Who has the edge? Breaking down New Mexico-San Diego State by position

A position-by-position look at who has the edge as New Mexico travels to San Diego State:

Quarterbacks

New Mexico

Projected starter: Devon Dampier, So.

Backup: Isaiah Chavez, R-Sr.

San Diego State

Projected starter: Danny O’Neil, Fr.

Backup: Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson, R-Fr.

Analysis: UNM’s 49-45 loss to Wyoming last Saturday might’ve perfectly represented the 2024 Devon Dampier (2,243 passing yards, 23 total touchdowns, 12 interceptions) experience.

Because the highs (for now) could not have been higher: The Lobos’ ultra-dynamic sophomore quarterback rushed for a Mountain West-record 207 yards and three touchdowns, indicative of a “home run ability” SDSU head coach Sean Lewis has clearly noticed.

“It’s amazing on some of these long runs, the way that he’s able to maintain full speed or even gain full speed while he’s changing directions — it’s almost like he’s rolling down a water slide at times, right?” Lewis said in a press conference Monday. “Like as momentum builds and he continues to roll and he hits a crease, he’s able to take it the distance.”

And because the lows could not have been more costly: Dampier threw a 29-yard pick-six that brought the Cowboys right back into it, the start of a fourth-quarter collapse that sent UNM to its second-straight loss.

“I feel like I’m playing great football,” Dampier said Monday, “but, you know, the wins matter to me the most. So it’s hard to focus on individual (success).”

The Aztecs enter Friday with a first-year starter of their own: After being named the starter in fall camp, freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil has passed for 1,395 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions over seven games. O’Neil’s taken most of his lumps recently — the Indianapolis native threw all four interceptions in his last three games — but there’s been plenty to like at this point.

“I think he’s doing a really nice job for his level of experience,” UNM head coach Bronco Mendenhall said in a press conference Monday. “I think they’re encouraged about his future — they probably feel similar about him as we feel about Devon.”

Advantage: Dampier’s incredible production clears here. New Mexico

Offensive line

New Mexico

Projected starters: Lajuan Owens, R-Fr. (LT), Baraka Beckett, Sr. (LG), McKenzie Agnello, Jr. (C), Richard Pearce, Jr. (RG), Wallace Unamba, Jr. (RT)

Backups: Elvin Harris, R-Fr. (LT/RT), Matthew Toilolo, R-Fr. (LG), Malik Aliane, So. (C), James Bailey, So. (RG)

San Diego State

Projected starters: Christian Jones, Jr. (LT), Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli, Jr. (LG), Brayden Bryant (C), Tyler McMahan, Jr. (RG), Nate Williams, Sr. (RT)

Backups: Saipale Fuimaono, Jr. (LT/RT), Ryan Dirksen, R-Jr. (LG/RG), Briley Barron, R-Fr. (C)

Analysis: A look at sacks allowed on the year between both teams:

New Mexico: 5 (tied for fourth in the country)

San Diego State: 20 (tied for 92nd in the country)

Sacks allowed aren’t always indicative of a struggling — or effective — offensive line. But are SDSU’s numbers reminiscent of his (partial) 2023 season at Colorado, when the Buffaloes gave up an astonishing 56 sacks?

“No, not at all,” Lewis said. “And the number of hits that our quarterback is taking to what happened last year, those two results couldn’t even be further than what they were. We’ve done a good job, the line’s done a good job of protecting … the number of hits, the number of sacks, they’re vastly different and not even close.”

Advantage: This has been a solid season for SDSU’s front — even with injuries taking a toll. UNM picks up an edge here, but not by a lot. New Mexico

Running backs

New Mexico

Projected starters: Eli Sanders, Jr. OR Na’Quari Rogers, Jr. OR Javen Jacobs, So. OR Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters, Jr.

San Diego State

Projected starter: Marquez Cooper, R-Sr.

Backups: Cam Davis, Jr. OR Jaylon Armstead, Sr. OR Lucky Sutton, So.

