Position Breakdown: Running Backs
This is the second in a series in which each position will get broken down prior to the start of the 2021 season.
Tuesday, August 17: Offensive Line
Wednesday, August 18: Quarterbacks
Thursday, August 19: Cornerbacks
Friday, August 20: Running Backs
Saturday, August 21: Linebackers
Monday, August 23: Receivers
Tuesday, August 24: Defensive Line
Wednesday, August 25: Running Backs
Thursday, August 26: Safeties
Friday, August 27: Tight Ends
Saturday, August 28: Specialists
Starters Returning (1): Bobby Cole (7 starts)
Starters Lost (0): None
Returning Letterwinners (3): Chad Alexander, Bobby Wooden
Letterwinners Lost (1): Nathaniel Jones, Bryson Carroll, Daevon Vigilant
Redshirts (1): None
Incoming Transfers (1): None
Incoming Freshmen (3): Aaron Dumas, Jordan Guidry
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Last year in a seven-game season, UNM went through five quarterbacks. If UNM in a 12-game season goes through five running backs, the Lobos are going to look like the 1971 New York Jets, because well, five is the magic number.
Bobby Cole, Aaron Dumas, Chad Alexander, Bobby Wooden, Jordan Guidry. That’s the core of the running backs room, meaning it wasn’t hard for position coach Jordan Somerville to learn everyone’s name. That’s the bad news. The good news? All five have the talent to be starters in the Mountain West, even Guidry, a true-freshman walk-on who will see some action this season. He received the bulk of the carries in the final scrimmage and showed an innate ability to adapt well, going between the tackles as well as scooting to the outside.
But it all starts with Bobby Cole. The former walk-on turned into UNM’s most valuable player on offense last year, and certainly the most consistent, leadingthe team in rushing, scoring three touchdowns against Fresno State and scoring the winning TD on a reception against Wyoming. Cole can do it all, rush for speed, rush for power, catch, block and probably pick up the locker room afterwards. He’s that versatile and that good.
Last year, UNM turned to a true freshman for the secondary back position, and that might happen again, this time with Aaron Dumas. The speedy native of El Paso had the benefit of Spring Camp, and showed that he will be a major force in 2021. Dumas has the ability as a true freshman to be the No. 1 back right now, and not just for UNM but for probably most Mountain West teams.
Along with Cole and Dumas, UNM has a triumvirate that will see plenty of action. Chad Alexander can do lots of things, and Wooden moved from slot receiver to running back and brings tremendous speed to the position. Guidry is shifty and showed he can handle the college game and took huge advantage of the extra reps he was given.
UNM’s running backs have to be adept due to the complexity of Derek Warehime’s offense. UNM backs might have a different responsibility on five straight plays, and they are expected to know all of them. It’s a demanding position but with a guy like Cole leading the room, you can be certainly the small group of back will play very large in 2021.
Tickets: Season-game tickets are still available via golobos.com/tickets, and fans can now get in on mini-plans as well. UNM is currently ahead of the 2019 season ticket totals.
There are two mini-plans for fans to get in on, the Cherry Plan and the Silver Plan. The Cherry Plan gets you a three-game set of the opener against Houston Baptist, New Mexico State and UNLV. The Silver Plan gets fans tickets for New Mexico State, Air Force and Utah State.
Single game tickets are available by clicking the game below:
9/2 Houston Baptist
9/11 New Mexico State
10/2 Air Force
10/16 Colorado State
11/6 UNLV
11/26 Utah State
Tomorrow: A breakdown of UNM’s linebackers.