March 23, 2010
New Mexico coach Mike Locksley has more of a head start this spring and so do his Lobos. It was a new coach and a new system on both sides of the ball last spring and there was some quick learning to do by both coaches and players.
This spring the Lobos have a season under Locksley’s no-huddle, multi-attack offense and also went through the 2009 campaign adjusting to a four-front defensive look.Locksley has identified a few keys for this spring and one of those is to establish more of a smash-mouth mentality while looking for play makers for the 2010 season.
Here is a look at UNM’s offense and defense heading into coach Locksley’s second spring as a Lobo:
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LOBO OFFENSE PREVIEW
The Quarterbacks
New Mexico enters the spring with an all-out quarterbackcompetition after starter Donovan Porterie graduated.Juniors Brad Gruner and Tate Smith along with sophomoreB.R. Holbrook will battle for the starting role. Allthree have a year in Locksley’s system and will need toexecute, and separate themselves from the pack, if they expect to see playing time.
Holbrook was the primary backup in 2009 and played in fivegames. In the first action of his career, Holbrook was19-of-34 passing for 170 yards and 1 TD. Holbrook is apro-style signal caller with a strong arm and goodrelease.
Soph. Demond Dennis |
Gruner hasn’t played quarterback in a collegiate game since2008 but continues to battle for playing time. Gruneremerged as a special teams contributor last year with fourtackles. In 2008, Gruner started 10 games at QBaccounting for 1,037 yards passing on 99-of-184 with 3TDs. He has shown a toughness in the pocket and theability to run the football.
Smith is the most athletic quarterback on the rosterentering spring ball. Smith is coming off a redshirt yearand hasn’t seen action since 2008. Smith played in fourgames in `08 racking up 82 yards passing and 25 yards onthe ground.
UNM added two freshmen quarterbacks on signing day inStump Godfrey and Tarean Austin. Both fit the mold of aLocksley no-huddle quarterback and will be given an opportunity to compete for forthe starting role once they arrive in Albuquerque. Expectthese two standouts to push the three returners.
The Running Backs
The young Lobo running backs are impressive and have a lot ofpotential heading into the 2010 season. Flashes ofgreatness and depth makes this position extremelyvaluable. Sophomores Demond Dennis and Kasey Carrieremerged as the top two backs in 2009 while junior JamesWright and junior A.J. Butler were used in backup roles.
Dennis accounted for a team-high 427 yards rushing, 3touchdowns and 659 all-purpose yards. His explosivenessand speed make him dangerous.
Carrier, who played the final six games, shined in hislimited action. Carrier rushed for 269 yards on 61carries and has big play potential. A highly toutedyoungster from Texas, Carrier has great vision andbreakaway speed.
Wright, who is a bruiser with good speed for a big back,was second on the team in rushing with 291 yards. He gotmost of those yards against Air Force when he rushed forcareer-highs of 126 yards and 2 TDs on just 5 carries.
Butler added a touchdown and 177 yards on 50 carries. Alean-quick back, who was fourth on the team in receivingwith 32 catches and 213 yards. Butler likely will see time in the defensive backfield during spring ball as he contemplates a move to that side of the football.
UNM also returns fullbacks Josh Fussell and Chris Biren.Both are strong blockers and have the ability to poundthe football. Good hands out of the backfield is vital inthe Locksley style.
The Offensive Line
The Lobos will be replacing three offensive linemen in2010 including all-conference performer Erik Cook atcenter. UNM added depth on signing day but lacksexperience at the Division I level.
Junior Byron Bell is back after starting every game atleft tackle in `09 and is a solid NFL prospect. Bell hasideal size and strength for the position. He was afreshman All-American and will be a bright spot for NewMexico in 2010.
Karlin Givens and Mike Cannon seem like the perfectcandidates to take the guard positions. They split timeat left guard in 2009, but with the graduation of JoshuaTaufalele they both could emerge as starters.
UNM will have a new center for the first time in threeyears with Erik Cook gone. Redshirt freshman DillonFarrell was on the travel roster last year and will battlefor the starting role. Cannon has experience at centerwhile junior Mike Muniz will compete at the position.
Senior Maurice Mears could be a good fit at right tackleafter starting two games last season. Mears has the sizeand talent to fill the hole left by Ivan Hernandez.
Freshmen Earl Johnson and LaMar Bratton will be givenopportunities to compete for playing time in 2010.Redshirt freshmen Daryl Johnson, Calvin McDowny and J.V.Mason will be in the mix this spring.
The Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
UNM returns talent at the wide receiver and tight endpositions. Freshman All-American TE Lucas Reed is backalong with WR Ty Kirk, who led all MWC freshmen with 427yards receiving. Reed proved to be a valuable weapon inthe Lobo offense in 2009 accounting for 17 catches and 212yards.
UNM lost two of its top three receivers and will havehealthy competition for playmakers this spring. SeniorBryant Williams is back and should be a favorite aftercatching 26 balls for 283 yards. Chris Hernandez andQuintell Solomon have shown big play potential duringtheir careers.
Joining Reed at the tight end position will be Albuquerquenative Jonathan Mader. Mader played as a redshirtfreshman last year, but mostly during short yardagesituations.
A host of true freshmen will arrive this summer and willbe given close looks. The incoming freshmen include WRMartize Barr, WR Josh Ford, TE Brad Miller andDetchauz Wray, who is listed as a multi-purpose athlete.
LOBO DEFENSE PREVIEW
The Defensive Line
New Mexico has three of four starters returning for 2010,including second-team All-MWC defensive end JonathanRainey. Factor in the addition of blue-chip defensivetackle recruit Calvin Smith and New Mexico’s front fourhas the potential to become one of the more dangerous,physical, and quickest units in the country.
Rainey returns as one of the elite defensive ends in theMountain West, if not all of the Bowl Subdivision. He joins a vastly improved juniorDE, Jaymar Latchison. The duo combined for 98tackles, 14 sacks and 24 tackles-for-loss.
Senior defensive tackle Peter Gardner was as good asadvertised last season and got better as the season progressed. He started all 12 games in his first season in a Lobo uniform. Junior Brett Kennedy andsophomore Ahraya Crespin return as the defensive tacklesmost likely to push for the starting spot oppositeGardner.
Highly touted freshmen Calvin Smith and J.J. Hugine arriveat UNM in the summer and could emerge as factors ongameday.
The Linebackers
The linebacker corps will have a new look this springafter graduating highly productive starters Clint McPeekand Tray Hardaway. Luckily for the Lobos, there’s stillan All-American returning for his junior campaign inCarmen Messina. A bevy of talented young players arecompeting to flank Messina at the two outside linebackerspots.
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Messina had nothing short of a breakout season,leading the nation in tackles with an eye-popping 162.Messina worked sideline to sideline from his middlelinebacker position, notching 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks,5 hurries, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup 2 forced fumblesand a blocked kick. He was named honorablemention All-America by both Sports Illustrated (SI.com)and Collegefootballnews.com, as well as First-TeamAll-MWC.
Messina, equally adept at dropping into coverageor stuffing the run, is the tip of the spear inNew Mexico’s defensive attack.
Sophomores Spencer Merritt and Joe Stoner, along withsenior Terel Anyaibe and senior Cody Neely, return withthe most experience at the outside linebacker spot. Stonershowed impressive range and a knack for finding thefootball during his freshman campaign.
The bigger,stronger Anyaibe proved a force on the strong side andweak side equally. Neely is an extremely smart player whocoaches say is one of the more physical linebackers on theteam. Merritt has shown his play making ability at timesand could emerge as a potential starter.
Incoming freshmen Toby Ball and Zach Daugherty will arriveat UNM this summer and could compete for playing timewhile learning the Lobos’ scheme. Both bring great sizeand explosive speed to the position.
The Defensive Backs
UNM added some much-needed depth in the secondary onsigning day, but returns a number of experienced, athleticcornerbacks. Junior Anthony Hooks started every game atcornerback last season, netting 44 tackles, 2 passbreakups, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.
Opposite of Hooks, sophomore Emmanuel McPhearson startedthe final four games. Sophomore Nathan Enriquez shined attimes throughout the year. Freshman DeShawn Mills startedthe first three games of the year, but saw limited actionduring conference play.
Junior Bubba Forrest filled in admirably for an injuredIan Clark last season, starting two games and seeing action in11. McPhearson flashed the speed and overall athleticismas a true freshman that made him such a highly toutedrecruit.
Enriquez shined brightest against Texas Tech last season,snaring two jaw-dropping interceptions against thepass-happy Red Raiders. Enriquez started 6 games lastseason and played in 11, also recording 23 tackles, 3 passbreakups, 2 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.Enriquez should factor heavily in the competition for repsat cornerback.
The Lobos will see five freshmen defensive back recruitsarrive on campus this summer. Cornerbacks Julian Blair andRavonne Carter, safeties James Grace and Devonta Tabannahand the multi-purpose Detchauz Wray should provide UNM with improvedathleticism throughout the secondary.