Analysis: After rushing for a gaudy 223 yards in a 45-14 season-opening win over Texas A&M Commerce, Marquez Cooper called his shot.

“I seen what he did today,” Cooper said of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s 267-yard performance against Georgia Southern on the same day. “I don’t think he’s the type of back that I am. I think I’m the best back in the conference, and I want to make that known.”

How Cooper fared in last week’s 56-24 loss to Boise State: 16 carries for 94 yards (5.9 average) and one touchdown. How Jeanty fared on the other side: 31 carries for 149 yards (4.8 average) and two touchdowns. One is the best back in the conference, and a bona fide Heisman candidate. One, well, isn’t.

But if Cooper isn’t quite in the same tier as Jeanty (who is?) rest assured that he’s still one of the better backs in the league and college football as a whole: The 5-foot-8, 200-pound redshirt senior has 4,698 career rushing yards over five seasons spent at Kent State, Ball State and now, SDSU. With 842 yards (second in the Mountain West) and nine touchdowns this season, Cooper leads the Aztecs in carries and rushing yards by an overwhelming margin, and is on pace for his fourth-straight 1,000-yard rushing season.

“(He’s) consistent, tough, dynamic,” Mendenhall said. “And really (has a high) number of touches, so really durable.”

Na’Quari Rogers was back at UNM’s practice on Monday after missing time with an undisclosed injury, but Javen Jacobs was still sidelined. Even with Rogers (supposedly) back in the fold, is Eli Sanders (career-high 205 yards, two touchdowns against Wyoming) still expecting to carry much of the load?

“You know what, I’m just ready to go when my name is called,” Sanders said. “And if that’s 100 carries or if that’s zero carries, at the end of the day it’s a team sport and I’m all about winning.”

Advantage: Cooper’s called shot didn’t play out the way he hoped, but he’s still one of the better backs in the Mountain West — and more or less SDSU’s entire rushing attack. Is that good enough to top UNM’s at this point? Not quite. New Mexico

Wide receivers

New Mexico

Projected starters: Caleb Medford, Jr. (X), Luke Wysong, R-Jr. OR Michael Buckley, R-Jr. (Y), Ryan Davis, R-Sr. (Z)

Backups: Nic Trujillo, So. (X), Shawn Miller, So. (Z)

San Diego State

Projected starters: Mekhi Shaw, Sr. (1), Jordan Napier, R-Fr. (2), Ja’Shaun Poke, Sr. (3), Louis Brown IV, Jr. (4)

Backups: Jerry McClure, R-Fr. (1), Nate Bennett, Sr. (4)

Analysis: Was there an update from Mendenhall on Luke Wysong’s status this week?

“Nope,” Mendenhall said Monday, “there’s not.”

There was, however, a promising development: Wysong returned to practice after being sidelined for most of the last two games with a lower body injury. UNM should (emphasis on should) have its full complement of receiving options down the stretch, starting with Friday’s game against SDSU.

Ja’Shaun Poke (37 receptions, 286 yards) leads a talented Aztecs wide receiver corps in receptions while Louis Brown IV (23 receptions, 379 yards, two touchdowns) and Jordan Napier (25 receptions, 248 yards, four touchdowns) have been plenty dynamic this season.

Advantage: With a healthy Wysong, this should be an edge for the Lobos. New Mexico

Tight ends

New Mexico

Projected starter: Trace Bruckler, R-Jr.

Backup: Isaiah Sillemon, R-Jr.

San Diego State

Projected starters: Jude Wolfe, Sr. (Y), Gabe Garretson, So. (U)

Backups: Michael Harrison, Sr. (Y), Arthur Ban, Fr. (U)

Analysis/advantage: From a statistical perspective, UNM’s Trace Bruckler (19 receptions, 124 yards, two touchdowns) and SDSU’s Jude Wolfe (12 receptions, 127 yards, two touchdowns) are just about even. They’ll remain so in this ruling. Draw

Defensive line

New Mexico

Projected starters: Kyler Drake, Sr. OR Bryce Santana, Sr. (DT), Devin Brandt-Epps, Sr. (NT), Moso Tuitele, So. (End)

