Fall Camp Position Breakdown: OL
Returning Starters (2): Isaak Gutierrez, Radson Jang
Starters Lost (3): Austin Cook, Kyle Stapley, Cade Briggs
Other Letterwinners Returning (0): None
Other Letterwinners Lost (4): Jack Buford, Ben Davis, Jacob Jankoviak, Leke Asenuga
Redshirts Returning (5): Jacob Webb, Carlos Lovato, Shancco “Ise” Matautia, Isaiah Sillemon, Arrison Cole
Squad Members Returning (5): Adam Gay, Greg Brown II, Vincent Santos, Jer’Marques Bailey, Walter Baca
Incoming Freshmen (2): Donald Dixon III, Jonathan Rivera (So.)
Incoming Transfers (5): CJ James, Tavien Ford, Zaccheaus Williams, DJ Wingfield, JC Davis
Fans coming to Saturday’s final scrimmage of Fall Camp at 9:30 am at University Stadium will definitely want a program for the offensive line, because you need it with all the newcomers.
Head coach Danny Gonzales and offensive line coach Jason Lenzmeier completely revamped the line, bringing in five junior college transfers in CJ James, Tavien Ford, Zaccheaus Williams, DJ Wingfield, and JC Davis in order to fix a line that lost three starters and only returns two. Those two are Isaak Gutierrez, who played 11 games at both guar spots, and Radson Jang, who is back after starting six games, most at center but is working back from an injury.
Those two are the only two letterwinners returning, and that puts UNM 128th out of 130 schools on the list of returning offensive line letterwinners. The Lobos aren’t without depth though, as Adam Gay, Greg Brown II, Vincent Santos, Jer’Marques Bailey and Walter Baca all have been through several camps. Baca was the Scout Team Player of the Year last season, and Gay was the strongest Lobo at Night of Champions and saw action on defense a year ago. Both Bailey and Brown have seen game action and Santos is a bruising lineman who has packed on muscle, so while UNM is short on experience, its no short on depth.
Jacob Webb, Carlos Lovato, Shancco “Ise” Matautia, Isaiah Sillemon and Arrison Cole are all back as well. Matautia started two games before redshirting last year, and all have a combined 20 seasons left between them, giving UNM plenty of youthful depth. True freshman Donald Dixon III and newcomer Jonathan Rivera have both shown great footwork and have done well in camp.
After a 2021 in which the line struggled to protect Lobo quarterbacks, UNM’s new and improved line has already shown to be stout in both the run and pass games, and should lead to better offensive successes in 2022.
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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. Single game tickets are on sale as well at www.golobos.com/SGT.