Position Breakdown: Receivers
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 (2): Andrew Erickson (7 starts), Mannie Logan-Greene (5 starts)
Starters Lost (1): Jordan Kress (3 starts)
Returning Letterwinners (2): Jace Taylor, Elijah Queen (2 starts)
Letterwinners Lost (2): Cedric Patterson III (1 start), Anselem Umeh,
Redshirts (4): Zarak Scruggs, Jr., Ryan Cosper, Austin Erickson (1 start), Blake Wells
Incoming Transfers (1): CJay Boone (Missouri)
Incoming Freshmen (4): Luke Wysong, Keyonta Lanier, Joah Flores (So.), Benji Johnson
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For those that noticed in either of UNM’s scrimmages, or even the open practice, it’s easy to watch some of the newest Lobos and get excited. The thoughts of a Keyonta Lanier or Luke Wysong hauling in catches for the next four years is enough to make any Lobo fan drool at the talent at receiver.
Let’s just not forget Mannie Logan-Greene and Andrew Erickson. While Wysong and Lanier my have the media’s heart with their dazzling play as true freshmen, the safe bet is the two best receivers in camp are exactly whom one would think: Logan-Greene and Erickson.
Logan-Greene, one of 14 super seniors on the squad, has taken his leadership role to the responsible hilt, leading his young crew in drills before and after practice. Logan-Greene can do it all, from catching out of the slot to lining up anywhere else pretty much on the field. He has the skills, the speed and the hands to be not just UNM’s top receiver statistically, but one of the very best in the Mountain West.
And then there is the old man, which is a funny nickname for Erickson, who is technically just a sophomore and could still play four more years (and probably have his doctorate by the time he’s done). Erickson is a four-year sophomore, making him, at least school-wise at UNM, the oldest of the group. The former walk-on is deceptively fast, has brilliant hands and is as steady as they go. He has earned the ultimate trust of UNM’s coaches and QBs, and that’s a heck of a combo to have.
While UNM lost three letterwinners from a year ago that started a combined four games, the Lobo receiving group is very talented and there’s plenty of guys ready to take those reps. Jace Taylor and Elijah Queen saw plenty of snaps as true freshmen a year ago and look ready to take their next steps. Both are tall strong receivers that should give UNM’s quarterbacks big targets.
The Lobos also have four redshirts in Zarak Scruggs, Jr., Austin Erickson, Blake Wells and Ryan Cosper who have played well in the spring, with Erickson and Wells getting some snaps in 2020.
But oh those newcomers. CJay Boone is the lone transfer, who has shown steady improvement and has been a favorite target all canp. Joah Flores is a Volcano Vista product new to the team as a sophomore, and he should get time in the slot, showcasing trusty hands. But it’s UNM’s three true freshmen that have been the talk of camp, and here’s how good they are. In any other year, the talk of camp might have been Benji Johnson, and big strong target from Hooks, Texas that has been nothing short of sensational. Yet Wysong and Lanier have dazzled all camp as well, to the point where folks are trying figure out how UNM lands not one game-breaking true freshman wideout, but three.
With a quarterback like Terry Wilson set to take the snaps, he needs surrounded by talented wideouts and UNM has them. Oh, does UNM have them, and Lobo fans are going to love watching them.
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
Tuesday: A breakdown of UNM’s defensive line.