UNM FOOTBALL
Lobos in limbo as players wait to hear about extra eligibility
At least four players are trying to secure another year of eligibility through waivers, litigation
Published
With the sun streaking across University Stadium’s turf, James Laubstein went through the workout as if it was any other.
Sporting sunglasses and a white hoodie, New Mexico’s 6-foot-3, 211-pound backup quarterback dropped back and ripped passes to receivers as part of the program’s annual pro day Monday morning. Scouts from 15 NFL teams watched him from the sidelines of his home stadium, took notes and evaluated him as a professional prospect, a rite of passage for hundreds of players who have run out of eligibility.
Despite that, Laubstein made one thing clear when he walked off the field: He wouldn’t mind throwing a few more passes in University Stadium this fall.
Laubstein is one of a handful of Lobos trying to secure an extra year of eligibility, albeit through slightly different methods and arguments. Some have looked to secure a waiver directly from the NCAA. Others are involved in active litigation, attached to suits invoking a former NBA Draft selection’s return to college basketball.
All, however, are still waiting to hear what might happen next. And few events have made that state of limbo — preparing for the pros while still holding out for another year — clearer than Monday’s proceedings.
“I don’t try to worry about it too much. Obviously, it’s in the back of my head at all times,” Laubstein admitted. “But this (pro day) was a definite thing that was gonna happen.”
A hard-nosed, run-first quarterback who blossomed into a fan favorite, Laubstein appeared in nine games his redshirt senior season last year, seemingly exhausting his remaining eligibility. But after spending two seasons at Sussex County Community College — a two-year junior college in Newton, New Jersey — Laubstein contends at least one of those JUCO years shouldn’t count towards his eligibility.
The argument, of course, has precedent: Vanderbilt quarterback and Albuquerque native Diego Pavia sued the NCAA in federal court in November 2024, requesting an injunction that would grant him two more years of eligibility over the organization’s bylaws regarding junior college player limits.
Pavia was granted the injunction a month later, allowing him to play another year. Hundreds of other former ex-JUCO players who had exhausted their eligibility in 2024 (like UNM defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby) were also granted another season, thanks to a blanket waiver issued by the NCAA.
There are no more blanket waivers, however, as the NCAA tries (and often fails) to get a handle on its player eligibility crisis. Laubstein said the organization has asked him for a clarification on his eligibility situation. He has retained Christian Dennie, a Texas-based attorney specializing in sports law, to meet the NCAA’s request.
Defensive end Brett Karhu is another player who participated in Monday’s pro day while trying to notch an extra year of eligibility. The 6-1, 226-pound senior is currently appealing the NCAA’s dismissal of his waiver request arguing his two years at Division II Oklahoma Baptist shouldn’t count towards his NCAA eligibility.
If that doesn’t work, Karhu said he’ll possibly pursue litigation. And like Laubstein, his claim wouldn’t be a new one — despite being out of eligibility in the NCAA’s eyes, Nevada baseball player Noah Blythe was granted a temporary restraining order to play this season after spending his career at NAIA and Division II institutions.
“It’s already been proven a couple things the NCAA does is illegal,” Karhu said.
Two other Lobos are also involved in litigation to try and get another season: safeties Azariah Levells and David Murphy. The two were added to an extension of Pavia’s original lawsuit in December; the case has since been scheduled to go to trial in February of next year.
Murphy did not participate in Monday’s pro day. But Levells did, admitting the uncertain circumstances have been frustrating at times.
“I’m just trying to stay rooted, stay grounded and just understand God’s gonna have his way,” he said. “Just be at peace with the Lord, knowing it's on his time.”
Until then, they’ll have to wait.
“I’m ready for whatever opportunity is next,” Laubstein said. “Whatever that may be, it’s gonna be football. Where, when, how — I don’t know. But I’m gonna be ready for it.”
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
