UNM safety Tavian Combs — who hasn't played a down all year — returns to practice

Tavian Combs explained his mindset when he stepped onto the field Tuesday: When an offense is running the ball, try to be the first one there. When it’s passing, “make sure you’re at your key, either on your man or in your zone,” New Mexico’s redshirt senior safety said.

But the feeling? A little harder to put into words.

“That first play, man, that was just a lovely feeling,” he said after Tuesday’s practice, “being able to dissect both of them. And being able to feel guys around you, and know what defense we’re in, yeah, it was a lovely feeling. I wish I could get that one back.”

A year removed from his last game appearance, Combs was a full-go at practice for the first time since Bronco Mendenhall was hired as head coach in December. Combs’ return is the culmination of a long recovery process after leg and ankle injuries ended the Amarillo, Texas native’s 2023 season prematurely.

Combs suffered a season-ending ACL injury in 2022 and has not played a full season since 2021. He has 194 total tackles and two interceptions across five seasons, all spent with UNM, but treated Tuesday like another “starting point” after he was cleared to return to practice.

“Just to be able to have the opportunity to be around this team, and go out there and just even practice with the guys, it’s a lovely opportunity and feeling as well,” he said. “Wasn’t perfect — I (didn’t) expect it to be. (I’ll) just keep growing from today.”

Combs said he took reps at both boundary and field safety positions on Tuesday, but is eager to help the defense in any capacity. When asked if he’d consider taking a redshirt year — even if he played in all four of UNM’s remaining games, he’d be eligible — Combs said he’s just “grateful” for the opportunity to be back on the field.

“And (I’ll) just go from there, to be honest,” he said. “Listen to what the coaches ask (me) to do, keep gaining and getting those reps because you really can’t get enough reps and see too much. Just keep gaining and gaining and go from there and see where it takes me.”

Injury report

Combs wasn’t the only player to return to practice Tuesday. During the media viewing window, wide receiver Caleb Medford was observed practicing after missing the second half of UNM’s 50-40 win over Colorado State on Oct. 19 and Saturday’s 17-6 loss to Colorado State entirely with an undisclosed injury.

Wide receiver Luke Wysong and running backs Na’Quari Rogers and Javen Jacobs were all in turquoise jerseys (meaning injured, limited or non-contact) and did not practice on Tuesday; neither Wysong nor Rogers wore a walking boot, and Jacobs did not have a sling on his left arm.

Wysong (50 receptions, 663 yards, one touchdown) exited UNM’s loss to Colorado State after suffering an undisclosed injury. Mendenhall did not offer an update on him, Jacobs or Rogers during his weekly press conference.

“We got grinders on our team, so a lot of them, they’re itching to come back,” quarterback Devon Dampier said Tuesday when asked if UNM is preparing as if they won’t have Jacobs, Rogers or Wysong. “They’re doing everything they can. Depending on how they’re feeling, we’ll go about practice (as) if they’re there or not. But if they can’t be out there, we’re expecting these other guys to step up and perform at the same level they would.”

Nose tackle Devin Brandt-Epps, safety Dereck Moore and linebacker Hunter Haemker were also in turquoise. Their statuses going forward remain unclear.

‘Minor setback’

After UNM failed to score a touchdown for the first time all season against Colorado State, Dampier said Saturday was a “minor setback” after the Lobos scored 50 points in the three prior games, and he said the offense knows “what we’re capable of.”

“When people like that go down, other people need to step up,” the sophomore said. “And, you know, I should have been one of those guys that had one of the better games. I think I didn’t play to my full potential so, yeah, (we) need to take advantage of those opportunities.

“I don’t think it set us back too much — we train the next guys to be ready when they get in.”

Dampier completed 23 of 40 passes for 319 yards against the Rams, but with two interceptions and a fumble, he turned it over three times for the second straight game.

“At the end of the day, I find it unacceptable,” he said of the turnovers. “The turnovers definitely need to slow down — I’m just giving away drives. But (I’m focused on) just being better with the ball, knowing what I’m doing and protecting the ball.”