ESPN RISE

It took one look and soccer standout Patrick Poblete was convinced.

During an unofficial visit to the University of New Mexico last month, the current junior at Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) was wowed by the facilities, liked the coaches and decided he wants to spend his college career there.

"They made me a very good offer, and I figured, 'Why wait?'" said Poblete, 16, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound goalkeeper prospect who plays club for the Tempe Pros.

Poblete, who made a pledge to New Mexico last week, is the latest in a series of early verbals secured by the Lobos. ESPN RISE has confirmed four verbals, but the Lobos may have as many as seven already committed for the Class of 2010, according Poblete.

Early verbals in soccer are nothing new. In fact, many of the NCAA Division I women's programs are already finished with their 2010 recruiting class; they're just waiting for signing day in February. However, the number of early verbal commitments on the men's soccer side is ever increasing, and it is no longer reserved to the nation's elite programs. ESPN RISE has confirmed early verbals for more than 25 percent of the Division I men's soccer programs, which includes the likes of military schools and programs from lesser-known conferences like the Patriot League and the Northeast Conference.

For New Mexico, it's shaping up like a class that can lead the program back to its national standing. Four seasons removed from a national runner-up finish, the Lobos missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003 this past fall. The Class of 2010 early verbals include highly coveted keeper Taylor Hafling from Louisville, Ky., Giovanni Rollie from Los Angeles and in-state product Riley McGovern from Farmington, N.M.

As for Poblete, the commitment ends a wild four-month run in which he helped his high school team win a prestigious tournament in California and finish ranked among the nation's top 20 winter high school teams.

Poblete said New Mexico made an offer during his unofficial visit and amended it about 10 days ago, much to Poblete's liking.

"I never thought I'd be set [on college] in the middle of my junior year," Poblete said.

Sheldon Shealer covers youth soccer for ESPNRISE.com. He can be reached at Sheldon.Shealer@espn.com.