UNM head football coach Rocky Long said his team goes through cycles of experience and youth - and 2008 happens to be a year where inexperience will rule.
So that makes the spring season, which begins this week, that much more important if the Lobos are going to continue to make strides in the program.
"We're awfully young. We've got some people that we have to develop into starters in spring practice," he said. "So far, I've been really impressed with the way they have performed in the weight room and with their attitude. I think we have enough talent to be pretty good. It just depends on how fast they'll mature into players, since a lot of them didn't play last year."
UNM is coming off one of its most successful seasons, capped by a victory in the New Mexico Bowl, the Lobos' first bowl win in 46 years. The Lobos finished 9-4 overall and 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference.
But in order to make another bowl game, which would be their sixth in the past seven years, some holes will need to be filled, especially on offense. Four out of the five offensive line positions are up for grabs, with center Erik Cook being the only returning starter.
UNM will also need to replace outstanding wide receivers Travis Brown and Marcus Smith, who were two of the best wideouts in the MWC the past couple years.
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Quarterback Donovan Porterie will be affected most by these changes and will be one of the biggest leaders on the team.
Porterie, a junior, is coming off his first full season as a starter. The Lobos are 12-4 in the past two years when Porterie starts and finishes a game.
Porterie said he's not sure how this season's receivers compare to Brown and Smith, but he expects positive results as long as they work on fundamentals.
"The offense, passing-wise, is based on concepts," he said. "As far as concepts, I believe all of our receivers have the concepts down, and once you know the concepts in this offense, it will make it a whole lot easier."
As for the offensive line, Porterie said he is pleased with the athleticism he has seen from the guys on the roster.
He said there are players who have what it takes to step in and fill the voids on the line immediately.
Helping take the load off Porterie's shoulders will be senior tailbacks Rodney Ferguson and Paul Baker.
Ferguson is a two-time All-MWC honoree and has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in two straight seasons.
On the defensive side, the Lobos are losing experience on the line and in the linebacker core. The defense ranked 13th in the nation in total defense last year and will also need to see some younger players step up if it is going to get back to that level.
Cornerback Glover Quin said the secondary, which is full of veterans, will need to help maintain the defense next season.
"We got a lot of younger guys playing up front," he said. "You can put more pressure on the secondary to let the guys up front to do more things to try to develop."
