Lobos looking crisp on first day of spring practice

It might’ve been the play of the practice.

In a team period during New Mexico’s spring opener Friday, defensive back William Hicks saw a pass tipped in the air, lunged for the ball — and came up with it for a highlight reel interception, one that kickstarted a celebration from the Lobos’ defense. 

Jason Eck apparently wanted to see more. 

“Hey!” UNM’s second-year head coach ran over and yelled before breaking into a big grin. “Celebrate! Celebrate!”

Hicks’ play aside, there was plenty for the Lobos to celebrate as UNM returned to the field for the first of 15 practices this spring.

Here are three takeaways from Friday’s practice, one held indoors due to heavy winds:

1. For one player, Friday was a return to ‘meaningful football’

It’s probably not worth dissecting the quarterback pecking order on the first day of spring practice. Really, it might not be worth it on any day of spring practice, especially with Jack Layne set to possibly miss every session after undergoing elbow surgery this offseason.

“It’s very much up in the air,” Eck said of last year’s starting quarterback possibly returning this spring. “My message to him was, if (returning for spring practice) is the normal progression, great. But I don’t wanna rush it.”

What we saw from the quarterbacks available Friday: Oregon transfer Luke Moga wasn’t perfect (who is on the first day of spring practice?) but the former four-star prospect showed off his arm enough to get some attention, with a bullet down the sideline to wide receiver Evan Wysong as just one example.

Then again, Toa Fa’avae had some awfully nice throws, too. Both him and Moga rotated enough with the first and second units that reading into who’s QB1 or QB2 at this point is a futile exercise. And again, Layne’s absence limits the scope of any conversation about a quarterback competition.

But you get the sense Moga knows what he’s playing for, even on the first day of spring. That he referred to it as a return to playing “meaningful football” — his number one reason for entering the portal in January — communicated as much.

“I saw what this team was last year, I saw what this team can be (and) I know what I’m capable of,” Moga said. “And yeah, of course, I’m attacking every day like I’m a starter.”

2. At least for now, UNM is a little thinner at some positions

To be clear: UNM isn’t terribly banged up, and the injuries they’re dealing with weren’t much of a surprise. But Friday, it didn’t take all too long to see how some were effecting things.

For instance, the Lobos rolled out a first-string offensive line comprised of Weber State transfer Cole Millward (left tackle), Malik Aliane (left guard), Jaymar Tasi (right guard), Tyler Lawrence (right tackle) and 5-10, 288-pound JoJo Matautia at center, getting reps in place of usual starter Kaden Robnett.

“Robnett had to have offseason surgery on his wrist,” Eck said. “ … We just wanted to get him healthy. He’ll miss all of spring.”

In fact, the offensive line will be a little thinner this spring. The Lobos have plenty of incoming freshmen at the position, so they simply won’t have many bodies until fall camp. Eck also pointed out the linebackers and cornerbacks as positions where UNM is a little thinner than this staff would probably like — at least for now.

Is that a particularly big deal?

Not on day one. But consider it something to monitor, especially in regards to the spring game scheduled for late April.

3. UNM is clearly further ahead than last year and it's showing up in one notable way

Not that it was much of a surprise, but UNM’s first spring practice was a much crisper affair than its spring opener last year. There weren’t any major hiccups; the type the Lobos had to work through last spring. Players were on the same page as coaches, and coaches were on the same page as players.

Speaking with media after, Eck tried to place it in very Eck-like terms.

“What do they call it? Like in Star Wars, when they hit the button or whatever in the Millenium Falcon?” Eck asked. “Mach speed or whatever? Light speed?

“We’re a lot further ahead; way further ahead.”

The most notable way that’s showing up? The level to which UNM is seemingly experimenting with what it already has and what it’s brought in.

For example, Jaxton Eck — the Lobos’ ironman Mike linebacker — caught some reps at UNM’s Will spot, something I’m not sure we saw all last year. Is that particular wrinkle especially notable? Again, not really.

But how that continues to show up over the next few weeks might be. Consider it another trend to monitor as the Lobos get deeper into practice.

Notes and quotes

-Friday’s hammer winner, given to whoever Eck deems the player of the practice? Defensive lineman Brian Booker. “I thought the defensive line played really hard today … I just think the effort they went about things (with) was awesome,” Eck said.

-Two coaching staffs were in attendance for Friday’s practice: Division II Adams State University and University of the Americas Puebla (UDLAP) in Puebla, Mexico. The Aztecas’ staff will shadow UNM’s for the next four practices.

-Defensive end Elijah Brody did not participate in Friday’s practice after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason and is not expected to return for the spring, per Eck.

-Hicks’ interception was probably the play of the day. But he got stiff competition from early enrollee receiver Massiah Mingo’s leaping one-handed catch in a team period, one that lit up the offensive sideline.

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.