Nevada, Hawaii, New Mexico, and San Jose State will all head to Las Cruces for non-conference soccer motion in opposition to NMSU.

Contact/Comply with @MattK_FS and @MWCwire

The top of a mini-era?

New Mexico State soccer has had a uniquely shut relationship with the Mountain West over the past handful of seasons, taking part in a variety of groups from the convention to outlive within the wilderness of faculty soccer independence.

That point could also be coming to an in depth, although, as realignment has enabled the Aggies to discover a new residence in Convention USA beginning subsequent yr. After taking their lumps in opposition to the Mountain West final season, can New Mexico State discover extra combat with a brand new head coach in tow?

Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico

Convention: Unbiased

Sequence Historical past: Nevada is 14-2 all-time vs. NMSU, whereas Hawaii is 10-0, New Mexico is 73-33-5, and San Jose State is 18-3.

2021 File: 2-10

Head Coach: Jerry Kill (first season at NMSU, 154-101 general). After Doug Martin’s Aggies surprised Utah State within the 2017 Arizona Bowl, New Mexico State discovered it tough to keep up that momentum and received a complete of eight video games within the following 4 seasons. That drop-off ended up costing Martin his job as head coach, however this system discovered an skilled hand to attempt to proper the ship.

Jerry Kill isn’t any stranger to profitable at powerful jobs, although, going all the way in which again to his days at Division II Saginaw Valley State. Most not too long ago, he helped flip Minnesota round after the disappointing Tim Brewster period till well being points pressured a resignation, then upset a ranked Baylor squad after taking on for Gary Patterson at TCU as interim coach final fall.

Key Gamers

Chris Ojoh, LB

Ojoh first emerged as a star throughout his time at FCS Japanese Washington, selecting up over 100 tackles throughout the Eagles’ run to the nationwide championship sport in 2018. After accidents derailed him in 2019 and COVID upended all the things in 2020, he transferred to NMSU and blew up in his first yr with the Aggies, main the protection with 16 tackles for loss and 6 sacks whereas ending second with 72 complete tackles. He’ll be the anchor for what might be a a lot stouter unit general.

Trevor Brohard, LB

Ojoh could be the protection’s headliner, however his linebacker working mate is fairly good in his personal proper. Although Brohard missed three video games with damage final yr, he nonetheless completed third amongst Aggies defenders with 71 tackles and 7 tackles for loss, chipping in two sacks for good measure.

Ethan Albertson, Okay

The NMSU offense scuffled lots final yr, however Albertson made certain lots of alternatives didn’t go to waste. Not solely was he 17-of-22 on subject purpose tries in 2021, he was 6-of-8 on makes an attempt from 40 yards and past and established himself as a dependable scoring choice.

DJ McCullough, CB

When the Aggies wanted an enormous play to cease opposing quarterbacks of their tracks final yr, McCullough was the more than likely candidate to ship. In his first yr at NMSU after transferring from Kansas’s Backyard Metropolis Group Faculty, he led the protection with three interceptions whereas additionally pitching in with 42 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Donavan King, DE

After spending 2018 and 2019 as a part-time contributor, King emerged as a promising run-stuffer in his first full season as a starter. In 11 video games final season, he had 34 tackles, ten tackles for loss and a couple of.5 sacks, offering the go rush a little bit little bit of much-needed juice.

Overview:

Offense

You’ll have seen that the important thing gamers above are all contributors on particular groups and protection. That’s as a result of the Aggies weren’t solely woeful on offense in 2021 (4.99 yards per play, 112th in FBS; 111th in offensive SP+; 117th in offensive factors per drive), they now should establish new starters at quarterback, working again, and huge receiver.

Albuquerque native Diego Pavia could be the answer after main New Mexico Army Institute to a NCJAA nationwide title final yr, although he’ll should fend off incumbents Dino Maldonado and Weston Eget to safe the QB1 job for good. Operating again O’Maury Samuels is the workforce’s high returner on the place, however after averaging simply 3.11 yards per carry, different switch portal reinforcements like Jamoni Jones (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) and Ahmonte Watkins (TCU) might get lengthy seems to guide a committee.

Fortunately, the offensive line is generally intact regardless of dropping star deal with Sage Doxtater to the NFL. Carson Pherris, Domo Omerhi, and Gabriel Preciado all began the lion’s share of video games in 2021 and Southern Utah switch Canaan Yarro has 18 video games of beginning expertise in his profession, as effectively. If the Aggies can enhance upon a stuff charge allowed that ranked 118th within the nation final yr, they might be a way more efficient thorn within the aspect.

Protection

Regardless of the person performances talked about above, NMSU’s protection bought roasted early and infrequently final yr. To present you an concept of how tough it bought, solely Duke gave up extra 20-yard performs (84) and solely Arkansas State allowed extra 50-yard performs (16). The Aggies’ line yards per carry allowed, stuff charge, alternative charge, and sack charge all ranked within the triple digits nationally, too, so Kill and new defensive coordinator Nate Drelling have work to do.

The excellent news? Linebacker is kind of set between Ojoh and Brohard whereas a go protection that allowed 9.5 yards per try (127th in FBS) and a 68.3% opponents’ completion charge (126th) bought some badly wanted reinforcements. Switch portal arrivals like Bryce Jackson (UNLV) and Andre Seldon (Michigan) will bolster a secondary that already featured McCullough, sophomore cornerback Syrus Dumas (8 passes damaged up, two interceptions), and sophomore free security Dylan Early.

The Aggies additionally return lots of expertise alongside the line of defense past King, too, like sophomore defensive deal with Lama Lavea and junior defensive finish Lazarus Williams. If nothing else, regression to the imply will result in some possible enhancements throughout the board.

Early Predictions

New Mexico State did good work pulling collectively some expertise via the switch portal, however on paper it seems just like the Aggies shall be in significantly better form for 2023 than for this fall. With the quite a few lingering questions on offense, they might nonetheless discover themselves missing even in opposition to these groups within the Mountain West present process substantial overhauls of their very own.

Nevada 23, New Mexico State 20

Hawaii 31, New Mexico State 28

New Mexico 26, New Mexico State 17

San Jose State 42, New Mexico State 20