Aug. 9, 2013
Training Camp Central
By Greg Archuleta
UNM Assistant Director of Communications
RUIDOSO – Jeric Magnant would be the first to tell you he’s still uncomfortable.
Despite the University of New Mexico football team partaking in its second fall training camp here under coach Bob Davie, the junior wide receiver from Rio Rancho admits to retaining an uncertain feeling about fall practice.
And that may be just what the wide receiver corps needs to help the Lobo offense become a more prolific passing team in 2013.
“This year being Year 2, you would think the comfort level would be there,” Magnant said of the Ruidoso routine with the current coaching staff, “but coach Davie does such a great job of always keeping us guessing so everything still feel real new to me.
“Every day, I don’t know necessarily what to expect because we have sudden changes, and the coaching staff does a great job mixing up, so it still has that same fresh, new feeling. The energy around here is probably a little bit better than last year because the tempo has picked up. But as far as the newness, I still feel like this is the first year in Ruidoso under coach Davie.”
What doesn’t feel like the first year is the progression of the aforementioned passing attack. From sophomore starter Cole Gautsche to true freshmen Lamar Jordan and Caleb Kimbro, the quarterback unit is spending considerably more time than it did last year delivering the ball to receivers via the forward pass.
The wide receiver corps – nary a single senior among the group – also must rise to the occasion in 2013.
“I would say what we need to improve is just the chemistry and timing with our quarterbacks,” says Magnant, the grizzled veteran of the group. “But we’re a feisty bunch. Everybody on that receiving corps, they love to play this game of football. It doesn’t take much for us to get motivated for practice, and it doesn’t take much for us to have energy in practice. We like to play this game, and that’s what we’re going to be. We’re going to play four quarters.”
The 6-foot, 180-pound Magnant used that feistiness last season during fall camp to transform himself from a walk-on to a scholarship player. He also became Coach Bob Davie’s first New Mexico Man for the 2012 season opener, an honor that goes to the player who exhibits dedication, work ethic, team spirit and unselfishness that exemplifies Lobo football and the state of New Mexico.
Magnant said he had to approach this year’s fall camp with that same attitude.
“I think I was able to earn the New Mexico Man last year because of my work ethic and values as far as what I bring to football,” he said. “It would’ve been real easy to – because of last year – to come in this year and think I can be a different player. But the work ethic and attitude are still my building blocks for who I am as a player.
“Last year in camp I was focused more on making a name for myself, getting in these coaching staff’s eyes, making them realize I was a player. In this camp, I feel like they know I’m a player, and now I want them to understand that I’m a consistent day-to-day player on this team.”
Magnant has come a long way during his four year at UNM – from unheralded walk-on in 2010 to the most experienced wideout on the team in 2013. While admittedly not the most outspoken player in his position group, Magnant still recognizes his leadership role that comes with his experience.
“My first three years here I got to play under a very, very respected receiver in Lamaar Thomas. I was able to watch him work day in and day out and see how he was as a leader. What I’m trying to do is a lot of things he did; I’m not, and never have been a real vocal guy. At the same time, I know how to push players and I know what buttons to push. That’s what I’m trying to do, help get these guys motivated for practice. Be nothing more than that.”
It’s just another aspect of his desire to expand his comfort zone to help the team this season.