Every contender enters a season with lingering questions.
For the New Mexico Lobos, those questions aren’t about whether they can drive up the hill with a conference title on the horizon — they’re about recreating a puzzle with the same image, turning potential into production, and capitalizing on opportunities that may have slipped through their hands a season ago.
Reassembling pass-rush production
New Mexico recorded 36 sacks last season — the program’s most since matching that total in 2005 — and its first 30-plus sack season in 20 years. After totaling just 26 sacks across the previous two seasons combined, the Lobos found a consistent pass rush under defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky.
With two of last season’s biggest defensive puzzle pieces in Keyshawn James-Newby and Brett Karhu gone, the Lobos will look to replace the tandem’s 16.5 combined sacks last season.
According to senior defensive tackle Brian Booker, recreating that production will take “relentless effort.”
“If the edges keep coming and the interior keeps coming, where’s the quarterback gonna go? The main emphasis (is) just relentless effort and pursuit,” Booker said.
Defensive ends Darren Agu, Xavier Slayton and Elijah Brody headline a group of returning veterans expected to help replace that production. Along the interior, Booker said one of his goals is to lead the conference in sacks.
“Having my edges compete with me (for sacks), having the linebackers compete with me, that’s for sure one of my biggest goals,” Booker said.
Replacing lost sack production year-to-year isn’t abnormal in college football, but for the Lobos, matching last year’s production could help avoid an extra nail that could deflate their wheels enroute to a conference championship.
A cast of new weapons
Coach Luke Schleusner’s offense totaled 2,662 yards through the air last season behind primarily the arm of quarterback Jack Layne, but much of that production is no longer present.
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Nearly two-thirds (65%) of those yards were handled by three players: wide receiver Keagan Johnson (772 yards), tight end Dorian Thomas (560 yards) — who recently transferred to California, Berkeley — and running back Damon Bankston (397 yards), who signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in April.
Just four wide receivers caught a ball last season for UNM, including Johnson and Michael Buckley, who are no longer on the team. That leaves Shawn Miller and Zhaiel Smith — who combined for 311 yards on 23 catches — positioned to take on larger roles.
Beyond the returning receivers, the Lobos dipped their feet in the transfer portal and landed UNLV transfer Troy Omeire, who they believe can contribute immediately. Last year’s transfer portal acquisition, tight end Cade Keith, is in prime position to have a breakout season after Dorian Thomas’ departure.
The theme of this nail: Can the potential be turned into production? Fall camp should help patch some of those lingering holes heading into the season opener.
Can they create more turnovers?
The Lobos forced 17 turnovers (9 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries) last season, but surrendered 23 turnovers, leaving them with a turnover margin of -6. This ranked 111th out of 136th in the country.
“We were one of the worst teams in the country in turnover margin for a good amount of the year last (season),” linebacker Jaxton Eck told the Daily Lobo last month.
New Mexico committed 1.8 turnovers per game last season, ranking 122nd nationally, while the defense forced 1.3 turnovers per game, ranking 71st. Cutting down on turnovers is football 101, but defensively, the Lobos can create a significant advantage for their offense by forcing more takeaways. This eases the burden for a unit looking to replace 65% of their receiving production.
“We were a very good defense last year but we didn’t create a lot of turnovers,” Head Coach Jason Eck said during the spring. “It’s tough to say you are a great defense until you are creating a lot of turnovers.”
The silver lining: Even if the Lobos can’t replace last year’s sack production, an emphasis on turning pressures into takeaways could keep the defense as one of — if not the best — in the conference. That mindset has been an emphasis inside the locker room.
“You know, (if) we can start forcing more turnovers, how good can we really be? That’s been a huge emphasis all throughout spring and in the summer,” Jaxton Eck said.
The outcome of the Lobos’ season shouldn’t be determined by whether they force one or two more interceptions or find an alpha at receiver, but winning championships can be decided by details that may feel nail-size — small problems that could end up taking the air out of a promising season.
Edge Garcia is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @ByEdgeGarcia
