July 31, 2007
DEFENSE
Head coach Rocky Long and fifth-year defensive coordinator Osia Lewis direct an aggressive, ball-hawking defense that returns 10 starters and 23 lettermen from a year ago, giving the unit experienced depth at almost every position. Long and Lewis adjust the 3-3-5 scheme constantly to best suit the talent on the field and this year is no exception. The “Lobo” safety position played by linebacker Quincy Black in 2006 will once again be manned by a true defensive back, helping New Mexico bolster its pass defense.
The Lobos’ front six will feature seven defensive linemen and seven linebackers with significant gameday experience, led by seniors Tyler Donaldson (defensive end – second team all-MWC), Cody Kase (middle linebacker – honorable mention all-MWC in 2005) and Major Mosley (outside linebacker). Three more starters in senior outside linebacker George Carter, junior nose tackle Wesley Beck and senior defensive end Michael Tuohy also return up front.
New Mexico’s secondary is led by perhaps the top cornerback tandem in the conference in juniors DeAndre Wright (second team all-MWC) and Glover Quin (honorable mention all-MWC). Last year the duo combined for four interceptions and 22 pass break-ups. Senior safety OJ Swift is the team’s top returning tackler (74 in 2006), while fellow senior Tyson Ditmore has started 16 of his 33 career games at safety. Sophomore Ian Clark, a former cornerback, will open the spring atop the depth chart at the Lobo position.
Defensive Line
Possessing outstanding depth and talent, the defensive line returns virtually intact from a year ago and has also gotten bigger and stronger as a whole. The preseason competition will be fierce with as many as 10 players challenging for a spot in the regular gameday rotation this fall.
Senior end Tyler Donaldson (Lawrenceville, Ga.) established himself as one of the quickest and most active linemen in the Mountain West en route to second team all-conference honors in his first year as a starter in 2006. A bit undersized at 6-4, 226, Donaldson nevertheless wreaked havoc at the line of scrimmage with 5.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles for loss, a safety, five quarterback hurries and three pass break-ups to go along with his 49 tackles.
Senior DE Tyler Donaldson led the team with 5.0 sacks last fall. |
Junior walk-on Wesley Beck (Houston, Texas) was one of the best stories on the team in `06, coming out of nowhere to start the final 10 games of the season at nose tackle. A long shot to even make the travel squad entering the season, Beck (6-1, 279) developed into a tough, aggressive anchor in the middle of the defensive line. Fifteen pounds heavier and much stronger than he was a year ago, Beck is primed for an outstanding season in 2007.
Sophomore Kendall Briscoe (Dallas, Texas) will open preseason camp as the starter opposite Donaldson at left end after playing in 10 games as a true freshman last year. At 6-1, 271, Briscoe gave the Lobos a stout, active playmaker at the line of scrimmage and should be much improved in 2007 with a full year of experience in the defense.
Senior end Michael Tuohy (Moreno Valley, Calif.) will give the unit a big boost and challenge Briscoe for the starting job on the right side with a strong, focused preseason camp performance. One of the best pass rushers in program history, Tuohy (6-2, 250) got off to a sensational start in ’06 before being slowed by inconsistency and some off the field issues. He still finished with 4.5 sacks, 9.0 tackles for loss and a team-high 14 hurries in just 11 games.
Veteran end Stephen Hutchison (Elgin, Texas) should also see plenty of time in ’07 after breaking through with 4.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss last year. The 6-4, 235-pounder played all of ’06 with a painful shoulder injury, but will be at full strength this fall after undergoing surgery during the spring.
Junior walk-on Jeremiah Lovato (Albuquerque, N.M.) was one of the most improved players on the team last year and will open preseason camp backing up Beck at nose tackle. The 6-2, 260-pounder added nine pounds to his frame and put up big numbers in the weight room during the offseason to help improve his durability in the trenches.
