New Mexico Football: Previewing the Lobos Offense

New Mexico is starting fresh and the offense has some positives.

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New Mexico Football: Previewing the Lobos Offense

Can the Lobos offense be more effective this year?

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New coach means new offense

The New Mexico Lobo offense should be fun to watch for Lobos fans under new offensive coordinator Derek Warehime. They have six starters returning on offense and several skill players as well for the Lobos. 

Warehime previously was on staff with Lobo from 2012-14 serving as the tight ends coach, adding the duties of run-game coordinator in 2014 that averaged 27.7 points per game. 

He came to Duke City after a three-season stint with the University of Texas, where he helped the Longhorns win three straight bowl games. 

At Texas, Warehime was with the program under Tom Herman for three seasons, coaching the offensive line in a year, 2017, tight ends in 2018 and then added as special team’s coordinator in 2019 

Coach Warehime was a solid hire for first-year head coach Danny Gonzalez and comes in with a reputation for running a tight ship as far as offensive discipline is concerned. 

Rumor has it that Warehime was the secret sauce in offensive meetings when the Lobos were one of the most disciplined triple-option teams for then-head coach Bob Davie. 

Danny Gonzales on Derek Warehime:

“Derek brings with him a very successful track record on offense, with his teams always ranking high in the national NCAA statistics.  Derek is also a proven recruiter and he has a great passion for this university.”

Warehime will be adding a spread run-pass option offense, “It’s a spread no-huddle operation,” Warehime, also the tight ends coach said of UNM’s offense. “We’ll run the football. We’ll throw in some (run-pass option plays). We’ll have a vertical passing game.

Quarterbacks

This should very interesting to see what seems to be a three-way battle at the quarterback position. It would seem that Tevaka Tuioti would have the nod in this three-way battle between the three Lobo Quarterbacks with more playing time. 

Tuioti has had 11 starts over three seasons but has missed 12 games due to injury. Then you have Brandt Hughes and Trae Hall.

Brandt Hughes displayed a strong-arm last year, and poise which helped him win the starting job as the University of New Mexico quarterback for the season opener.

But Hughes, at 6-foot-2, and 226 pounds a classic pocket passer opportunity to hold on to the spot. He suffered a right shoulder injury early in the season, his throwing arm, that ended his season.

Then there is sophomore 6-foot-2 Trae Hall from Henderson Texas. Hall is a very athletic Quarterback chomping at the bits to get on the field. He has added a solid 12 lbs of muscle to his frame and really looks a lot more muscular than last year. 

Hall could be the perfect fit for a Derek Warehime, where a spread no-huddle could take advantage of his athleticism and speed to move the chains.  

Running backs 

This really could be a strong point for the Lobos with a solid offensive line, which has been a strong point in the past under former Lobo player and offensive line coach Jason Lenzmeier.

The Lobos return two very solid center Kyle Stapley and Teton Saltes but they will need help for this Lobo offense to move the chains for a Warehime offense. 

Bryson Carroll with 536 yards and two touchdowns is the statistical leader of the talented running backs returning for the Lobo offense. 

The big February catch for head coach Danny Gonzalez was the signing of prep star Nathaniel Jones from St John Bosco High (Bellflower, Calif) 

Jones, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound four-star recruit rated by ESPN, is the highest-rated recruit for Danny Gonzalez’s Lobo program out of 23 that signed to play for the UNM

This one-time UCLA commit should have an immediate impact for the Lobos offense, he is that good. 

Receivers 

The Lobos have some very talented receivers this year with the top four returning for Warehime’s offense. 

Senior Jordan Kress who averaged 18.9 yards per catch last season, 28 receptions and six touchdowns. 

Senior Tight End Marcus Williams had 26 receptions and a 16.5 yard average. What makes him a weapon for the Lobo offense, is the ability to line up on the line of scrimmage to help block or out as a receiver. 

Senior Elijah Lilly returns as well after missing much of 2019 season with an injury that required surgery. 

Anselem Umeh Umeh, 5-11, 176 pounds, a very good route runner, was third on the team with 272 receiving yards.

This offense has some potential with returning talent as the quarterback position could be more stable, deep at wide receivers and some promising young running backs should at the very least make the Lobos offense interesting.

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