New York Giants invite Aggies’ field goal record holder to its rookie minicamp in May
Abraham Montaño’s professional ambitions have reached a new height.
The former New Mexico State kicker has received a rookie minicamp invite from the New York Giants, he and his representation, 3 Strand Sports & Entertainment, confirmed on Sunday afternoon. The Giants’ rookie minicamp takes place in East Rutherford, NJ, from May 9-10.
Montaño declared for the 2025 NFL Draft shortly after the 2024 season concluded on Dec. 10. He originally stated his intentions to return for another season with the Aggies on Dec. 24 after the NCAA Division I Board of Directors granted a waiver for an extra year of eligibility to former junior college players. However, the ruling only applied to players who started their collegiate careers in the 2020s. Montaño began his career at Hartnell College (California) in 2019. NM State applied for an exemption for Montaño but was ultimately denied.
Montaño then went back to his NFL Draft preparations and was scheduled to attend the Aggies’ Pro Day on March 24 before pulling out due to recurring issues with an ankle injury suffered during NM State’s 2024 season-finale against UTEP, according to Aggies running backs coach David Cobb. He later held private workouts in the following days.
Montaño was aiming to be the first NM State player drafted since Jason Huntley in 2020, but went undrafted during last week’s draft. Sunday’s invite from New York now gives him an opportunity to make an NFL roster.
Montaño spent one season with the Aggies in 2024 after transferring from Fresno State. He produced one of the best kicking seasons in school history, going 18-of-23 on field goal attempts and 22-of-22 on extra points, receiving a second-team All-Conference USA selection on special teams.
Montaño tied an NM State record with a 57-yard field goal against Florida International on Oct. 29 before breaking it against UTEP on Nov. 30 with a 59-yard field goal, which was also a CUSA record. Montaño finished the season with a CUSA-best five made field goals of 50 or more yards and an 8-for-8 mark from field goals inside 40 yards.
This story was updated to add its author.