Sophomore end Phillip Harrison (Albuquerque, N.M.) adds tremendous size (6-3, 291) and surprising athleticism to the rotation. A late season contributor at nose tackle and end in ’06, Harrison could be ready to turn the corner and be a consistent force up front this fall.
Juinor end Kevin Balogun (Odessa, Texas) and redshirt freshman nose tackle Vincent Federico (West Covina, Calif.) could also make an impact this season. An imposing 6-4, 281 pounds, Balogun was slated to see ample time off the bench last year before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. The 6-3, 284-pound Federico, meanwhile, spent much of `06 on the travel squad and has the size and strength to challenge for time in the middle.
Linebackers
A trio of senior starters in Cody Kase (Valencia, Calif.), Major Mosley (Houston, Texas) and George Carter (Albuquerque, N.M.) lead an experienced, talented linebacker corps that will be among the best in the Mountain West in 2007.
Though a bit undersized at 6-1, 216 pounds, Kase has been incredibly productive and enjoyed an outstanding spring after sliding to middle linebacker. An honorable mention all-MWC performer in 2005, Kase returned from an early hamstring injury to record 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, nine quarterback hurries and two interceptions in the final eight games of 2006. The two-time team captain could emerge as a darkhorse candidate for MWC Defensive Player of the Year honors with a strong, healthy ’07 campaign.
Senior LB Major Mosley was an active force in his first year on defense in ’06. |
The 6-3, 231-pound Mosley is also poised for a stellar season after recording 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, seven hurries and three pass break-ups as a first year starter in ’06. A receiver/tight end his first three years at UNM, Mosley displayed much improved speed and instincts during the spring to go along with his already impressive size and strength.
Carter, meanwhile, will look to build on his breakthrough ’06 season (33 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss) this fall. The 6-3, 225-pounder started the final 11 games of ’06 and should take another step forward this fall with a full year of starting experience.
Several experienced bench players will be regulars in the gameday rotation and could also push for a starting job.
Senior Brett Madsen (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) made a big impact in his first Division I season last fall, recording 35 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Madsen (6-2, 231) got bigger and stronger in the offseason and could challenge Carter on the right side during preseason camp.
Tenacious junior Zach Arnett (Albuquerque, N.M.) gets an incredible amount out of his 5-10, 205-pound body and will open the season backing up Kase in the middle. The powerful Arnett was the team’s top tackler (36) off the bench and an aggressive pass rusher (eight hurries) last year.
Fellow junior Herbert Felder (Apopka, Fla.) was also one of the team’s most productive bench players in ’06, recording 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and forcing a fumble. Felder will back up Mosley on the left side this fall and should continue his development with a season of gameday experience under his belt.
Cornerbacks
Juniors DeAndre Wright (Clinton, Md.) and Glover Quin (Summit, Miss.) give New Mexico the top corner tandem in the Mountain West. The duo is an excellent combination on the perimeter with Quin, the physical, technical player, complementing the speedy, athletic Wright. Their ability to lock down opposing receivers in man coverage opens up the entire playbook in the Lobos’ blitzing defensive scheme. Both players bulked up in the weight room during the offseason and could make some noise on a national level with improved consistency in 2007.
Wright (5-11, 193), a second team all-MWC selection, led the conference with 14 passes defended, including a team-high four interceptions, last year. Quin (6-0, 203), meanwhile, led the league with 12 pass break-ups in ’06 en route to honorable mention all-conference honors in his first Division I season.
Depth is a concern, however, with no D-I experienced players on the bench. Sophomore transfer Aaron Lenard (Midland, Texas) enjoyed a strong spring, however, and will likely be the No. 3 corner after notching eight interceptions in four junior college games last year. A pair of good-sized redshirt freshmen in Abdullah Konte (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Terence Brown (Phoenix, Ariz.) will also compete for a reserve role as they continue their development.
