No, Forrest Gump isn’t playing for the Lobos. But here’s what New Mexico's two-deep might look like

Jack Reacher at linebacker?

Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger at left tackle?

Jordan Belfort at punter?

Well, yes — at least according to UNM’s depth chart.

Ahead of the Lobos’ season-opener, No. 14 Michigan did not release a two-deep — normal procedure (or lack thereof) for the Wolverines. In turn, UNM released one with movie characters, slotting Tom Hanks parts in place of the offense, Tom Cruise parts in place of the defense and Leonardo DiCaprio parts in place of the Lobos’ special teams starters and backups.

The joke, of course, landed with many on social media.

“Not sure if Michigan is ready for Jimmy Duggan (from A League of Their Own) blocking for Forrest Gump this weekend,” Mike Wittmann posted on X. “Gump is a big-time RB from what I’ve seen on film. Could surprise some people.”

But if the two-deep was a hit online, at least one person close to UNM didn’t get every reference: “I’m not a big movie guy,” UNM head coach Jason Eck chuckled Tuesday. “So I glanced at that and I probably knew less than half of the names on there … We’ll have a regular two-deep out next week.”

Why wait? Here’s a look at what UNM’s two-deep might look like, cobbled together through practice observations and talking to players and coaches throughout fall camp:

Quarterbacks

Starter: Jack Layne, Jr. (6-2, 206 pounds)

Backup: James Laubstein, Sr. (6-3, 211 pounds)

Analysis: No surprises here. UNM ended its quarterback competition last week, announcing Layne as the starter after a healthy, consistent camp from the Idaho transfer. Expect him to take the vast majority of snaps in Ann Arbor come Saturday.

Running backs

Starter: Scottre Humphrey, Jr. (5-10, 209 pounds)

Backups: Damon Bankston, Sr. (5-10, 186 pounds) or D.J. McKinney, So. (5-8, 182 pounds) or Deshaun Buchanan, So. (5-9, 193 pounds)

Analysis: Again, no surprises here. Humphrey likely won’t be used as a bell cow, but he’s UNM’s clear lead back. And even if I think McKinney and Bankston might have a very slight leg up on Buchanan, it seems safe to expect that all will see the field Saturday and throughout the season.

Offensive line

Starters: LT Malik Aliane, R-Jr. (6-1, 310 pounds), LG Israel Mukwiza, Sr. (6-1, 329 pounds), C Kaden Robnett, R-Fr. (6-2, 296 pounds), RG Richard Pearce, R-Sr. (6-2, 311 pounds), RT Tyler Lawrence, So. (6-4, 305 pounds)

Backups: LT Elvin Harris, R-So. (6-6, 316 pounds), LG Isaiah Sillemon, R-Sr. (6-1, 310 pounds), C James Bailey, Jr. (6-3, 301 pounds), RG Jaymar Tasi, Fr. (6-2, 308 pounds), RT Tevin Shaw, R-Jr. (6-4, 306 pounds)

Analysis: After Robnett beat out Sillemon in a competition to start at center, UNM’s interior offensive line – perhaps the strength of the group – has been settled for a couple weeks. Left tackle was also shored up after UNM moved Aliane out from guard, betting on the positional flexibility he’s shown in the past despite not having a usual tackle build.

Right tackle has been more of a question recently. After Nevell Brown Jr. opened camp starting in said spot, Sillemon worked his way into that competition before Lawrence, an Air Force transfer, came on late to grab significant reps there. Expect some rotation at right tackle against Michigan, and be on the lookout for where Sillemon might play.

Wide receivers

Starters: Keagan Johnson, Sr. (6-0, 199 pounds), Zhaiel Smith, Fr. (6-0, 184 pounds), Michael Buckley, R-Jr (6-0, 179 pounds)

Backups: N/A

Analysis: No position dealt with more injuries during fall camp than UNM’s receivers, and you’re seeing the effects of that on this depth chart: Eck said the Lobos won’t have a proper two-deep heading into this weekend, and will probably play only four receivers total.

I feel confident that Johnson and Smith will receive plenty of snaps Saturday. And Eck said Buckley is in line to play after a “really good training camp.” But it’s hard to gauge who the fourth receiver might be, especially after Kader Diop and Isaiah Blair battled injuries over the past few weeks.

