(QB Devon Dampier – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
WR Caleb Medford, DE Gabriel Lopez, DT Kyler Drake, LB Dimitri Johnson, CB Noa Pola-Gates, FS Christian Ellis, FS Dereck Moore, PK Luke Drzewiecki, and PT Aaron Rodriguez.
Key Players Departing:
QB Dylan Hopkins, RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (Arizona transfer), WR Jeremiah Hixon, WR DJ Washington, OC CJ James, OG Shancco Matautia (Arizona State transfer), OG Taurrian Stafford, OT JC Davis (Illinois transfer), OT DJ Wingfield (Purdue transfer), LB Alec Morenco (Kansas State transfer), LB Syaire Riley, CB Donte Martin, CB Zach Morris (UTSA transfer), NB Tavian Combs, and DS Jermarius Lewis (UTSA transfer).
(RB Eli Sanders – USA Today Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: CB Noah Avinger (San Diego State transfer), DT Devin Brandt (Old Dominion transfer), LB Tirek Austin-Cave (West Virginia transfer), OL Jawaun Singletary (Grambling transfer), EDGE Antoineo Harris Jr. (Indiana State transfer), DE De’jon Benton (USC transfer), RB Eli Sanders (Iowa State transfer), RB Javen Jacobs (Arizona State transfer), EDGE Okiki Olorunfunmi (Weber State transfer), and EDGE Moso Tuitele (California transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 @ Texas A&M L 10-52
G02 TENNESSEE TECH W 56-10
G03 NEW MEXICO STATE L 17-27
G04 @ UMASS W (OT) 34-31
G05 @ Wyoming L 26-35
G06 SAN JOSE STATE L 24-52
G07 HAWAII W 42-21
G08 @ Nevada L 24-34
G09 UNLV L 14-56
G10 @ Boise State L 14-42
G11 @ Fresno State W 25-17
G12 UTAH STATE L (2OT) 41-44
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 4-8 (11th in MWC)
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 2-6
Non-MWC: 2-2
Head Coach: Bronco Mendenhall
New Mexico: 0-0
Career: 135-81
Bowls: 7-7
(RB Andrew Henry – Getty Images)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Devon Dampier (40-64, 525 yards, 62.5%, 8.2 avg., 6 TD, 0 INT)
Rushing: Andrew Henry (52 car., 350 yards, 6.7 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Caleb Medford (30 rec., 551 yards, 18.4 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Devon Dampier (4)
Sacks: Kyler Drake (3.5)
Tackles: Christian Ellis (59)
Tackles For Loss: Kyler Drake (6)
Interceptions: None
Pass Deflections: Christian Ellis/Dimitri Johnson (4)
Forced Fumbles: Dimitri Johnson/Tyler Kiehne (1)
Kick Returns: Luke Wysong (6 ret., 97 yards, 21.5 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Luke Wysong (3 ret., 5 yards, 1.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Luke Drzewiecki (10-14 fg/fga., 71%, 37-38 xp/xpa., 67 pts.)
Punting: Aaron Rodriguez (52 punts, 2204 yards, 42.4 avg., 17 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 4 Devon Dampier (SO)
RB: 6 Eli Sanders (RS JR/TR)
WR: 81 Nic Trujillo (RS FR)
WR: 14 Shawn Miller (RS SO/TR)
WR: 15 Luke Wysong (RS JR)
TE: 85 Trace Bruckler (RS JR)
LT: 76 Wallace Unamba (RS JR/TR)
LG: 56 Baraka Beckett (RS SR/TR)
OC: 55 Jawaun Singletary (SR/TR)
RG: 78 Richard Pearce (RS JR/TR)
RT: 66 McKenzie Agnello (JR/TR)
KR: 15 Luke Wysong (RS JR)
PK: 26 Luke Drzewiecki (RS JR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 17 Okiki Olorunfunmi (SR/TR)
NT: 7 Tyler Kiehne (RS JR/TR)
DT: 45 Kyler Drake (RS SR)
DE: 9 Gabriel Lopez (RS JR/TR)
LB: 24 Jayden Wilson (SO)
LB: 22 Dimitri Johnson (SR/TR)
NB: 0 Bobby Arnold III (SO/TR)
CB: 13 Bryson Taylor (JR)
CB: 34 Noa Pola-Gates (RS SR/TR)
BS: 1 Noah Avinger (RS JR/TR)
FS: 8 Christian Ellis (JR)
PR: 15 Luke Wysong (RS JR)
PT: 10 Aaron Rodriguez (RS SR/TR)
(DS Christian Ellis – Fresno Bee)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/24 MONTANA STATE BOBCATS | First meeting between schools.
08/31 @ Arizona Wildcats | New Mexico trails the series 6-37-2. The Lobos lost (14-49) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
09/14 @ Auburn Tigers | First meeting between schools.
09/21 FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS | New Mexico trails the series 6-15. The Lobos are 5-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (9-41) was in 2022.
09/28 @ New Mexico State Aggies | New Mexico leads the series 73-35-5. The Lobos are 5-4 since 2014, and their last series win 34-25) was in 2021.
10/12 AIR FORCE FALCONS | New Mexico trails the series 14-26. The Lobos are 3-6 since 2014, and they lost (3-35) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
10/19 @ Utah State Aggies | New Mexico trails the series 13-17. The Lobos are 2-8 since 2014, and their last series win (24-21) was in 2016.
10/26 @ Colorado State Rams | New Mexico trails the series 25-44. The Lobos are 0-8 since 2014, and they lost (0-17) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/02 WYOMING COWBOYS | New Mexico trails the series 36-40. The Lobos are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series win (14-3) was in 2021.
11/08 @ San Diego State Aztecs | New Mexico trails the series 15-29. The Lobos lost (10-34) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/16 WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS | New Mexico trails the series 0-2. The Lobos lost (17-21) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
11/30 @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | New Mexico trails the series 11-16. The Lobos are 3-2 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (33-39) was in 2020.
Predictions:
Home: 1-4
Away: 0-7
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 0-8
Non-MWC: 1-3
Overall: 1-11 (13th in MWC)
gridironpredictions.net 