Safeties
Like many of the defensive position groups, the UNM safeties are deep, experienced and talented. With linebacker/safety hybrid Quincy Black now in the NFL, the unit consists entirely of true defensive backs. The “lobo” (free) safety position has big role in pass coverage, while the two “wolf” (strong) safeties will continue to have equal responsibilities in man-coverage and blitzing off the edge.
Senior wolf safety OJ Swift (Apopka, Fla.) leads the unit and is the team’s top returning tackler after making 74 stops in 2006. A 5-9, 196-pound stick of dynamite, Swift could be the team’s biggest hitter, pound-for-pound, and is a sure tackler in the open field, missing just seven times in 13 games last fall. He was also much improved in pass coverage, recording four break-ups and two interceptions as he quietly developed into one of the Mountain West’s top safeties.
Senior OJ Swift is the team’s top returning tackler from a year ago. |
Sophomore Ian Clark (Albuquerque, N.M.), who saw significant action at cornerback last year, secured the starting lobo safety job during the spring and will give the secondary another strong cover man in the middle of the field. Clark improved his strength dramatically in the offseason to go along with his excellent speed and agility.
Surprising sophomore Frankie Solomon (Dallas, Texas) opens fall camp atop the depth chart at left wolf safety. Though a slight 5-10, 173 pounds, Solomon was a smart, active playmaker coming off the bench as a true freshman last year and is coming off a fine spring season.
Senior Tyson Ditmore (Las Cruces, N.M.), however, will look to reclaim his starting spot during the preseason. The 6-0, 207-pounder recorded 48 tackles in 13 starts last fall and will be a regular on gameday once again as his coverage skills improve.
Junior Blake Ligon (San Angelo, Texas) will open camp as Swift’s backup, but could push for a starting job on the left side as well. An experienced playmaker, Ligon (6-1, 187) bulked up in the offseason and turned in a strong spring after notching 34 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in just 11 games off the bench in `06.
Former high school teammates Frankie Baca (Albuquerque, N.M.) and Clint McPeek (Albuquerque, N.M.), both sophomores, will compete for a spot in the rotation behind Clark at the lobo position. Both saw ample time on special teams last year, improved their strength during the offseason and will look to continue their progress on the field in ’07.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Lobos will be looking for another diamond in the rough to replace starting kicker Kenny Byrd, who’s career took him from unheralded walk-on to MWC Special Teams Player of the Year, Lou Groza Award semifinalist and, eventually, the NFL.
Junior DeAndre Wright was the Mountain West’s top kick returner last fall. |
Seniors Eric garrison (Spring, Texas) and John Sullivan (Tehachapi, Calif.) are the top candidates in a competition that is expected to continue well into August. Garrison finished the spring atop the depth chart and displayed much improved leg strength. Sullivan also showed solid power and accuracy, but suffered a torn ACL in his left, non-kicking knee midway through the spring. However, he made stunning progress in his recovery, declining surgery, and will likely challenge for the starting job once again in August.
Junior Yousuf Shakir (Albuquerque, N.M.), punters Jordan Scott (Bellbrook, Ohio) and Adam Miller (Santa Fe, N.M.), and a group of fall newcomers will also be in the mix.
Seniors Scott and Jon O’Brien return to form the starting punter-deep snapper battery after a solid ’06 campaign. Scott bulked up in the weight room and could emerge as one of the league’s best punters with improved consistency this fall. The 6-2, 224-pound Miller, a former linebacker, also got bigger and stronger during the offseason and has flashed a booming leg in practice. O’Brien, meanwhile, has been consistently outstanding since taking over snapping duties in 2004.
DeAndre Wright and Marcus Smith should give UNM a dangerous 1-2 punch on kickoff returns. Wright was the Mountain West’s top returner last year, averaging 25.9 yards per attempt, while Smith is a threat every time he touches the ball. Ian Clark, meanwhile, will get the first shot at punt return duties after backing up sure-handed Thomas Wilson last year. Elusive Paul Baker also has experience returning punts and kicks, while Glover Quin saw time as a kick returner last year.