service rates the University of New Mexico's 2008 football recruiting class as middle of the pack.

That's OK with Lobos head coach Rocky Long.

The popular Web site Rivals.com ranked UNM's recruiting class tied for fourth among the nine Mountain West Conference schools. It was UNM's highest ranking in the conference since a fourth-place rating in 2003.

Of UNM's 22 signees in the 2008 class announced Wednesday, the recruiting service rated four as three-star recruits out of a possible five stars. No MWC team had a five-star recruit. BYU and Utah each had one four-star recruit. BYU also led the league with 11 three-star recruits.

Nationally, UNM's recruiting class was rated No. 89, tied with five other schools. Utah's MWC-high rating was No. 59.

Another recruiting service, Scout.com, listed UNM's recruiting class seventh in the MWC and 100th nationally.

"It would be nice to sit here and say we had a top-25 recruiting class," UNM head coach Rocky Long said Wednesday on national signing day. "But in the end if those guys can't play a lick, it doesn't do us any good."

Long went on to say the national rankings often are a bunch of hogwash, to paraphrase and put it more politely.

To emphasize his point, he referred to former Lobos who came to UNM as walk-ons (Ryan Cook, Gabriel Fulbright) or lightly recruited players (Hank Baskett) - and made it to the pros.

Long has built a strong foundation at UNM with similar recruiting classes to this year's. He prides his program on developing overlooked athletes bypassed by higher-profile schools.

He also has established a solid walk-on program for in-state athletes and says he expects six or seven players from New Mexico to join the team this fall, with the potential to land a scholarship.

"They know if they come here they'll get a fair shot to play," Long said. "They've seen what other walk-ons have done here."

Long said former players are the best salesmen for the program.

"They go home and tell their coaches and their teammates about what a great experience they had here," Long said.

Of this year's UNM recruits, receiver Bryant Williams (6-foot, 180 pounds) and a trio of offensive linemen - Maurice Mears (6-5, 295), Ben Contreras (6-3, 290) and Joshua Taufelele (6-3, 315) - were rated as three-star recruits by Rivals.com. Williams and Contreras were the only three-star recruits listed by Scout.com.

UNM's lone signee from Albuquerque, Cibola quarterback Jon Mader (6-4, 210), was listed as a two-star recruit by both Web sites.

Long said BCS schools tried to steal at least five of his recruits in the final days leading up to signing day, a tell-tale sign the Lobos are recruiting quality players. All five honored their commitment to UNM, he said.

Long also noted UNM's 22 signees hail from 10 states, a result of the school's increased recruiting budget and growing reputation.

The Lobos are coming off a 9-4 season and victory in the New Mexico Bowl.