Notable Pro Football Focus grades after Texas A&M’s 38-3 win over New Mexico State

Here are the most notable offensive and defensive Pro Football Focus score after Texas A&M’s win over New Mexico State

Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1 SEC) enters Week 13 with everything on the line after defeating New Mexico State 38-3 on Saturday night, as redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed made his fifth start and looked much better as a pocket passer.

However, there’s still a lot of room for improvement, as the offense stalled for most of the second half after going up 31-0, leading to head coach Mike Elko cycling through his quarterback room as Conner Weigman and freshman Miles O’Neill took the rest of the snaps.

In just his second appearance this season, junior defensive lineman Malick Sylla recorded a team-high two sacks and three tackles for loss, which should prompt Elko to play him more down the stretch.

After the game, Pro Football Focus released the latest grades from the matchup. Here are the most notable grades on both sides of the ball for every Texas A&M contributor:

Offense:

Freshman quarterback Miles O’Neill, who entered the game late, finished 5/6 for 51 yards and his first career touchdown pass to fellow freshman receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman. Coincidentally, O’Neill finished with the highest overall offensive PFF score (89.0), while Bethel-Roman’s 35 yards and a score earned a grade of 84.2.

Sophomore tight end Theo Melin Öhrström led the Aggies with 5 receptions and 111 yards in his best career game, earning the second-highest offensive grade (86.1) and the highest pass grade (91.4). Lastly, starting running back Amari Daniels, who ran for an impressive 71-yard touchdown in the first half, left the game after five carries for 84 yards, earning the fourth-highest offensive grade (84.2).

Nearly all five starters earned at least a 60-plus pass-blocking grade along the offensive line, while starting left tackle Trey Zuhn did not surrender pressure, earning a team-high 88.3 pass-blocking grade.

Defense:

Sophomore DL Rylan Kennedy was by far the best defensive player on the field per PFF, leading the Aggies with a prolific 91.5 defensive grade and 94.4 pass-rush grade after recording just one tackle and two pass breakups.

In one of the best overall defensive performances, 19 defenders earned a 60 defensive grade or better. In contrast, DL Malick Sylla’s big day surprisingly earned him the tenth-highest defensive grade (72.0) and the fifth-highest pass-rush grade (75.5)

PFF also noted that Texas A&M’s tackling improved much compared to the loss to South Carolina, only missing seven tackles on the night.

Texas A&M will face Auburn on the road on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ESPN.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

Here are the best photos from Texas A&M’s big home win over New Mexico State

Here are some of the best photos from Texas A&M’s 38-3 win over New Mexico State

Senior night was a success at Kyle Field, with Texas A&M beating New Mexico State 38-3 in front of a packed crowd.

It’s hard to be upset about a 35-point win, especially on Military Appreciation/Senior Night. However, through a coach’s lens, this game had a few issues that the offense needs to address before they take on Auburn next weekend. The running game behind Amari Daniels is a little concerning, and both quarterbacks continue to miss open receivers deep.

The defense looked much better and put pressure on New Mexico State. It wasn’t a complete walk in the park, as they did allow over 100 yards rushing and did not force any turnovers. On the flip side, they only gave up 92 passing yards and logged 10 TFLs with two sacks.

A&M worked out a few things Saturday night to help clean up OC Collin Klein’s play calling and possible personal packages to close out SEC play. Below are some of the best photos from the game.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.

Instant reactions to No. 15 Texas A&M football team win over New Mexico State

Following Saturday’s matchup between the Aggies and Lobos, we break down our instant reaction.

The Texas A&M football team returned from a second bye this weekend and dominated its non-conference opponent to bounce back from the most recent contest, an upset SEC loss at South Carolina.

The No. 15 Aggies (8-2, 5-1 SEC) beat New Mexico State by a final score of 38-3 on Saturday evening at Kyle Field.

Texas A&M handled the Lobos as they should, given the weaker competition that New Mexico State plays against in Conference USA. Plus, the Lobos have struggled this year, on their way to a 2-8 overall record.

The Aggies jumped out to a 17-0 lead after one quarter and never looked back versus New Mexico State. Texas A&M held a 24-0 advantage at halftime, 31-0 after the penultimate period, and eventually prevailed by 35 points.