Backups: Tyler Kiehne, Jr. (DT/NT), Okiki Olorunfunmi, Sr. (End)

San Diego State

Projected starters: Marlem Louis, Sr. (Edge), Sam Benjamin, Jr. (NT), Krishna Clay, So. (DT), Trey White, So. (Edge)

Backups: Ryan Henderson, So. (Edge), Teivis Tuioti, Sr. (NT), Tupu Alualu, Sr. (DT), Dominic Oliver, Jr. (Edge)

Analysis: If there’s one defensive player to know heading into Friday, it’s Trey White. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound sophomore edge rusher is second in the nation in sacks (11.5) and 13th in quarterback pressures (33). If UNM’s faced a fair share of dynamic pass rushers this season, White has been at least the most productive to this point, and will certainly have his say when All-Mountain West selections are made.

“There’s a lot of players we see on tape, and so many are similar,” Mendenhall said when asked about White. “And the league is very similar. But ultimately what separates players is how many plays they make, and he’s doing a really nice job.”

UNM’s Kyler Drake was sidelined during Monday’s practice with an undisclosed injury. Keep an eye out for his availability come Friday.

Advantage: Having one of the FBS leaders in sacks? That’s more than enough for a SDSU edge. San Diego State

Linebackers

New Mexico

Projected starters: Dimitri Johnson, Sr. (Mike), Gabriel Lopez, R-Sr. (Will), Randolph Kpai, R-Jr. (Buck)

Backups: Jayden Wilson, So. (Mike), Antoineo Harris, Sr. (Will), Niko Bohler, So. (Buck)

San Diego State

Projected starters: Tano Letuli, So. (Sam), Owen Chambliss, R-Fr. (Will)

Backups: Kyle Moretti, Sr. OR DJ Herman, Jr. (Sam), Cody Moon, Sr. OR Brady Anderson, Jr. (Will)

Analysis/advantage: A slew of injuries for SDSU’s linebackers (including Albuquerque native Cody Moon) swings this one in the Lobos’ direction — but, like the offensive line, not by a lot. New Mexico

Secondary

New Mexico

Projected starters: Noa Pola-Gates, Sr. (FCB), Christian Ellis, Jr. (FS), Noah Avinger, Jr. (BS), Bryson Taylor, Jr. (BCB), Nigel Williams, Sr. (Nickel)

Backups: Jahvante Royal, Sr. (FCB), Dereck Moore, So. (FS), Cam Watts, R-Sr. (BS), Pierre Kemeni, Sr. (BCB), Tavian Combs (Nickel)

San Diego State

Projected starters: Deshawn McCuin, Sr. (Nickel), Chris Johnson, Jr. (LCB), Eric Butler, Jr. (FS), Dalesean Staley, So. (SS), Bryce Phillips, Sr. (RCB)

Backups: Josh Hunter, So. (Nickel), Jelani Whitmore, Jr. (LCB), William Nimmo Jr, Sr. (FS), JD Coffey III, Sr. (SS), Tayvion Beasley, R-So. (RCB)

Analysis: Outside of White, Chris Johnson might just be the Aztecs best defensive player, with 40 total tackles and one interception on the season. And like White, he’ll certainly have his say when All-Mountain West honors are awarded at the end of the season; the 6-0, 185-pound junior is currently the sixth-highest rated corner according to Pro Football Focus.

Also, this week marks the first depth chart appearance for Tavian Combs after playing five snaps against Wyoming. Whether his role continues to grow or not, it’s clear the redshirt senior impressed the staff while he was sidelined with nagging leg and ankle injuries earlier this season.

“I coached with an old-time coach one time, and he talked about ‘command presence,’” Mendenhall said. “There’s some people that can just have a presence, and command a room and could command other people. And I think Tavian is a natural leader and he has command presence.

“The team respects him.”

Advantage: The Aztecs have better (or at least more reliable) corners, but the Lobos probably have better safeties. Call it even. Draw