Fall Camp Position Breakdown: TEs
Returning Starters (0): None
Starters Lost (1): Kyle Jarvis
Other Letterwinners Returning (2): Connor Witthoft, Eiljah Queen (position switch from WR)
Other Letterwinners Lost (0): None
Redshirts Returning (1): Jacob Trussell
Squad Members Returning (1): Caleb Marra
Incoming Freshmen (0): None
Incoming Transfers (2): Will Dennis, Jaden Hullaby
During the Mike Locksley and Bob Davie years, there was a recurring theme among the fanbase … UNM needs to use the tight ends more. Now, under Davie UNM was a rushing option office so UNM’s tight ends were more blockers, although Reece White was a solid blocker and pass catcher. Locksley had Lucas Reed. However, the tight end crew under Danny Gonzales? Well, it’s deep, and it’s stacked, and Lobo fans no longer hope to get the tight ends involved in the offense because they no long hope, they know.
UNM can arguably boast the best returning tight end in the Mountain West in Trace Bruckler. Now, he wasn’t named to the preseason All-Mountain West team, but there is no argument that among all returning tight ends, no one had the season in 2021 that Bruckler did. Bruckler caught 15 passes for 194 yards, including a team-best three touchdowns. All those stats were more incredible when you remember that Bruckler was a wide receiver up until the week prior to the opening game.
UNM also returns Connor Witthoft (5 rec., 48 yards, 1 TDs) and Caleb Marra on the squad, they bring two years of experience, along with Elijah Queen, who spent two seasons as a receiver and has bulked up to nearly 230 pounds and is looking to make the same impact on the position switch that Bruckler did.
UNM also has a pair of transfers in Jaden Hullaby of Texas, who brings tremendous physicality to the tight ends room, and Will Dennis. Dennis was in Spring Camp and has taken a ton of reps.
The one Lobo who is in the room but out for the year is Jacob Trussell with a leg injury. However, even without Trussell, UNM’s tight ends have been terrific over the first week of camp, and if there is any justice, one of them will be on the All-Mountain West podium at the end of the year.
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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.