Tight ends

Starters: Dorian Thomas, So. (6-4, 239 pounds), Simon Mapa, Jr. (6-4, 255 pound)

Backups: Cade Keith, R-Fr. (6-5, 239 pounds), Marcus Vinson, Sr. (6-4, 247 pounds)

Analysis: I don’t think UNM will actually format its depth charts with two different tight end spots. But consider it a nod to how much 12 personnel – lining up with two tight ends – this team will run, and don’t be surprised if UNM’s top four tight ends all log snaps against Michigan.

Defensive line

Starters: JACK Keyshawn James-Newby, Sr. (6-2, 244 pounds), DT Brian Booker, Jr. (6-3, 325 pounds), DT Gabriel Lopez, R-Sr. (6-2, 246 pounds), DE Xavier Slayton, Jr. (6-2, 243 pounds)

Backups: JACK Brett Karhu, Sr. (6-1, 226 pounds), DT Jalen McIver, So. (6-4, 281 pound), DT Okiki Olorunfunmi, Sr. (6-5, 265 pounds), DE Elijah Brody, So. (6-1, 229 pounds)

Analysis: UNM intends on rotating plenty up front, but these were the clear starting lineups for the majority of camp, with James-Newby starting at UNM’s Jack (boundary end) spot. But McIver came on late to threaten Booker’s spot with the first team line, and I’m curious how any rotating between the two might look.

Linebackers

Starters: MIKE Jaxton Eck, Jr. (6-1, 224 pounds), WILL Ky’Won McCray, R-Sr. (6-4, 200 pounds)

Backups: MIKE Dimitri Johnson, Sr. (6-1, 235 pounds), WILL Mercury Swaim, R-Jr. (5-10, 213 pounds)

Analysis: Eck took just about every snap with the first team defense during fall camp, so he’s an easy lock to start at the Lobos’ Mike linebacker spot. And in UNM’s 4-2-5 base defense, the Will is a “more physical safety,” linebackers coach Nate Palmer said during camp. McCray, a rangy, physical Jacksonville State transfer, fits that better than anybody else and logged plenty of time with the starters in the past couple weeks.

But like almost every position on UNM’s defense, expect the linebackers to rotate at a healthy clip. Johnson might be the most interesting player when that happens: Palmer said the senior is his “most versatile linebacker,” logging time at Mike and Will throughout camp.

Cornerbacks

Starters: Abraham Williams, Sr. (6-1, 186 pounds), Jon Johnson, Sr. (5-11, 181 pounds)

Backups: Jayden Sheridan, Sr. (5-11, 178 pounds), Frankie Edwards III, So. (5-10, 174 pounds)

Analysis: Williams and Johnson have been UNM’s top two corners since spring, and that hasn’t changed with Michigan on the clock. Cornerbacks coach Stanley Franks Jr. said during camp Sheridan and Edwards were next up in UNM’s top four corners, so this feels like a pretty clear group. But I am curious who else might rotate in (freshman Jahmir Torres?) this weekend.

Safeties

Starters: FS Austin Brawley, Sr. (5-10, 180 pounds), BS Tavian Combs, Sr. (6-2, 196 pounds), STAR Albert Nunes, Sr. (6-1, 207 pounds) or Caleb Coleman, Sr. (6-2, 191 pounds)

Backups: FS Aaron Smith, R-Sr. (6-0, 180 pounds), BS Clint Stephens, Jr. (6-1, 203 pounds), STAR David Murphy, Jr. (5-10, 195 pounds)

Analysis: Brawley has been a safe bet to start at field safety since the spring, while Combs locked up boundary safety duties at the start of camp. The competition between Nunes and Coleman seemed pretty close towards the end of camp, though — I’m not sure I can do much better than an ‘or’ at this point.

Special teams

Starters: K Luke Drzewiecki, Sr. (6-0, 186 pounds) P Charles Steinkamp, R-Jr. (6-5, 211 pounds) or Daniel Hughes, So. (6-5, 235 pounds)

Backups: K Grant Glasgow, R-Jr. (6-1, 194 pounds)

Analysis: Drzewiecki has had a firm grip to start at kicker since spring. But Eck didn’t offer a major update Tuesday on the punting competition between Steinkamp and Hughes — let’s go with ‘or’ for now.

“We’re getting close, but haven’t fully resolved it,” Eck said.