New Mexico State Aggies College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
New Mexico State Aggies Biggest Key: Offense
Score when there’s a chance. It’s going to be a struggle in so many ways with so many new parts still trying to find their way, but when the offense has a shot at putting points on the board, they need to do it.
The Aggies came away empty on 12 of their 40 trips inside the 20 back in 2019. Okay, so it wouldn’t have mattered that much considering how many times NMSU was blown out, but there’s going to be no margin for error in any potential close game.
By the way, for all the issues in the Spring opener against Tarleton State and with the win over Dixie State, the Aggies scored on all eight of its trips inside the 20.
New Mexico State Aggies Biggest Key: Defense
The run defense has GOT to find ways to hold up. It’s been a rough run for a long, long time, allowing fewer than five yards per carry just one year in the last ten.
Take a guess when that was – the bowl-winning 2017 season.
The Aggies are going to get gouged at times. They’ve got the bulk, and they have some decent linebackers, but the pressure into the backfield won’t be consistent. They just have to avoid getting totally destroyed.
In 2019, the D allowed over 400 rushing yards twice, over 300 three other times, and over 200 in three other games – let’s not count the 199 allowed to UTEP.
Against the two FCS teams it dealt with early in 2021 … 5.1 yards per carry, five touchdowns, 180 yards per game.
New Mexico State Aggies Key Player To A Successful Season
QB Jonah Johnson, Jr.
The former JUCO transfer has 6-3, 235-pound size and a live arm to get the passing attack rolling. The Aggie passing attack was good with the midrange plays under now-UTSA QB Josh Adkins, but he averaged under six yards per throw and gave away 15 picks.
Johnson only threw one touchdown pass in the two early games, but he bounced back from a bad opener and showed a glimpse of his upside. He needs to be steady, and he has to stretch the field.
New Mexico State Aggies Key Game To The 2021 Season
UTEP, August 28
There’s always a shot at a big upset somewhere, but the Aggies will almost certainly be big underdogs against everyone but Dixie State and UMass. There are a whole lot of paychecks to cash by going to Alabama, Kentucky, and to a slew of Mountain West sites, but they get UTEP at home in one of just five home games.
It was one of the two wins in 2019 – and the only one over an FBS team – taking out the Miners 44-35 late in the year. On a three game winning streak in the series, opening up 1-0 would be a big, big deal after the struggles in early 2021 and without a 2020 season.
– New Mexico State Football Schedule
2019 New Mexico State Aggies Fun Stats
– 2nd Quarter Scoring: Opponents 168 – NMSU 58
– Fumbles: NMSU 22 (lost 12) – Opponents 14 (lost 7)
– TDs Scored: Opponents 61 – NMSU 33