SAD RECORD: Due to their marital issues, the all-time great players have formally announced their departure.
The all-time great footballers have officially announced their resignation due to marital troubles.
Danny Gonzales is in his fourth year at New Mexico, and he feels at ease there. There’s change, excitement, and maybe a hint of desperation throughout the entire program.
Gonzales, who is 7-24 going into year four, is coming off a 2-10 season and a losing season in the Mountain West Conference. The UNM team’s 0–8 MWC skid was their second such run in four seasons. Bob Davie lost his job the last time. There’s a hint of what the 2019 season started with going into this one.
As the offense faltered in the midst of the previous season, the Lobos fired offensive coordinator Derek Warehime. It remained the same. Gonzales brought Bryant Vincent away from UAB to address the problem of a faltering offense. Dylan Hopkins, Vincent’s quarterback, goes with him.
Vincent played his whole career at UAB, where he averaged over 36 points per game last season en route to a 7-6 record that included a victory over Miami of Ohio in the Bahamas Bowl. The Lobos’ attack will be centered on the runout of the spread, but they also won’t be scared to pass.
Christian Washington, the running back, will have a lot of carries, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt might also see a lot of carries. After transferring from Alabama State, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,164 yards and 13 touchdowns in 31 games. This season, he might be a dark-horse breakout candidate.
Last season, the Lobos only saw 36 points in one game out of their whole schedule. Given that Hopkins is the focal point of UNM’s attack and that there are eight offensive starters returning, the scoreboard may perform better for UNM this season.
All 11 of the anticipated starters are sophomores or juniors as of right now, despite the fact that eight starters from the previous team are back. Although there is some experience, neither Hopkins nor Vincent have built any to date.
A fresh system presents a fresh learning curve for players accustomed to an outdated model. It is hoped that the players will quickly grasp the offense and repeatedly take advantage of the opposition.
With Dylan Hopkins, who is essentially a ninth starter, the Lobos have their most seasoned offensive line since Danny Gonzales took over. With so much experience, this will prove extremely valuable towards the end of the season.
DJ Washington, a receiver, transferred from Iowa Central Community College, where he excelled. Last year, Washington hauled in 54 catches for 863 yards and 10 touchdowns. He presents Hopkins with a towering threat to snag the 50/50 ball down field at 6 feet 5 inches.
Actually, Troy Reffett, the new defensive coordinator, recently got promoted. After serving as Rocky Long’s assistant for the previous three seasons, Reffett assumed responsibility for the DC post this offseason when Long moved to Syracuse. Even if the squad is missing two starters, the 3-3-5 defense is still known for its solidity.
The Lobos will gain a ton of quality and experience owing to transfers and freshmen, even though they only return two starters on defense.
Tyler Kiehne, a transfer from UCLA, is a sophomore defensive lineman who has been listed by several forecasters as a candidate for the All-MWC team. Originally from Los Lunas, New Mexico, Kiehne did not play much at UCLA but had enough skill to get Chip Kelly’s attention.
Ray Leutele, a linebacker, is returning after a season marred by injuries. Leutele ranked eighth on the team in 2021 with 36 tackles, after players such as Reco Hannah.
Security Tavian Combs, who played in just three games due to injuries during the 2022 season, is also back. In 2021, Combs made 11 starts and finished the season with 81 tackles, good for second on the team.
The Lobos are sticking with their defensive plan, which resulted in just 25 sacks and 9 turnovers during the season. The conference’s best teams are able to force far more mistakes and consistently pressure the quarterback.
Defensive backs make up the two starting lineups that are back. After starting the first three games of the season with Tavian Combs and Donte Martin, injuries struck. Combs sustained an ACL tear in the third game, and Martin missed three games due to a collapsed lung later in the season.
Donte Martin, the cornerback, is back, bringing with him 25 pass breakups. The Lobos could need to use the 25 PBUs, which rank fifth all-time in team history, to stay in the game.
Redshirt freshman defensive end David Rowaiye, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 280 pounds, was a formidable presence in his Oklahoma high school. After winning 5A Player of the Year in 2021, OU and Oklahoma State showed a strong interest in recruiting Rowaiye. Rowaiye’s bulk and speed can cause havoc in backfields.
UNM supporters may exhale in comfort as both of the Lobos starters at punter and kicker return for the 2023 campaign.
For UNM, Aaron Rodriguez is back at punter. For many this preseason, Rodriguez is either first or second team All-MWC; the previous season, he was on the second team. 81 punts last season yielded an average of 44.2 yards for him. Turning the field might instill confidence in a defense that is still developing.
Last season, Luke Drzewiecki had a 10-for-14 record on field goals. He is fairly accurate at the short to medium range. Although he may not be very accurate at 40 yards or more, he still has the leg.
Luke Wysong will return kicks and punts, and this year, DJ Washington may return kicks as well. With the ability to move quickly enough to avoid everyone on the field, Wysong is this group’s wild card. Additionally, he was able to switch fields and put the offense in a position to score.
Not that Rodriguez has anything against Corey Bojorquez, who he intends to emulate by entering the NFL, but if the Lobos employ Rodriguez 81 times in 2023, the team’s victory total is likely to hover around two or three. which the Lobos are not interested in.
