Updated Schedule
Saturday, April 13: 10 am – 12:15 pm (Dreamstyle Stadium)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — As part of the 2019 spring camp, GoLobos.com will do a position-by-position breakdown of the various positions on offense, defense and special teams. Today’s breakdown is on the defensive line position.
Letterwinners returning:
Aaron Blackwell (Mesa, Ariz.; 29 tackles, 4.0 TFLs for 17 yards, 2.0 sacks for 11 yards, 1 PBU
Langston Murray (Logansport, La.; 13 tackles, 1.0 TFLs for 1 yard)
Erin Austin (Vallejo, Calif.; 17 tackles, 3.0 TFLs for 15 yards, 2.5 sacks for 15 yards)
Nahje Flowers (Los Angeles, Calif.; 26 tackles, 5.5 TFLs for 11 yards, 1.5 sacks for 5 yards)
Adebayo Soremekun (Los Angeles, Calf.; 13 tackles, 4.5 TFLs for 17 yards, 2.0 sacks for 6 yards, 1 FF, 3 FR for 44 yards, 1 TD)
Redshirts/Squad members returning:
Ben Bertram (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Louis Harden (San Clemente, Calif.)
Trent Sellers (Fayetteville, Ga.)
Letterwinners lost:
Cody Baker (Issaquah, Wash.; 23 tackles, 3.5 TFLs for 19 yards, 2.0 sacks for 14 yards, 1 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR for 0 yards)
Jermane Conyers (Rossville, Ga.; 7 tackles, 1.0 TFLs for 6 yards, 1 safety)
2019 Signing Class in camp:
Joey Noble (Cerritos, Calif.)
2019 Signing Class not yet enrolled:
Ben Gansallo (Missouri City, Teas)
Elmer Pauni (West Valley, Utah)
Omar Darame (Arlington, Texas)
The big boys up front. The Lobo front three that has to clog things up, get in the backfield, penetrate and make life a living nightmare for an opposing quarterback. That’s what the call-sheet looks like for a defensive lineman, and the Lobos return a lot of players that fit the bill, including the defense’s lone starter from the 2018 season.
That lone starter is senior Aaron Blackwell. Prior to the season, Blackwell became a viral sensation to the tune of over 2 million views when footage of him during a Spring weight training session took off. While Blackwell had a little newfound fame, the hard-working lineman turned in a terrific season, earning honorable mention all-conference honors.
Blackwell was equally adept defending the run or the pass. He recorded 21 run-stop tackles to lead the team, and his 15.4% positive run impact led the team and was well above the national average of 9.9%. Against the pass he led UNM with 19 total pressures (two sacks, five hits and 12 hurries according to Pro Football Focus. As the only full-time returning starter back from 2018, Blackwell is a perfect piece to build around.
Now, while he is the only starter, there’s plenty of experience coming back. Nahje Flowers wasn’t a starter, but played seven more snaps than Blackwell, and he also turned in a solid season. Among the returning linemen, Flowers was second with nine pressures in the pass game, and he recorded 17 solo defensive stops, second on the team. Flowers was also active on special teams with another 125 snaps, and he has proven to be a versatile player and one who can play a lot of snaps.
Three other returnees all earned significant time and experience in 2018, and between Erin Austin, Langston Murray and Adebayo Soremekun, UNM has a lot of depth along the line. Austin turned in 17 tackles in 2018, and showed both speed and quickness. Murray, a sophomore, is also talented and can be a force in the middle. Soremekun showcased a knack for being around the ball, with a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and a 44-yard touchdown against San Diego State.
While there is one starter back from 2018, that is in fact a sort of technicality. Alex Hart started three games at middle linebacker before an injury, and Trent Sellers was lost towards the end of fall camp. Sellers, a transfer from Georgia Tech, had a brilliant fall camp and was penciled in as a starter until the injury. Despite a limited role in camp this spring, Sellers has been both a leader on and off the field, and his return is a big boost for Stan Eggen’s defensive line crew.
Two other linemen redshirted last year in Ben Bertram and Louis Harden, both of whom opened eyes from the scout team in 2018, and both of whom continue to impress in spring camp.
Among the new signees, Joey Noble is in camp and is getting a head start. The SCFA National Central Conference Defensive Player of the Year brings in plenty of JC stats, including 22.5 career sacks and 33.5 career TFLs. Ben Gansallo, Elmer Pauni and Omar Darame were a part of the 2019 signing class, but are not yet enrolled. They bring the total of defensive linemen to 12 for UNM.
Certainly with a new defensive coordinator, one of the most exciting things for Lobo fans is to see what the defensive line not only is asked to do, but what they can do. There is a plethora of talent, starting with the returners, and running up and down the lineup. Last year UNM rotated upwards of nine linemen into games, keeping the line fresh and competition high. Lobo fans should expect more of the same in 2019.
NEXT UP: Saturday, April 13, photo gallery; Tuesday, April 16, safeties