Fall Camp Position Breakdown: LBs
Returning Starters (2): Ray Leutele, Syaire Riley
Starters Lost (1): Devin Sanders
Other Letterwinners Returning (4): Alec Marenco, Dion Hunter, Reco Hannah, Cody Moon
Other Letterwinners Lost (1): Josh Woisin
Redshirts Returning (5): Bear Milacek, Josh Howes, Ja’Shon Lowery, JD Roberts, CJ Henry
Squad Members Returning (1): Semaj Sims
Incoming Freshmen (4): Tate Zimmerman, Leonardo Gallegos, Hunter Haemker, Marquis Jones
Incoming Transfers (2): Jalen Washington, Jimmy Gallegos
While there are certain positions that Lobo fans are probably wondering about there is no wondering about the Lobo linebacking corps for the 2022 season, as it is completely a position of strength for the upcoming season. The Lobos, with a “new” linebackers coach in charge, return six of the top seven linebackers from a year ago, losing only Devin Sanders.
Ray Leutele and Syaire Riley are both back after starting last year. Leutele had UNM’s only defensive touchdown and was all over the field in 2021 and he was the only Lobo to record a stat in every category (tackles, TFLs, sacks, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, interceptions and pass breakups). Syaire Riley led all Lobo linebackers in tackles with 45, good for fifth on the team.
What’s great is UNM doesn’t have to play linebackers for 80% of the plays. Last year Dion Hunter and Cody Moon saw plenty of time in games, and when Reco Hannah was healthy and playing, he was everywhere, recording 18 tackles in just four games as he redshirted the season in order to return in 2022 and play a full year. Add in Alec Marenco, who went from playing special teams to significant linebacker snaps in 2021 and you have basically a six-man rotation of “Starting Group A” and “Starting Group B”.
For most places, that’s enough, but UNM has riches in the linebacking spot. Two members of the big 2021 recruiting class of JD Roberts and Ja’Shon Lowery, who has trimmed down in his move from defensive line to linebacker are in the mix, along with Bear Milacek, who moved from quarterback, and Josh Howes. Semaj Sims has been in the program two years and is ready to see the field, and there are six newcomers in the mix as well. With the four-game redshirt rule, you could see plenty of action from Tate Zimmerman, Leonardo Gallegos, Hunter Haemker, Marquis Jones, Jalen Washington and Jimmy Gallegos mixing it up on special teams, giving the Lobos a luxury few schools have.
The newest face to the linebacker room isn’t even that new, as Rocky Long moved into the full-time defensive coordinator slot so that he could oversee more aspects of the defense, handing the reigns to Jake Rothschiller. A former Lobo walk-on, turned scholarship player, turned captain, turned team MVP, turned graduate assistant, Rothschiller has gone from a coach on the field in his playing days to one for real, and the linebacker crew hasn’t missed a beat. Rothschiiler, known as a student of the game, brings an acute attention to detail, along with the knowledge that Long isn’t far away if needed to help run drilled with one of UNM’s largest position groups.
_______________________________________________________________
Fans can lock in season tickets for the 2022 season, which starts on Saturday, September 3 at 6 pm against Maine by heading to www.golobos.com/2022FBSeasonTix.