The Aggies hit the road for the final time in the regular season next Saturday to play Auburn (4-6, 1-5). Kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 or 6:45 p.m. and will be broadcast on either ESPN or SEC Network.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

Texas A&M will honor nearly 30 players for Senior Day ahead of hosting New Mexico State

Texas A&M vs. New Mexico State will also serve as Senior night for 26 players

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) will embark on the most consequential stretch of the season thus far with three games remaining in the season, as the the Aggies will host New Mexico State on Saturday night before facing Auburn on the road next weekend, all leading up to the season finale vs. Texas on Nov. 30.

While the Texas A&M Aggies are nearly 40 point favorites against the visiting New Mexico State Aggies, this game is also signifcant for nearly 30 veterans on the roster, as head coach Mike Elko and his staff honor 26 players during Senior Night, which usually takes place during the final home game of each season.

However, hosting Texas to end the year would take the focus away from the 26 young men who have earned the right to be honored in front of their friends, family, coaching staff, and every Aggie in attendance.

Earlier this week, Elko stated that the 26 players honored is not indicative of who will return to the roster next season, as defensive end Nic Scourton, offensive lineman Dametrious Crownover, Reuben Fatheree and Ar’maj Ree-Adams, and kicker Randy Bond all one a year of elegibility remaining.

Here are the 15 scholarship players who will be honored on Saturday night:

  • OL Dametrious Crownover
  • OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams
  • OL Reuben Fatheree II
  • WR Moose Muhammad III
  • WR Jahdae Walker
  • WR Jabre Barber
  • TE Shane Calhoun
  • TE Tre Watson
  • DL Rodas Getachew-Johnson
  • DL Shemar Turner
  • DL Nic Scourton
  • LB Solomon DeShields
  • CB BJ Mayes
  • S Trey Jones III
  • K Randy Bond

No. 15 Texas A&M will host New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 16. The game will air on SEC Network at 6:45 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M’s uniform combination vs. New Mexico State has been revealed

Here is Texas A&M’s uniform combination ahead of facing New Mexico State on Saturday night

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) will host New Mexico State on Saturday night for what many of us consider a “get right” game after the Aggies’ Week 11 bye week, but it was the 44-20 loss at South Carolina has kicked A&M out of the good favor of the CFP selection committee.

Texas A&M’s road to the playoffs and the SEC Championship Game is clear: Win out, and everything will take care of itself. However, the obstacles include a road test vs. Auburn and the season finale vs. Texas, who could end up being the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

Either way, head coach Mike Elko is confident his team is ready to respond to the South Carolina loss after two consecutive weeks of solid practice. For entertainment reasons, Texas A&M’s uniform combination vs. the Aggies was a no-brainer.

The Texas A&M Aggies will wear the all-maroon look for the second time this season. They first wore the combination during the early October win against Missouri. Here’s a video from Texas A&M’s media team revealing the uniform:

No. 15 Texas A&M will host New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 16. The game will air on SEC Network at 6:45 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M vs. New Mexico State injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 12 matchup

Here is Texas A&M’s initial injury report ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 12 home matchup vs. New Mexico State

15th-ranked Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) will host New Mexico State on Saturday night, which will also serve as the Aggies’ senior night instead of the season finale blockbuster vs. Texas on Nov. 30.

This week, head coach Mike Elko has continued to preach discipline and focus on things he and his coaching staff can fix in practice before the Aggies take the field, especially on defense after missing 25 missed tackles in the 44-20 loss to South Carolina in Week 10.

However, the loss of star running back Le’Veon Moss has thrown a wrench in the offensive game plan, as junior back Amari Daniels and senior EJ Smith will now take most of his snaps. At the same time, OC Collin Klein will need to be more creative and tailor the game plan to QB Marcel Reed’s dual-threat skillset at an even greater rate.

During Monday’s press conference, Mike Elko only provided one update regarding third-string quarterback Jaylen Henderson, who is “still hurt”, while starting left guard Chase Bisontis’s status remains in the air.

Texas A&M injury updates:

  • Rueben Owens – RB (Out for the season)
  • Le’Veon Moss – RB (Out for the season)
  • Mark Nabou – OL (Out for the season)
  • Tyreek Chappell – DB
  • Chase Bisontis – OL

New Mexico State injury updates:

  • Deuce Hogan – QB (Out for the season)

OL Chase Bisontis injury update

Bisontis’s absence has been noticeable over the past two games, especially against South Carolina, the O-line’s worst performance of the season. Facing an undersized New Mexico State team before heading to Alabama to take on Auburn, Bisontis will likely miss Saturday’s game and be ready against the Tigers and, most importantly, the season finale vs. Texas.

