New Mexico Lobos
Report Card
Offense: B- | Defense: D | Special Teams: C | Meeting/Exceeding Expectations: C+
Danny Gonzales needed to make changes after a disappointing 2022 and, though his Lobos are 2-3 at the halfway point of 2023, it’s easy to build a case they’re much more intriguing than last season.
To start, the gambit of bringing in offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent and quarterback Dylan Hopkins has paid off handsomely. Hopkins’s average depth of target is currently 13.6 yards, the highest in the Mountain West, and suggests that Vincent has continued with his propensity to attack down the field (his ADOT was above 10.0 every year of his tenure at UAB, as well). That tendency has come with equal parts risk and reward since Hopkins’s 6.5% turnover-worthy rate is the second-highest in the conference, but his 8.5% big-time throw rate is third. Considering the offense has already tripled the number of passing touchdowns from 2022, though, UNM fans are probably satisfied.
It helps that the offensive line has been considerably more stable, too, and that the running game has provided one of the conference’s biggest surprises in Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The biggest problem, ironically, is that the Lobos defense has taken a step back as the offense has stepped forward. Despite playing one of the friendliest schedules in the country to date, New Mexico ranks in the bottom five nationally by points per drive allowed (3.43, 129th), available yards percentage allowed per drive (64.4%, 131st), and yards per play allowed (7.95, 132nd). They’ve struggled to disrupt with a havoc rate of only 14.5% and just two takeaways in five games, which explains why they’ve allowed opponents to turn 94.4% of red zone trips into points.
Some of this could be a function of growing/transitional pains since several sophomores — Christian Ellis, Tyler Kiehne, Jermarius Lewis, and Zach Morris — have each played at least 100 snaps for coordinator Troy Reffitt so far. It isn’t all doom and gloom, either: New Mexico is currently 4th among Mountain West defenses with a 39.3% third-down conversion rate allowed and f. They’ve also recovered only 2 of 7 opponent fumbles, too, and it’s these little positive regressions that could make the Lobos a headache to face down the stretch.
Head of the Class: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB
The Lobos’ aggressiveness in the transfer portal last off-season has paid off on a number of fronts, but none more substantially than in the rejuvenated running game led by Croskey-Merritt. Through five games, the Alabama State transfer sits third among Mountain West running backs with 431 rushing yards, fourth with 6.84 yards per attempt, and tied for third with seven touchdowns. For the moment, his 91.7 overall PFF grade also happens to lead the pack.
One Player Deserving of More Attention: DJ Wingfield, OT
Wingfield was expected to be a key contributor in 2022 before injuries wiped out his season, so his return to the starting lineup has been another reason why the Lobos look much improved on offense. Despite a rough start to the year against Texas A&M, the junior has allowed one quarterback hurry and been called for one penalty in 252 snaps at right tackle over the last four games.
Midseason Grades By Team
Air Force | Boise State | Colorado State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Nevada | New Mexico | San Diego State | San Jose State | UNLV | Utah State | Wyoming
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