By J.J. Buck – As fans watching football quarterbacks and skill position players draw all of our attention. We know how much a good quarterback means to any program or franchise. The skill players score all the touchdowns. The game of football starts up front with protecting and rushing the quarterback. College teams are scrambling in the transfer portal to find all the offensive and defensive linemen they can.
In the Trenches
New Mexico’s second biggest need, after hiring a head coach this offseason, was to replace their offensive line. The Lobos three best players up front, center C.J. James (UTSA), left tackle J.C. Davis (Illinois) and right tackle D.J. Wingfield (Purdue) hit the portal and the offers showed just how good they were last season. Lobo running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards behind that offensive line and hopes to find the same success this year.
If you opened up ‘X’ early this week a flurry of verbal commitments came in on the offensive line. The Lobos new offensive line coach, Famika Anae, is starting to see what he has to work with this spring.
From France to UNM – New Mexico won’t be new to Malik Aliane. The lineman spent the last two-years in Roswell, NM playing at New Mexico Military Institute. After redshirting in 2022 Aliane appeared in seven games this past season. From Rouen, France, the 6-foot-2, 333-pound lineman joins a list of European players to make their way to UNM. Last year’s Lobo roster featured tight end Magnus Geers from Zurich, Switzerland and TE Max Lantzsch from Dresden, Germany.
Coaching Connection – At 6-foot-5, 320 pounds Elvin Harris will have a familiar voice with him at UNM. Harris was coached by new Lobo OL coach Famika Anae at Campbell University (FCS) last year. The sophomore to be only played in one game. He gives the Lobos a young piece to develop up front.
Stepping Up – Another FCS player joining the Lobos is Jawaun Singletary. After beginning his career at Navarro College, Singletary played in eight games last year at Grambling State. The 6-foot-3, 310-pound lineman played for Hue Jackson at Grambling State. Jackson was a head coach in the NFL for four years, one in Oakland and three with Cleveland.
Back to Bama – UNM landed three impact players from Alabama State last year: WR Jeremiah Hixon, RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt and OL “Teedo” Stafford. Richard Pearce is from Hueytown, Alabama and brings experience on the interior of the line after spending the last three-years at East Carolina. The 6-foot-2, 302-pound lineman started three games at left guard last season.
The Lobos offensive identify in Mountain West play was built on the run game as they averaged the fourth most yards in conference games, 204.38. UNM has added five offensive linemen according to social media posts, the four above and Wallace Unamba. It was the Lobos biggest need and first year head coach Bronco Mendenhall has started to fill those holes with spring ball right around the corner.