No. 14 Texas A&M will host New Mexico State on Saturday, Nov. 16. The game will air on SEC Network at 6:45 p.m. CT.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Texas A&M offers former New Mexico State DL from the transfer portal

Texas A&M has fielded an offer to former New Mexico State defensive lineman Dion Wilson Jr. from the transfer portal.

New Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has continued to utilize the transfer portal throughout the month of December, landing seven players, including former Kansas State cornerback Will Lee Jr., who is a plug and player going into the 2024 season.

While nearly every position on defense has been addressed, the defensive tackle spot has seen vast attrition due to multiple entries into the transfer portal: Veteran McKinnley Jackson has declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, while Walter Nolen, who has transferred to Ole Miss, and nose tackle Isaiah Raikes, who entered the portal, have also departed.

On Monday, it was revealed that the Aggies had offered former Arizona and New Mexico State defensive lineman Dion Wilson Jr., who spent the 2023 season with the NMS Aggies, appearing in 14 games under then-head coach Jerry Kill.

In said 14 games, Wilson recorded 31 tackles (18 solo tackles), 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks on the year. Standing at 6’5″ and 300 pounds, Wilson’s 2022 season with Arizona was very similar, accumulating 19 tackles (7 solo tackles), one tackle for loss, one sack, and one pass deflection during his sophomore season.

With one year of collegiate eligibility remaining, it would be wise for Wilson to consider visiting College Station sooner, looking like a perfect fit in Elko and new defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s system.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Isleta New Mexico Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

Fresno State looks to spoil New Mexico State’s breakthrough season in the New Mexico Bowl. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Isleta New Mexico Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction


Fresno State will look to end 2023 with a victory over New Mexico State. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Can the ‘Dogs recapture a little magic in the Land of Enchantment?

ISLETA NEW MEXICO BOWL: New Mexico State Aggies (10-4, 7-1 Conference USA) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16 — 2:45 PM PT/3:45 PM MT

WHERE: University Stadium; Albuquerque, NM

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, high of 48 degrees

TV: ESPN

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ESPN, by following this link.

RADIO: The New Mexico State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Aggie Radio Network, including flagship 99.5 FM (KXPZ) in Las Cruces. The Fresno State broadcast can be found in and around the Central Valley on the affiliates of the Bulldog Sports network, including flagship 1340 AM (KCBL) in Fresno.

SERIES RECORD: Fresno State leads the all-time series, 18-1. In the last meeting on September 28, 2019, the Bulldogs defeated the Aggies, 30-17, in Las Cruces.

LAST GAME: New Mexico State lost to Liberty in the Conference USA football championship game, 49-35, while Fresno State lost to San Diego State on the road, 33-18.

WEBSITES: NMStateSports.com, the official New Mexico State athletics website | GoBulldogs.com, the official Fresno State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): New Mexico State | Fresno State

ODDS: New Mexico State -3.5

SP+ PROJECTION: New Mexico State by 0.6

FEI PROJECTION: Fresno State by 1.0

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: New Mexico State 51.27% win probability (28.80-27.39)

Mountain West football’s seven-game bowl slate kicks off in Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon, when the Fresno State Bulldogs will take on the New Mexico State Aggies.

The Aggies will be plenty motivated to send one of the program’s best teams ever into the off-season with one last win, and the chances are they’ll get to benefit from a friendly crowd in the stands since the game will take place just three-plus hours from Las Cruces. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, enter the game with far more uncertainty than they had a month ago, in the midst of a three-game losing streak that they’ll look to break without head coach Jeff Tedford, who is currently sidelined with health concerns.

Here’s how the Aggies and Bulldogs can find a path to victory to finish 2023.

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Three Keys to a New Mexico State Victory

1. Don’t lose the turnover battle.

Generally speaking, New Mexico State has done a pretty good job of taking care of the football when playing on offense. The Aggies have just 14 giveaways in 14 games, the fewest in Conference USA, but there’s little doubt that when they’ve been off their game, turnovers have played a big role since eight of those 14 giveaways came in NMSU’s four losses.

