Fourth place, New Mexico

09-01-2007

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

QUARTERBACKS: A Rocky Long-coached team with 18 returning starters is a strong starting point for bidding for a Mountain West Conference title and another bowl trip. New Mexico is the only Mountain West Conference school that has been bowl eligible every year since 2001, including three straight bowl appearances from 2002 to 2004. The Lobos missed a bowl game in 2005 with a 6-5 record, but the New Mexico Bowl arrived just in time for Long’s 2006 team to enjoy the post-season, even though a 6-6 regular season led to a losing overall mark of 6-7 when the Lobos lost to San Jose State in the first New Mexico Bowl. Sophomore quarterback Donovan Porterie gained from the 13-game season as injuries led to him emerging as the starter at mid-season. He threw for 967 yards with six touchdowns and only two interceptions in nine games. The Lobos are sticking with the multiple offense installed by Bob Toledo. Toledo, now the head coach at Tulane, has been replaced by Dave Baldwin, who was Michigan State’ offensive coordinator last year.

RUNNING BACKS: The Lobos have a strong running back to build around with the return of junior Rodney Ferguson, who was a first-team All-MWC pick. He led the MWC in rushing with 1,234 yards. He had six 100-yard games, averaged 4.9 yards a carry and scored seven touchdowns. He also caught 28 balls out of the backfield to rank third on the team. Fullback Matt joins Ferguson in the backfield as a returning starter, although he missed spring ball while he rehabbed an injury.

RECEIVERS: Two explosive receivers return as senior Travis Brown earned first-team All-MWC recognition and senior Marcus Smith was honorable mention. Now the question is, can Porterie deliver the ball? Brown led the team in receiving with 64 catches for 867 yards and four touchdowns, but Smith had a better per-catch average with 16.2 to Brown’s 13.5. Smith is an explosive player who was second on the team with 53 catches for 859 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior Chris Mark will take over at tight end, but he caught only one ball year ago.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Senior center Vince Natali and seniorz Anthony Kilby and Devin Clark provide a strong nucleus up front. But the offensive line didn’t get to work together much in the spring as Natali missed the spring while recovering from shoulder surgery and Clark, the right tackle, sat out the spring after suffering an ankle injury in the first scrimmage. Sophomore Eric Cook replaced Natali and redshirt freshman Zayn Bin-Bilal gained extra work in the spring in place of Clark. Kilby started at left tackle last year, but he’s been shifted inside to left guard. The Lobos are counting on senior Bart Miller at right guard and sophomore Josh Waller at left tackle to establish themselves.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Rocky Long popularized the 3-3-5 defense in the MWC to slow down the wide-open offenses, and the Lobos return all three defensive linemen up front. They’re led by senior Tyler Donaldson, who was as a second-team all-conference pick last year as a defensive end. He was fourth on the team in tackles with 49 and led the Lobos with five sacks. He’s joined by junior Wesley Beck at nose tackle and senior Michael Tuohy at defensive end opposite of Donaldson. The backups provide depth with Kendall Brisco and Kevin Balogun at the ends and sophomore Philip Harrison at nose tackle.

LINEBACKERS: The Lobos also return all three senior linebackers as starters with Cody Kase in the middle and George Carter and Major Mosley stationed outside. Kase isn’t a big body like most middle linebackers, but he’s active. He had three sacks and two interceptions. In addition to the experience of three returing starters, junior backups Zach Arnett and Herbet Felder have gained extensive playing time in backup roles the last two years.

SECONDARY: Four of the five starters return in the five-DB secondary, including second-team all-conference pick DeAndre Wright and honorable mention Glover Quin. Wright, who intercepted four pases, and Quin, who broke up 13 passes, are both junior cornerbacks. The other returning starters are seanior left safety Tyson Dtimore and senior right safety O.J. Swift. Sophomore Ian Clark takes over at Lobo, the hybrid linebacker/defensive back position. Clark edged sophomore Clint McPeek for the starting job. The four returning starters in the secondary are four of the top returning tacklers. Swift was second on the team with 73 and Quin third with 63.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Jordan Scott returns at punter, but the Lobos are unsteady in their search for a new place-kicker. Senbior Eric Garrison holds the edge over junior John Sullivan, but despite their class standing neither one has college experience. The Lobos have two dangerous return men back this year with cornerback DeAndre Wright and wide receiver Marcus Smith.

Returning starters: 18; Offense 8; QB: 1; RB: 2; WR/TE: 2; OL: 3; Defense 10; DL: 3; LB: 3; DB: 4; ST: 2./p>

2006 Record: 6-7; 2006 Conf. Record: 4-4

Head Coach: Rocky Long (10)

Last Bowl Appearance: 2006 New Mexico Bowl, Lost to San Jose State 20-12

2006 Turnover Ratio: + 2

Home Surface: Grass

Returning Lettermen: 43

Lettermen Lost: 20

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 3-3-5