(Photo Credit: Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Key Players Returning:
QB Diego Pavia, RB Jamoni Jones, RB Star Thomas, WR/KR Jonathan Brady, WR Kordell David, OC Canaan Yarro, OG Isaiah Mursalat, DE Serling Webb, NT Izaiah Reed, CB BJ Sculark, CB Andre Seldon, FS Mehki Miller, SS Dylan Early and PK Ethan Albertson.
Key Players Departing:
WR Justice Powers, OG Jae’vone Brown, OT Doro Omeri, OT Gabriel Preciado, DE Justin Segura, DE Lazarus Williams, LB Trevor Brohard, LB Chris Ojoh, CB Linwood Crump, CB Syrus Dumas, SS Bryce Jackson and PT Josh Carlson.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: QB Eli Stowers (Texas A&M transfer), DS Myles Rowser (Campbell transfer), ATH Reggie Akles (Independence, Kansas), DL Dion Wilson (Arizona transfer), OT Jack Gogue (Richmond, Missouri), CB Jeremiah Vessel (Las Vegas, Nevada), OT BJ Tolo (Santa Ana, California), OT Jacob Golden (Boise State transfer), TE Tyler Devera (Stony Brook transfer) and OL Kai Sevy (Draper, Utah).
2022 Results:
G01 NEVADA L 12-23
G02 @ Minnesota L 0-38
G03 @ UTEP L 13-20
G04 @ Wisconsin L 7-66
G05 HAWAII W 45-26
G06 FIU L 7-21
G07 New Mexico W 21-9
G08 @ UMASS W 23-13
G09 LAMAR W 51-14
G10 @Missouri L 14-45
G11 @ Liberty W 49-14
G12 VALPARAISO W 65-3
BOWL vs. Bowling Green W 24-9
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 7-6
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 1-0
Head Coach: Jerry Kill
New Mexico State: 7-6
Career: 166-115
Bowls: 1-5
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Diego Pavia (101-190, 1450 yards, 53.2%, 7.6 avg., 13 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Star Thomas (107 car., 518 yards, 4.8 avg., 5 TD)
Receiving: Kordell David (24 rec., 343 yards, 14.3 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Star Thomas (8)
Sacks: Izaiah Reed (3.5)
Tackles: Andre Seldon (44)
Interceptions: Andre Seldon (1)
Pass Deflections: Mehki Miller (5)
Tackles For Loss: Izaiah Reed (5)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returns: Jonathan Brady (10 ret., 200 yards, 20.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Ethan Albertson (7-10 fg/fga., 70%, 30-31 xp/xpa., 51 pts.)
Punting: Gearge Eberle (3 punts, 95 yards, 31.7 avg., 2 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 10 Diego Pavia (SR/TR)
RB: 3 Jamoni Jones (JR/TR)
WR: 1 Chris Bellamy (SR/TR)
WR: 11 Kordell David (SR/TR)
WR: 6 Jonathan Brady (SO)
TE: 85 Thomaz Whitford (RS SR/TR)
LT: 71 Shiyazh Pete (RS SO)
LG: 55 Shamarr Jackson (SO/TR)
OC: 56 Canaan Yarro (RS JR/TR)
RG: 51 AJ Vaipulu (SO)
RT: 66 Louie Canepa (RS FR)
KR: 00 Reggie Akles (JR/TR)
PK: 84 Ethan Albertson (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 99 Nikhill Webb Walker (RS FR)
NT: 98 Izaiah Reed (SR/TR)
DE: 26 Sterling Webb (SO)
LB: 16 Gabe Peterson (SO)
LB: 14 Sone Auplu (RS FR)
LB: 44 Keyshaun Elliott (SO)
NB: 19 Jeremiah Vessel (FR)
CB: 8 Andre Seldon (RS JR/TR)
CB: 4 BJ Sculark (RS SR/TR)
FS: 20 Mehki Miller (RS JR/TR)
SS: 11 Dylan Early (JR)
PR: 12 Jordan Smith (RS FR/TR)
PT: 90 Zach Haynes (GR/TR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/26 UMASS MINUTEMEN | New Mexico State leads the series 2-0. The Aggies won (23-13) last season’s meeting between schools and they won (44-27) the inaugural meeting between schools in 2021.
09/02 WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS | First meeting between schools.
09/09 @ Liberty Flames | New Mexico State trails the series 2-3. Last season’s 49-14 win was the first meeting between schools since 2019.
09/16 @ New Mexico Lobos | New Mexico State trails the series 34-73-5. The Aggies are 3-6 since 2013 and their last series loss (25-34) was in 2021.
09/23 @ Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | New Mexico State trails the series 1-10. Last season’s 45-26 win was their first win of the series dating back to 1978.
10/04 FIU PANTHERS | The series is tied 1-1. The Aggies lost (7-21) last season’s meeting between teams and they won (56-31) the inaugural meeting between schools in 2004.
10/11 SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS | First meeting between schools.
10/18 @ UTEP Miners | New Mexico State trails the series 38-59-2. The Aggies are 3-6 since 2013 and their last series win (44-35) was in 2019.
10/24 @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs | New Mexico State trails the series 4-8. The Aggies lost (14-28) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/04 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS | The series is tied 2-2. The Aggies won (44-10) the last meeting between schools in 2004.
11/11 @ WKU Hilltoppers | First meeting between schools.
11/18 @ Auburn Tigers | New Mexico State trails the series 0-3. The Aggies lost (7-42) the last meeting between schools in 2012.
11/25 JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS | First meeting between schools.
Predictions:
Home: 1-4
Away: 1-6
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 1-7
Non-CUSA: 1-3
Overall: 2-10 (8th in CUSA)
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