By contrast, Fresno State’s defense was one of the most active in the Mountain West at generating takeaways, collecting 22 in 12 games. However, the Bulldogs faltered on that front in their recent losing streak, coming up empty in two of their last three games, so the Aggies might have an advantage simply by avoiding killer mistakes one last time.

2. Get a big performance from the ground game.

NMSU has tended toward balance in their run-pass ratio throughout the season, but they may find it useful to resist Fresno State’s resistance to the run. While the Bulldogs are sixth in the Mountain West by allowing 4.35 yards per carry, they’ve struggled mightily since the calendar turned to November, coughing up 5.86 YPC and eight rushing touchdowns in the last four games.

This could be good news for the Aggies, who don’t have a heavy-lifting RB1 but do have three different players — quarterback Diego Pavia and running backs Star Thomas and Monte Watkins — who have recorded at least 50 rushing attempts and averaged at least 5.39 YPC. That trio has also accounted for a gain of at least ten yards on 20.9% of their combined carries, which is something they’ll almost certainly look to exploit.

3. Win on as many third downs as possible.

One area of the game where New Mexico State and Fresno State have been similarly productive is in moving the chains and keeping opponents from doing the same. The Bulldogs own a slight advantage on offense (46.55% for Fresno State, 43.95% for NMSU), but the Aggies could have an upper hand on defense (35.43% for NMSU, 39.88% for Fresno State).

This might be especially true if the Aggies can force Fresno State into passing downs more often than not. According to CollegeFootballData.com, NMSU allowed a 28% success rate when opponents faced a second down with seven-plus yards to go or a third or fourth down with five-plus yards to go, as well as a 54.8% completion rate to opposing quarterbacks.

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Three Keys to a Fresno State Victory

1. Get better pass protection from the offensive line.

One way or another, the Bulldogs are likely to lead with the pass when they attack the Aggies defense. Parker Fleming’s advanced statistics preview notes that Fresno State comes into the bowl game with a rush rate over expected percentage of -11.6%, which means that Pat McCann’s offense run the ball less frequently than all but five other FBS teams.

It isn’t a bad idea when you consider that New Mexico State’s pass rush is more the sum of its parts than one built on individual standouts: Five different Aggies have between three and 4.5 sacks this season. However, Fresno State’s offensive line has struggled badly down the stretch. According to Pro Football Focus, guard Osmar Velez and tackles Toreon Penright and Braylen Nelson each gave up multiple sacks between Weeks 10 and 13; the only other Mountain West offensive line to do that was Nevada.

2. Keep Jonathan Brady’s contributions to a minimum.

Four different Fresno State pass catchers have seen more than the 58 targets that Brady has received in 2023, but you could make a decent case that none of them have done as much as the sophomore from Las Vegas with their share. Brady hasn’t dropped a single pass, for starters, but his team-high 37 receptions and 613 receiving yards will be even more important in the bowl game with his primary running mate, Trent Hudson, gone through the transfer portal.

Whether he lines up opposite Carlton Johnson or Al’zillion Hamilton
more frequently remains to be seen, but it will be a big opportunity for both. Between Weeks 10 and 13, they combined to allow 15 catches and 12.3 yards per reception on 28 targets, so while Brady has averaged 16.6 YPC on the year, his more recent performances have been modest. If the secondary can keep him from stretching the field, it could make for a significant advantage.

3. Ride or die (one more time) with Mikey Keene.

Because it’s no secret the Bulldogs are pass-first, Keene’s presence as the presumably healthy QB1 will be a major factor in whether the offense can overcome its recent sputtering. There’s no doubt his health concerns played a role in the team’s ongoing losing streak, as his 60% completion rate in November was the lowest of any calendar month this year, as were the 5.9 yards he averaged per attempt and the 110.03 passer rating he mustered.

One potential obstacle is NMSU cornerback Andre Seldon, who is arguably the team’s top overall defender. The redshirt sophomore has allowed a catch rate of 42.6% on 61 targets, though he also spends the vast majority of his playing time outside of the numbers. It could mean that Erik Brooks and Jaelen Gill, both of whom have had at least 79% of their snaps out of the slot (per PFF), might be key to softening up the Aggies underneath.

Prediction

They say that time heals all wounds, which is something that Fresno State must hope is true since quarterback health is going to be crucial to their bounce-back efforts in this contest. However, that was less of an excuse for the defense’s recent woes, and that might be an even bigger X-factor. New Mexico State has as many weapons as the Bulldogs do, and there are just enough uncertainties to expect that this will be a close game no matter what, but home cooking and a balanced offensive attack will make a difference in the end for the Aggies to gut out a win.

