It's the goal for almost every football player from the day he first puts on the pads: to play in the National Football League.

But it's also a case of first things first, and thus a trio of Rio Rancho High School seniors have to be satisfied for now playing college football.

"This is the fourth spring in a row we've had this opportunity," RRHS football coach Phil Lopez said Wednesday, National Signing Day, preceding his three Rams "moving on." On the signing day in 2004, Brandon McKinney signed to play at New Mexico University.

One year later, Christopher Williams joined him in Las Cruces.

Last spring, Michael Love signed on the dotted line to play at the University of New Mexico.

Soon, linebacker Adolfo Midence and tight end Wes Drapeau will be teammates again at New Mexico Highlands University.

Offensive lineman Kyle Rodriguez will head east, to play two years at New Mexico Military Institute.

Rodriguez won't be the first Ram headed to Roswell, where guys who made it in the NFL such as Roger Staubach and Conrad Hamilton once played: Sal Caputo, a 2005 graduate, played for the Broncos.

Unfortunately, says coach Jeff Lynn, "Sal ... did hurt his knee and is done playing now; (he was) probably our most consistent offensive lineman before his injury. He was a good student and a great representative of coach Lopez's program."

Lynn said he likes what he's seen of Rodriguez, who wore 72 with the Rams - the same number Caputo wore at RRHS and then at NMMI (5-5 in 2006).

"I think Kyle has a big upside. I think for a kid his size he moves extremely well. He will need to improve his strength but I can definitely see him playing for us as a freshman."

"I've always had a dream of playing for a real good, big-time D-1 college and, to me, this is my best chance right now," Rodriguez said. "I feel it'll get me bigger, faster, stronger and get me to that next level: to play D-1. They're hoping I'll be ready to step in and play right away."

Drapeau and Midence will find two former Rams on the Cowboys roster when they arrive in Las Vegas: Adrian Martinez and Bryan Rowland, 2005 graduates of RRHS.

NMHU was 6-5 last season.

"According to the coach, I'm hoping to get a chance to play in the first year," Drapeau said. "(New head coach Carl Ferrill) said that they're just starting this year a new tight end in the offense. They were running 'spread.'"

Drapeau, who missed much of last season, said his knee is 100 percent now.

"I'm just going to go up there and make a name for myself," Midence said. Wrestling this winter, he said, "gets me stronger and mentally; I never quit."