New Mexico State Aggies 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: New Mexico State University Athletics)

Key Players Returning:

QB Parker Awad, WR PJ Johnson III, WR/PR TJ Pride, LB Sone Aupiu, LB Tyler Martinez, CB Dakerric Hobbs, and SS Nick Session.

Key Players Departing:

RB Seth McGowan, RB Mike Washington, OC Canaan Yarro, OG AJ Vaipulu, OG Jacob Golden, OT Cedric Claiborne, OT Shiyazh Pete, DE Noah Arinze, DE Justin Beadles, DE Kale Edwards, DE Malachi Thomas, NT Matt Lawson, LB Buddha Peleti, CB Keonte Glinton, DS Tayden Barnes, DS Josiah Cox, FS Dylan Early, SS Da’Marcus Crosby, KR Ahmonte Watkins, PK Abraham Montano, and PT George Eberle.

Top 10 Recruits:

3 Star Recruits: 
WR Broderick Malone (Humble, Texas), QB Logan Fife (Montana transfer), RB Dijon Stanley (Utah transfer), OT Armando Nieves (Hutchinson, Kansas), EDGE Raylon Carter (Ft. Worth, Texas), RB Dijon Stanley (Utah transfer), QB Jaylen Patterson (San Jacinto, California), OL Sam Garcia (Chandler, Arizona), TE Joshua Goines (Tulane transfer), and RB Kadarius Calloway (California transfer).

2024 Results:

G01  SE MISSOURI STATE  W  23-16
G02  LIBERTY  L  24-30
G03  @ Fresno State  L  0-48
G04  @ Sam Houston  L  11-31
G05  NEW MEXICO  L  40-50
G06  @ Jax State  L  13-54
G07  LOUISIANA TECH  W/2OT  W  33-30
G08  @ FIU  L  13-34
G09  WESTERN KENTUCKY  L  28-41
G10  @ #15 Texas A&M  L  3-38
G11  @ Middle Tennessee  W  36-21
G12  UTEP  L  35-42

Team Info:

2024 Overall:  3-9 (8th in CUSA)

Home:  2-4
Away:  1-5
Neutral:  0-0
CUSA:  2-6
Non-CUSA:  1-3

Head Coach:  Tony Sanchez

New Mexico State:  3-9
Bowls:  0-0
Career:  23-49

(Photo Credit: New Mexico State University Athletics)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing: 
Parker Awad (74-160, 1079 yards, 46.3 avg., 6.7 avg., 7 TD, 4 INT)
Rushing:  Parker Awad (61 car., 97 yards, 1.6 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: 
TJ Pride (34 rec., 374 yards, 11.0 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: 
PJ Johnson III/TJ Pride (2)
Sacks: 
Tyler Martinez (1)
Tackles: 
Tyler Martinez (96)
Interceptions: 
Sone Aupiu/Dakerric Hobbs (1)
Pass Deflections: 
Dakerric Hobbs (6)
Tackles For Loss: 
Sone Aupiu (4)
Forced Fumbles: 
Tim Gans/Nick Session (1)
Kick Returns: 
Lorenzo McMillan (15 ret., 297 yards, 19.8 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: 
TJ Pride (6 ret., 52 yards, 8.7 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  
None
Punting: 
None

Projected Offensive Starters:

QB: 4  Logan Fife  (RS SR/TR)
RB:  00  Kadarius Calloway  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  11  Jackson Owens  (RS SR/TR)
WR:  0  PJ Johnson III  (RS SR)
WR:  17  TJ Pride  (SO)
TE:  24  Gavin Harris  (JR/TR)
LT:  55  Ma’Kyi Lee  (RS SR/TR)
LG:  65  JR Hecklinski  (JR)
OC:  50  Kai Wheeler  (RS SO)
RG:  61  BJ Tolo  (RS SO)
RT:  73  Janik Ogunlade  (RS SR/TR)
KR:  16  Larenzo McMillan  (RS SR)
PK:  92  David Barker  (FR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  16  Gabe Peterson  (SR/TR)
NT:  96  Cole Schnettgoecke  (GR/TR)
DE:  00  Josiah Jackson  (RS JR/TR)
LB:  25  Obinna Okeke  (RS SO/TR)
LB:  14  Sone Auplu  (RS SO)
LB:  35  Tyler Martinez  (RS SR/TR)
NB:  9  Bernock Iya  (RS JR/TR)
CB:  1  Josiah Charles  (RS SO)
CB:  3  Dakerric Hobbs  (GR/TR)
FS:  0  DJ Hill-Smith  (JR/TR)
SS:  5  Nick Session  (RS SR/TR)
PR:  17  TJ Pride  (SO)
PT:  93  Max Dean  (RS FR)

Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  C
Running Backs:  C
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  C

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  C
Secondary:  C

Special Teams:

Kick Returners:  C
Punt Returners:  C
Kickers:  C
Punters:  C

Schedule:

08/30 
BRYANT BULLDOGS  |  First meeting.

09/06  TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE  |  New Mexico State trails the series 4-15.  The Aggies won (24-7) the last meeting in 2001, and they won (42-28) the prior meeting in 2000.

09/13  @ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs  |  New Mexico State trails the series 3-7.  The Aggies won (33-30 2OT) last season’s meeting, and they won (27-24) the prior meeting in 2023.

09/27 
@ New Mexico Lobos  |  New Mexico State trails the series 35-74-5.  The Aggies are 4-5 since 2015, and their last series win (27-17) was in 2023.

10/02  SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS  |  The series is tied 1-1.  The Aggies lost (11-31) last season’s meeting, and they won (27-13) the inaugural meeting in 2023.

10/14  @ Liberty Flames  |  New Mexico State trails the series 2-6.  The Aggies are 2-6 since 2018, and their last series win (49-14) was in 2022.

10/22  MISSOURI STATE BEARS  |  First meeting.

11/01  @ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers  |  The series is tied 1-1.  The Aggies lost (28-41) the last season’s meeting, and they won (38-29) the inaugural meeting in 2023.

11/08  KENNESAW STATE OWLS  |  First meeting.

11/15  @ Tennessee Volunteers  |  First meeting.

11/22  @ UTEP Miners  |  New Mexico State trails the series 6-14.  The Aggies are 4-5 since 2015, and their last series win (28-7) was in 2023.

11/29  MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS  |  New Mexico State leads the series 2-0.  The Aggies won (36-21) last season’s meeting, and they won (13-7) the inaugural meeting in 2023.

Predictions:

Home:  4-2
Away:  0-6
Neutral:  0-0
CUSA:  3-5
Non-CUSA:  1-3

Overall:  4-8 (8th in CUSA)