New Mexico State 31, Fresno State 27

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out And Transfer Tracker

The transfer portal is open. NFL Draft prep looms. Business decisions are made. Which players will sit out the Mountain West’s bowl games?

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out and Transfer Tracker


The transfer portal is open. NFL Draft prep looms. Business decisions are made. Which players will sit out the Mountain West’s bowl games?


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Not all the stars will be out in December.

December marks perhaps the busiest time of college football season. Between the upcoming slate of bowl games, the official opening of the transfer portal, and buzz surrounding the game’s brightest stars and their standing in next year’s NFL Draft, players have plenty on their minds when deciding how to finish their season.

Not everyone will choose to stay on the field, though. Check back here throughout the month as we watch which athletes opt out of bowl season, both among the Mountain West’s seven bowl teams and their opponents.

Note: Significant contributors among opponents will be noted in italics.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force

  • Aidan Behymer, TE
  • Caden Blum, DL
  • Mason Carlan, OL
  • John Lee Eldridge III, RB
  • Jonah Jensen, QB
  • Brady Phillips, DL
  • Caleb Rillos, TE
  • Jarius Stewart, QB
  • Anthony Wenson, WR

James Madison

  • Brent Austin, DB
  • Kaelon Black, RB — team-high 594 rushing yards, 23 catches, 220 receiving yards in 2023
  • James Carpenter, DL — FCS Freshman All-American in 2021; two-time all-Sun Belt
  • Aiden Fisher, LB — third-team all-Sun Belt, 91 tackles, seven passes defended, six tackles for loss in 2023
  • Desmond Green, WR
  • Zach Horton, TE — first-team all-Sun Belt, 26 catches, 266 yards, six touchdowns in 2023
  • Taurus Jones, LB — first-team all-Sun Belt, 82 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022
  • Mikail Kamara, DL — second-team all-Sun Belt, 18.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks in 2023
  • Wayne Knight, RB
  • Ty Son Lawton, RB — 742 all-purpose yards, six total touchdowns in 2023
  • Chauncey Logan, DB — 42 tackles, four tackles for loss, six passes defended in 2023
  • Carter Miller, OL — redshirt freshman, nine starts, 639 snaps at left guard in 2023
  • Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji, DL
  • Tyler Stephens, OL — 30 career starts; four starts each at left guard, right tackle, left tackle in 2023
  • Jailin Walker, LB — 30 career starts; 55 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended in 2023
  • Tyshawn Wyatt, OL

Starco Brands LA Bowl, Hosted By Gronk

Boise State 

  • Taylen Green, QB
  • Eric McAlister, WR
  • Keenan McCaddy, DB
  • Kivon Wright, DL

UCLA

  • Kam Brown, WR
  • Keegan Jones, WR
  • Laiatu Latu, DL — Ted Hendricks Award winner, Lombardi Award winner, Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2023
  • Dante Moore, QB — five-star true freshman, five starts in 2023
  • William Nimmo Jr., DB
  • Kamari Ramsey, DB — redshirt freshman safety, 11 starts in 2023
  • Carsen Ryan, TE
  • Jake Wiley, OL

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

Fresno State

  • Tanner Blount, LB
  • Logan Fife, QB
  • Chrishawn Gordon, DB
  • Abraham Montaño, K
  • Hayden Pulis, OL
  • Raymond Scott, LB

New Mexico State

  • Reggie Akles, WR
  • Ta’ir Brooks, WR
  • Jamari Buddin, LB
  • Tyler Devera, TE
  • Trent Hudson, WR — 36 catches, 571 yards, team-high ten touchdowns in 2023
  • PJ Johnson, WR
  • Malachi McLean, DB
  • Jordin Parker, WR
  • Tyriece Thomas, DL

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl

San Jose State

  • Branden Alvarez, WR
  • Fernando Carmona Jr., OL
  • Blake Davis, DB
  • Charlie Leota, DL
  • Anthony Madrigal, OL
  • Dominick Mazotti, TE
  • Elijah Wood, LB

