Quarterbacks Take Center Stage at Opening Practice

Downloadable Practice Roster

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In the tunnel that heads back into the Tow Diehm building where UNM’s sparkling athletic performance facility sits, a giant white board now sits, where UNM officials can now list all the players who have interviews with that day.  The sections for the defense, the specialists, and the assistant coaches were as untouched as the sands on the dark side of the Moon.  Nothing written.  All that was on the board was three names.

4 S. Jones
11 C. Gerhart
16 T. Tuioti

For the assembled media, the quarterback competition was the story of the day, with all three interviewed by news outlets from KOB, KRQE, the Albuquerque Journal, Learfield Communications and ESPN Radio 101.7 The Team.  While there were pretty much 100 other players around camp, and two other quarterbacks to boot, it was those three that were the day’s focus.

“I think all three of them have different personalities,” said head coach Bob Davie, entering his seventh Fall Camp with UNM, his 12th overall as a head coach, his 31st as a collegiate coach and his 41st within the sport counting his time at ESPN.  Davie had plenty of praise for all three, starting with Coltin Gerhart, who opened camp with the ones, although Davie made sure to point out that there will be a rotation for a little while with the quarterbacks in who goes out first.

In referring to the second-year graduate student who has his sights on medical school, Davie stated that he got exactly the type of leadership needed in the off-season out of Gerhart.  “He was off the charts from a leadership standpoint and the kind of time he had invested in this.  He’s a quiet kind of leader, and then there’s Tevaka, who all the players really like.  He’s a flashy guy in the way he plays and he has an exciting style to him.”

While Sheriron Jones is the newcomer in camp, Davie can see his experience at other universities has him ahead of most newcomers.  “Sheriron can run it as well as he throws it, and he’s an impressive looking player physically,” said Davie.  “He’s still feeling his way a little bit right now, which is to be expected.  He’s played a lot of football over his career.”

Davie might have summed it up best with a pretty simple statement. “I like all three of them, and we have some talent.”

NOTE:  A reminder that most of camp is open for fans.  The best places to watch are along the North side on the hill behind the end zones, or in the shade on the hill against the Indoor Practice Facility.  Rosters will be available, and they are also available for download at the top of the page.  Fans can take pictures, but no video.  Media members can stay for practice, and still cameras can shoot throughout, but video is only allowed for the first 30 minutes … Davie mentioned after practice that running back Kentrail Moran will miss the 2018 season with an injury.