UNM FOOTBALL
What to know as Lobos spring practice draws to a close
Eck optimistic about a more traditional format for Saturday's spring scrimmage
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Everything you need to know about New Mexico鈥檚 spring game, the program鈥檚 second under head coach Jason Eck:
Last year, UNM rolled with an offense versus defense format instead of a more traditional intrasquad scrimmage. Monday, Eck said he would make a decision on what the game might look like later in the week.
鈥淚 think we鈥檒l probably decide after Wednesday鈥檚 practice 鈥� We had a few receivers who had little things (injuries on Monday),鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat was the one position group that got a little thin today that we鈥檙e concerned about.
鈥淏ut I鈥檓 still optimistic that we鈥檙e gonna have enough guys to do more of a cherry versus silver (format), rather than an offense versus defense spring game.鈥�
Top storylines: UNM won鈥檛 name a starting quarterback until fall camp, when Jack Layne 鈥� last year鈥檚 starter 鈥� is expected to return from offseason elbow surgery. And Eck has even referred to this spring as more of an 鈥渆valuation鈥� of Toa Fa鈥檃vae and Oregon transfer Luke Moga, downplaying any notion of an internal depth chart and anybody functioning as a true QB1 at this point.
But make no mistake, if Moga and Fa鈥檃vae aren鈥檛 quite competing to start right now, there will at least be something on the line for the two come Saturday.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say whoever鈥檚 second (between the two) coming out of spring is eliminated, but I think (being ahead on the depth chart) certainly puts you in a lot better shape,鈥� Eck said last week. 鈥� 鈥� They鈥檙e gonna get more reps than the other guy in the fall, once Jack鈥檚 back.鈥�
Last week, Fa鈥檃vae said he moved ahead of Moga, a former four-star prospect, on the internal depth chart. But that was before the latter authored his best practice of the spring, throwing the ball decisively and extending plays with his legs.
Could he do the same Saturday? At the very least, it appears that Eck wouldn鈥檛 mind seeing more of that version of Moga, who transferred to UNM this winter after two seasons at Oregon
鈥淚 told him, 鈥榶ou鈥檙e not gonna win the job in a day. This thing鈥檚 not gonna be decided (until) August,鈥欌�� he added. 鈥淚 thought there were times (this spring) where he scrambled a little too quickly and didn鈥檛 stick in the pocket. But credit to him, I think he was coachable.
鈥淲e asked him to work on that, and I thought he did much better job of that (Monday.)鈥�
UNM鈥檚 defense also looked like it was ahead of its counterparts on the other side of the ball for much of this spring, but the offense has punched back over the last week. Be sure to watch how the Lobos move the ball over the course of Saturday鈥檚 spring game.
Lobos to watch: After losing star edge rushers Keyshawn James-Newby and Brett Karhu, UNM hit the transfer portal to help replace its sack leaders. To that end, College of San Mateo transfer Albert Tuakalau has been one of the more pleasant surprises this spring and looks like he鈥檚 very much in the mix to start at defensive end. Consider him a player worth keeping an eye out for.
鈥淗e has been a tireless worker since day one,鈥� defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky said of Tuakalau earlier this month. 鈥� 鈥� He has made 鈥� which he should 鈥� a lot of mistakes, but he (makes them) full-speed 鈥� And guess what? Those are a lot easier to correct.鈥�
UNM also brought in a pair of running back transfers in Kiefer Sibley (North Texas) and Cameron Mathews (Memphis) who have done some nice things this spring. Replacing Damon Bankston and D.J. McKinney is a tall order, but the two have made strides within this offense over the last two weeks.
What else is going on: A lot. To start the day, UNM is holding an equipment surplus sale in the department鈥檚 indoor practice facility from 9 a.m. to noon. With a line expected, the program is asking fans to enter through Gate 7 of University Stadium to help with crowd flow.
At the sale, game-worn football helmets can be purchased for $125; football jerseys for $50; shoes for $30; other jerseys and uniforms for $25; sweatshirts and jackets for $20; and T-shirts, shorts, polos and sweatpants for $10.
After the spring game, UNM is reopening 鈥淟ouie Lane鈥� outside the stadium鈥檚 north end zone from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lobo players and coaches will be available for autographs throughout the tailgate.
A lowrider car show will take place at the same time outside the stadium.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