Coastal Carolina

  • CJ Beasley, RB — team-high 717 rushing yards in 2022; 262 rushing yards, two touchdowns in 2023
  • Mason Bowers, OL
  • Jahmar Brown, DB
  • Jared Brown, WR — 2022 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year; 108 career receptions, 1,534 career receiving yards, 11 career touchdowns
  • Bailey Carraway, LB
  • Evan Crenshaw, P — sophomore; 83 career punts, 39.7 career yards per punt
  • Aaron Diggs, DB
  • Jarrett Guest, QB — two starts in 2023 following injury to Grayson McCall
  • Eli Hillman, DB
  • Kaleb Hutchinson, DB
  • Tavyn Jackson, DB
  • JT Killen, LB — 25 career starts; 65 tackles, three tackles for loss in 2023
  • Derrick Maxey, DB
  • Grayson McCall, QB — three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year
  • Tyson Mobley, WR
  • Tre Pinkney, LB
  • Jacob Proche, DB
  • Chris Rhone, WR
  • Braylon Ryan, DL — 38 career games, 21 career starts; 24 tackles, two tackles for loss in 2023
  • Laurence Sullivan, DB
  • Bryson Summers, OL
  • Dami’on Thompson, WR
  • Donnell Wilson, OL

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

UNLV

  • Jordan Jakes, WR
  • Jordyn Morgan, DB

Kansas

  • Will Huggins, TE
  • Reece Thomas, WR

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Utah State

  • William Testa, K
  • Josh Williams, LB

Georgia State

  • KZ Adams, RB
  • Rico Arnold, WR
  • Bryquice Brown, DB — 42 career games; 35 tackles, six passes defended in nine games
  • Marcus Carroll, RB — first-team all-Sun Belt, 1,350 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns
  • Montavious Cunningham, OL — redshirt sophomore, 15 career starts, 737 snaps at right tackle in 2023
  • Jaquon Dixon, RB
  • Cameron Dye, OL
  • Evan Graham, LB
  • JayT Jackson, DB
  • Jordan Jones, LB
  • Robert Lewis, WR — led team with 70 catches, 877 yards, five receiving touchdowns
  • Tony McCray, DB
  • Jalen Tate, DB

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl

Wyoming

  • DQ James, RB
  • Kolbey Taylor, DB

Toledo

  • Dequan Finn, QB — three-time all-MAC, 2023 MAC Vern Smith Leadership Award winner (conference MVP)
  • Jaret Frantz, WR
  • Micah Kelly, RB
  • Brad Ling, K
  • Vinny Sciury, OL — first-team all-MAC in 2023, 836 snaps at left guard
  • Ty Thomas, DL

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New Mexico Bowl: First Look At The New Mexico State Aggies

This year’s New Mexico Bowl features two teams from the old WAC, but Fresno State won’t want to take these revitalized Aggies lightly.

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New Mexico Bowl: First Look At The New Mexico State Aggies


This year’s New Mexico Bowl features two teams from the old WAC, but Fresno State won’t want to take these revitalized Aggies lightly.


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

Las Cruces has been magic all year.

New Mexico State has often been one of the toughest places to win anywhere in the country, so winning as many games as they did this fall, the same number that the Aggies won between 2020 and 2022, makes you sit up and take notice.

Everyone loves an underdog, though, and those same Aggies could have a significant home-field advantage when they face off with the Fresno State Bulldogs in this year’s Isleta New Mexico Bowl, three hours from Las Cruces. After 50 or 60 years in the wilderness, you can’t say they haven’t earned it, but how did NMSU get here?

Here’s what Bulldogs fans need to know about their bowl game opponent.

2023 New Mexico State Aggies — Team Profile

Conference: Conference USA

2023 Record: 10-4 (7-2 Conference USA)

SP+ ranking: 62nd

FEI ranking: 73rd

Sagarin rating: 82nd

Head coach: Jerry Kill (second year at New Mexico State, 25th year overall; 17-10 with Aggies, 175-114 overall)

2023 in a nutshell: After clinching the program’s third winning season and second bowl victory since 2000 last year, the Aggies set about proving this fall that was no fluke. They stumbled out of the gate with a 2-3 record, beating rival New Mexico but dropping road games at Liberty and Hawaii, but righted the ship in time to win eight consecutive contests and earn a rematch against Liberty in the Conference USA championship.

Though they again fell short against the Flames, the Aggies will be comfortable playing up the 25 from Las Cruces since their winning streak included four road wins, including at Western Kentucky and Auburn. In all, the 10-4 record marked the program’s first season with double-digit wins since going 11-0 as part of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1960.

