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New Mexico football releases first depth chart ahead of season opener at Texas A&M

20230811-sports-ja-unmfootballpractice-05.JPG
University of New Mexico Lobos quarterback Devon Dampier practices with his team on Aug. 11.
UNM Lobo Football Practic/Scrimmage
UNM’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt (5) talks with teammate Jeremiah Hixon (8) during a preseason practice at University Stadium. Croskey-Merritt and Hixon are both transfers from Alabama State.
D.J. WASHINGTON (WR)
There’s a feeling among the Lobos’ staff that Washington, a 6-foot-5, 219-pound transfer from Iowa Central Community College, has one of the highest ceilings on the team and that was before he gained considerable muscle during the summer. With offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent labelling him the “alpha” of the wide receiver room, when and if Washington starts will be one of the more compelling storylines throughout fall camp.
DYLAN HOPKINS (QB)
The unquestioned face of the offense, Hopkins has the opportunity to stabilize a position that’s been anything but for the Lobos throughout Gonzales’ tenure. His credentials over his last two seasons as the primary starter at UAB (291 passes completed on 450 attempts for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions) and comfort with offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent’s makes him the odds-on favorite to start and a key player to watch.
SYAIRE RILEY (LB)
Riley and Alec Marenco are the two leaders in the linebacker room after Dion Hunter transferred to Cincinnati in the spring. The Lobos might be deepest in the middle third, but with Marenco making his return to the field after suffering a torn ACL, it’ll be interesting to see how Riley performs as UNM’s de facto LB1.
Sean Reider
Sean Reider Journal Staff Writer
Published Modified

New Mexico football released their first official depth chart of the season on Monday, solidifying starters and backups ahead of their season opener at Texas A&M on Saturday.

Here's a look at who's-who as the Lobos enter their fourth season under head coach Danny Gonzales.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Starter: Dylan Hopkins, RS Sr.

Backup: D.C. Tabscott, RS-So. OR Devon Dampier, Fr.

Running back

Starter: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Sr.

Backup: Christian Washington, So.

Depth: Sherod White, Sr.; Dorian Lewis, Sr.; Andrew Henry, RS-Sr.

Wide receiver

Starters: D.J. Washington, Sr. (X); Andrew Erickson, RS-Sr. (Z); Jeremiah Hixon, RS-Sr. (Slot)

Backups: Duece Jones, RS-Jr. (X); Caleb Medford, So. (Z); Luke Wysong, Jr. OR Ryan Davis, RS-Sr. (Slot)

Tight end

Starters: Trace Bruckler, RS-So. OR Magnus Geers, RS-JR. (Y); Connor Witthoft, RS-Jr. (U)

Backups: Everett Hunter, So. (Y), Wyatt McClour, So. (U)

Depth: Caleb Marra, RS-Jr. (U)

Offensive line

Starters: J.C. Davis, Jr. (left tackle); Taurrian “Teedo” Stafford, Sr. (left guard), C.J. James, RS-Jr. (center); Shancco “Ise” Matautia, RS-So. (right guard); D.J. Wingfield, RS-Jr. (right tackle)

Backups: Jer’Marques Bailey, RS-Jr. (left tackle); Reese Steele, Jr. (left guard); Stafford (center); Isaiah Sillemon, RS-So. (right guard); Devon Smith, Jr. OR Travis Gray, Fr. (right tackle)

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UNM linebacker Alec Marenco participates in a preseason practice on Aug. 11, 2023. Marenco has opted to transfer.

DEFENSE

Defensive line

Starters: Gabriel Lopez, RS-Jr. (LE); Tyler Kiehne, RS-So. (NT); Kyler Drake, RS-Jr. (RE)

Backups: Hunter Rapolla, Jr. (LE); Tavien Ford, Jr. (NT); Destin Gainer, RS-So. (RE)

Linebacker

Starters: Dimitri Johnson, Jr. (LLB); Alec Marenco, Jr. OR Ray Leutele, Sr. (MLB); Syaire Riley, Sr. (RLB)

Backups: Ja’Shon Lowery, RS-So. (LLB); Mihalis Santorineos, So. (RLB)

Cornerback

Starters: Zach Morris, So. (LCB); Donte Martin, RS-Sr. (RCB)

Backups: Marvin Covington, RS-So. (LCB); Bryson Taylor, So. (RCB)

Depth: Hunter Sellers, RS-So. (LCB); Josh Williamson, RS-So. (RCB)

Safety

Starters: Christian Ellis, So. (Wolf); Tavian Combs, RS-Jr. (Lobo), Noa Pola-Gates, Sr. (Wolf)

Backups: Jermarius Lewis, So. (Wolf); Dereck Moore, Fr. (Lobo); Aaron Smith, Jr. (Wolf)

AARON RODRIGUEZ (P)
Last season, Rodriguez led the nation in punts with a 44.2-yards-per-punt average on his way to being named to this year’s Ray Guy Award preseason watch list. The Lobos would hope he doesn’t repeat the former feat in 2023, but his reliability and importance on special teams can’t be understated.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker

Starter: Luke Drzewicki, So.

Backup: Charles Steinkamp, RS-Fr.

Punter

Starter: Aaron Rodriguez, RS-Sr.

Backup: Charles Steinkamp, RS-Fr.

Long snapper

Starter: Brendan Durkin, So.

Backup: Justin Holaday, Jr.

Returners

Starters: Christian Washington, So. (kickoffs); Luke Wysong, Jr. (kickoffs/punts)

Backups: Noa Pola-Gates, Sr. (kickoffs); Jeremiah Hixon, RS-Sr. (punts)

dereck moore danny gonzales d.j. washington christian ellis caleb medford caleb marra c.j. james andrew henry andrew erickson alec marenco wyatt mcclour tyler kiehne tavien ford tavian combs zach morris syaire riley sports ryan davis ray leutele noa pola-gates new mexico football mihalis santorineos marvin covington magnus geers luke wysong lobos lobo football josh williamson jeremiah hixon j.c. davis gabriel lopez everett hunter dylan hopkins duece jones dorian lewis dimitri johnson destin gainer unm football
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