Time has almost run out for most of Bob Davie’s first recruiting class.
The 2015 season will most likely be the last for eight of Davie’s first 24 recruits. During the last three years, those players haven’t had much success on the field, with a record of 11-35.
Davie, who spoke to the print media at the Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas, Nevada, said he realizes it’s now or never for those four-year seniors.
“We’re still a football team that will be better next year, but for these guys it’s their last shot so it’s big for them,” Davie said.
Of those eight players, tight end Reece White and cornerback Cranston Jones are expected to start, Davie said. Wide receivers Carlos Wiggins and Marquis Bundy, along with running back David Anaya, will see extensive playing time.
Davie did make it a point that this year is not only important for the seniors but is a turning point for the program.
“There’s no substitute for hard work; we’ve worked hard. Just like these other guys who’ve worked hard,” Davie said. “The harder your work, the more passion you have, the more you’re invested, the more you refuse to lose. We’re at that point. We’ve put a lot into this. There’s no minimizing that. We have a lot of stake this year.”
The other three of the four-year seniors that will play this upcoming season are linebackers Michael Arredondo and Richard Winston and tight end Chris Edling. Cole Gautsche, who is another four-year senior, is expected to redshirt the upcoming season and will have one more year of eligibility.
Full cost of attendance update
Davie said this upcoming year football players will receive a reduced cost of attendance that will cover some needs of the athletes.
By next year, Davie said, football will fully fund cost of attendance.
“Next year at this time hopefully we’re full cost of attendance. This year we’re not,” Davie said. “Our players are going to get something but not a full cost of attendance this year.”
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Davie said not having full cost of attendance didn’t hurt recruiting this past year, but added that it may be a bigger issue next year.
“I don’t think so. I explained it to our players on our team and none of our players never heard of cost of attendance,” he said. “Maybe there’s a little perception of importance of football if other schools particularly in our division are doing full cost of attendance and we’re not.”
In March, UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs said football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball are the teams that would receive full cost of attendance first.
Passing attack
It’s been no secret that UNM hasn’t had much of an air game to speak of since Davie took over four years ago.
Davie is more optimistic that the Lobos will have more of a balance to their triple option attack with Lamar Jordan, Austin Apodaca or Jujuan Lawson at quarterback.
“I think for the first time that we can throw it,” Davie said. “We have a chance to throw it for the first time. I think we have a chance to be balanced and be pretty good on offense.”
UNM averaged just 89.1 passing yards per game last year, which ranked 126th out of 128 Division I football teams.
Thomas Romero-Salas is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ThomasRomeroS.