Best wins: vs. Jacksonville State (8-4), at Auburn (6-6), at Western Kentucky (7-5)

Key Players

Diego Pavia, QB

It took a while for Pavia to settle into the starting job last season, but he picked up right where he left off and accounted for an average of 269 yards of total offense per game and 7.55 yards per play in 2023. Both figures rank in the top 35 among all FBS players, but it also obscures that he’s more than capable of doing damage with his arm (61.6% completion rate, 8.5 yards per attempt, 24 touchdowns, 2.3% interception rate) and his legs (851 rushing yards, fourth among quarterbacks; six TDs).

While it remains to be seen if Pavia suit up for the bowl game after playing through various aches and pains, he could be a headache for the Bulldogs if he does.

Keyshaun Elliott, LB

After getting his feet wet with the Aggies in 2022, the sophomore Elliott stepped into the starting lineup after one game and never looked back. He led the Aggies with 101 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss, finishing fifth among all Conference USA defenders with 45 stops (per PFF), cementing himself as a young star worth watching in the Group of 5.

Andre Seldon, CB

The former Michigan transfer emerged as the anchor in New Mexico State’s secondary this year, his second full season as a starter. Despite facing 61 targets, tied for third-most in Conference USA, he allowed a 42.6% completion rate, picking up 50 tackles, six passes defended, and an interception.

Star Thomas, RB

While the Aggies often deployed a committee in the running game, Thomas had previously led the team in all-purpose yardage and continued to shine as the lead back and Pavia’s primary complement. Though he only has 111 total carries and managed no more than 12 in any one game, the junior has averaged 5.79 yards per carry and scored six total touchdowns.

Canaan Yarro, C

Yarro brought much-needed stability to the offensive line as one of two players to start every game this season, playing a team-high 882 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the large workload, he is one of only six FBS centers to have played at least 800 snaps while allowing six or fewer quarterback pressures and zero sacks.

Overview:

Offense

With veterans back at just about every key position, the Aggies had one of their most prolific offensive seasons in recent memory. According to Brian Fremeau, New Mexico State earned 2.63 points per drive (37th in FBS) and 56.5% of available yards per drive (17th), both of which were far and away the team’s best figures dating back to 2007. They also had just 14 giveaways in 14 games, the fewest in Conference USA, so they’re an offense not usually inclined to beat themselves.

In the offensive backfield, Pavia and Thomas typically lead the way with periodic contributions from running backs Monte Watkins and Jamoni Jones (6.46 combined yards per carry, five touchdowns). Yarro and left tackle Shiyazh Pete provide seasoned leadership on the offensive line, supplemented by youngsters like sophomore AJ Vaipulu and redshirt freshman Louie Canepa.

NMSU’s passing game is a fairly balanced one that saw six different players receive at least 20 targets, but the lead pass-catcher is sophomore Jonathan Brady, who led the team with 37 catches for 613 yards, scoring four touchdowns. Junior Trent Hudson paced the Aggies with ten touchdown receptions, averaging 15.9 yards per catch, while Eli Stowers made a transition from quarterback to pitch in with 32 receptions and two scores.

Defense

Compared to the offense, the Aggies defense seems very much a bend-but-don’t-break unit, ranking 101st by available yards percentage allowed (52.0%) per drive but 56th in points per drive allowed (2.12). That they managed to force only 11 takeaways would seem to reinforce this, but NMSU also had a knack for making timely plays when it counts most, finishing second in Conference USA by collecting 31 sacks and holding opponents to a 35.4% third-down conversion rate. They also allowed a 50% touchdown rate on 56 trips into the red zone, one of just 21 FBS defenses to reach that mark.

Up front, sophomores Gabe Peterson and Sterling Webb, the latter of whom was recently named a first-team all-conference performer, lead the charge after combining for 13.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Collectively, the front seven knows how to get after the ball, though, as PFF notes six different Aggies had at least a dozen quarterback hurries (for comparison, Fresno State had one).

Peterson, Webb, Elliott, and Seldon make up a formidable nucleus, but they’re far from the only young athletes on this side of the ball. Defensive linemen Buddha Peleti and Gabriel Iniguez, safety Myles Rowser, and linebacker Sone Aupiu are all sophomores who played at least 400 snaps.

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