(RB Monte Watkins – New Mexico State University Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
RB Monte Watkins, WR Kordell David, OC Canaan Yarro, OG AJ Vaipulu, OT Louie Canepa, OT Cedric Claiborne, OT Shiyazh Pete, LB Sone Aupiu, LB Tyler Martinez, LB Buddha Peleti, CB Keonte Glinton, and SS Dylan Early.
Key Players Departing:
QB Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt transfer), RB Jamoni Jones (Vanderbilt transfer), RB Star Thomas (Duke transfer), WR/KR Jonathan Brady (California transfer), WR Trent Hudson (Mississippi State transfer), WR Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt transfer), DE Gabe Peterson (Houston transfer), DE Sterling Webb (Missouri transfer), DE Nikhil Webb-Walker (Colorado transfer), DT Gabriel Iniguez (Utah State transfer), NT Isaiah Reed, NT Dion Wilson (Syracuse transfer), LB Keyshaun Elliott, CB/KR Reggie Akles, CB Andre Seldon (TCU transfer), CB Torren Union, NB Jeremiah Dervil (Northern Iowa transfer), FS Mehki Miller, FS Myles Rowser, SS Jordan Vincent (Utah State transfer), PK Ethan Albertson, and PT Zach Haynes.
(TE Alex Lines – @alexlines02)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: TE Alex Lines (Garden City, Kansas), DS Josiah Cox (Arizona State transfer), QB Deuce Hogan (Kentucky transfer), DS Da’Marcus Crosby Jr. (Sam Houston transfer), CB Dakerric Hobbs (Sam Houston transfer), EDGE Justin Beadles (Houston transfer), DS Nick Session (Oklahoma State transfer), CB Myles Norwood (Iowa State transfer), NT Naki Fahina (UNLV transfer), and LB Avery Morris (UTSA transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 UMASS L 30-41
G02 WESTERN ILLINOIS W 58-21
G03 @ Liberty L 17-31
G04 @ New Mexico W 27-17
G05 @ Hawaii L 17-20
G06 FIU W 34-17
G07 SAM HOUSTON W 27-13
G08 @ UTEP W 28-7
G09 @ LOUISIANA TECH W 27-24
G10 MIDDLE TENNESSEE W 13-7
G11 @ Western Kentucky W 38-29
G12 @ Auburn W 31-10
CUSA @ #24 Liberty L 35-49
BOWL vs. Fresno State L 10-37
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 10-5 (2nd in CUSA)
Home: 5-1
Away: 5-3
Neutral: 0-1
CUSA: 7-1
Non-CUSA: 3-4
Head Coach: Tony Sanchez
New Mexico State: 0-0
Career: 20-40
Bowls: 0-0
(LB Sone Auplu – New Mexico State University Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Monte Watkins (59 car., 572 yards, 9.7 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Kordell David (20 rec., 203 yards, 10.2 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Monte Watkins (3)
Sacks: Buddha Paleti (4.5)
Tackles: Sone Aupiu (47)
Interceptions: Dylan Early (2)
Pass Deflections: Keonte Glinton (6)
Tackles For Loss: Sone Aupiu (6.5)
Forced Fumbles: Sone Auplu/Buddha Peleti (2)
Kick Returns: None
Punt Returns: Jordan Smith (7 ret., 42 yards, 6.0 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 2 Deuce Hogan (RS SR/TR)
RB: 8 Monte Watkins (RS JR/TR)
WR: 5 Donovan Faupel (SO)
WR: 11 Kordell David (SR/TR)
WR: 12 Jordan Smith (SR/TR)
TE: 88 Trevor Stephens (JR)
LT: 71 Shiyazh Pete (RS JR)
LG: 51 AJ Vaipulu (JR)
OC: 56 Canaan Yarro (RS SR/TR)
RG: 77 Jacob Golden (RS SR/TR)
RT: 78 Cedric Claiborne (RS SR/TR)
KR: 25 Jaxon Heil (JR)
PK: 43 Connor Brooksby (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 28 Jaden Robinson (RS SO)
NT: 6 Naki Fahina (RS SR/TR)
DE: 90 Matt LAwson (RS SR/TR)
LB: 8 Buddha Peleti (JR)
LB: 14 Sone Auplu (RS SO)
LB: 47 Jalen Brown (RS FR)
NB: 5 Nick Session (RS SR/TR)
CB: 7 Keonte Glinton (RS SR/TR)
CB: 24 Dakerric Hobbs (SR/TR)
FS: 11 Dylan Early (SR)
SS: 2 De’Marcus Crosby (SR/TR)
PR: 12 Jordan Smith (SR/TR)
PT: 92 George Eberle (GR/TR)
(WR Kordell David – New Mexico State University Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: A
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: C
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: C
Schedule:
08/31 SE MISSOURI REDHAWKS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 LIBERTY FLAMES | New Mexico State trails the series 2-5. The Aggies lost (35-49; 17-33) both of last season’s meetings between schools, and their last series win (49-14) was in 2022.
09/14 @ Fresno State Bulldogs | New Mexico State trails the series 1-19. Last season’s 10-37 loss was the first meeting between school since 2019, and their only series win (48-45) dates back to 2011.
09/21 @ Sam Houston Bearkats | Last season’s 27-13 win was the first meeting between schools.
09/28 NEW MEXICO LOBOS | New Mexico State trails the series 35-73-5. The Aggies are 4-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (25-34) was in 2021.
10/09 @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks | Last season’s 20-17 win was the first meeting between schools.
10/15 LOUISIANA TECH BULLDOGS | Last season’s 27-34 win was the first meeting between schools since 2012, and their last series loss (16-28) was at the prior meeting in 2012.
10/29 @ FIU Panthers | New Mexico State leads the series 2-1. The Aggies won (36-17) last season’s meeting between schools, and their only series loss (7-21) was at the prior meeting in 2022.
11/09 WESTERN KENTUCKY HILLTOPPERS | Last season’s 38-29 win was the first meeting between schools.
11/16 @ Texas A&M Aggies | New Mexico State lost (10-52) the only prior meeting between schools in2016.
11/23 @ Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders | New Mexico State leads the series 3-2. Last season’s 13-7 win was the first meeting between schools since 2006.
11/30 UTEP MINERS | New Mexico State trails the series 39-59-2. The Aggies are 4-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (13-20) was at the prior meeting in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 2-4
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
CUSA: 2-6
Non-CUSA: 2-2
Overall: (9th in CUSA)
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