Lobo Learn Plenty in Opening Fall Scrimmage
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Second-year New Mexico head coach amazingly has a luxury, and that’s that he has a really good handle on all of the returning players. That made Saturday’s opening Fall Camp scrimmage inside University Stadium one where he would be able to learn about the guys that are new to the program. After the closed scrimmage, suffice to say he learned a lot.
The scrimmage lasted around 120 plays and finished off with a rookie scrimmage as well. The main portion of the scrimmage saw newcomer Terry Wilson take the reins first, and he showcased what everyone had heard about coming from Kentucky; mainly a lively arm, lively legs and a football IQ that can’t be taught. However, it’s the really new guys that Gonzales might have learned a bit about. To whit:
*True freshmen Luke Wysong and Keyonte Lanier are playmaking receivers who could certainly see time as true freshmen.
*Running back Aaron Dumas, who took part in spring ball, will be a force all season long and is the perfect foil to team with Bobby Cole.”
*Another true freshman from spring ball, defensive back A.J. Odums, could be superb and surely adds to the depth in the defensive backfield.
*UNM’s punting game, perhaps the biggest question mark entering Fall Camp, seems in the capable hands, or feet, of Jared Long and Aaron Rodriguez, both of whom showcased well in terms of hang time and length.
Both Wysong and Lanier had touchdown catches, with Wysong’s and leaping grab in the end zone of a perfect Wilson pass. It was enough to make Gonzales notice for certain.
“I thought the energy was good and there were some good collisions,” said Danny Gonzales. “You saw Luke Wysong and Keyonte Lanier both make big-time touchdown catches, but that’s a Catch-22 because it means we didn’t make enough of a good play in the secondary.”
Along with Wilson, UNM also used quarterbacks Isaiah Chavez, Trae Hall and true freshman C.J. Montes interchangeably, with all having solid moments. Defensively, along with Odums, several others stood out, including the usual suspects in Jerrick Reed II, Jake Saltonstall and Joey Noble. Tavian Combs continued to look more at home in the Lobo position, and his back-up Mathias Bertram also showed well.
“I thought for a first scrimmage we made some progress and we will be out here again Thursday in a scrimmage similar to this, and that will be the last live action until September 2,” said Gonzales. “We have a long way to go and we need to get better as a football team but I liked what I saw.”
NOTE: No official stats were kept for the scrimmage … placekickers Andrew Shelley and George Steinkamp took all placements, and Long and Rodriguez were the holders.