Three things we learned about the Lobos’ portal class

Take it from Jason Eck: Transfer classes aren’t the easiest to grade — especially in February.

Why? No matter how good a coach might feel about who they’re bringing in, they don’t know what type of player they have until the pads go on.

Case in point: “We got Dorian Thomas (last year) who played one snap in two years at Arizona,” New Mexico’s second-year head coach said in a news conference last week. “That wasn’t one that was really celebrated, but he ended up being first team All-Conference.

“We had four guys who were FCS transfers last year who ended up first team or second team All-Conference. So, tough to judge it.”

Even with that caveat, Eck didn’t hide how he felt about UNM’s 27-player transfer class.

“I think we did really well,” he said.

Three things we learned about UNM’s portal class from Eck:

1. UNM’s roster needs were always clear. Who might address those needs now is, too. 

It was never all too unclear what UNM’s major roster needs were. After all, as Eck said earlier in the offseason, the Lobos needed more depth in the secondary, particularly at cornerback.

They needed defensive linemen to help replace a front that lost multiple starters, especially off the edge, a few players with offensive tackle size — a need that became more prominent late in the season — and, at least as the transfer window wore on, specialists to compete for starting roles and provide depth.

It was a tidy, straightforward list, even if checking all those boxes was easier said than done.

“Sometimes it can be frustrating because you might have a guy you like early, but then you can’t afford them or you get outbid,” Eck said. “That was my message to the staff: just keep looking. There’s enough guys in here we gotta keep sorting through and sifting through, and finding the right fits.”

But if the needs were clear, maybe who might help address them wasn’t, at least until Eck shed some more light on some of the additions:

— Of the six defensive backs UNM added, Ormanie Arnold (Cincinnati), Joshua Arnold (Idaho), KJ Battle (Towson) and Kevin Longstreet (Southern Cal) all seem set to compete for starting roles or provide (much-needed) depth to the Lobos’ cornerback room. 

“We wanted some length out of that position,” Eck said. “I thought we saw that (last season) with (Caleb Coleman) and (Ky’Won McCray). Having that nickel who wasn’t 5-10 helped out (and) got hands in passing windows and things.”

— Memphis transfer defensive lineman Jalen Charles was one of the “shots on goal” UNM took to immediately help out at defensive end. “(He’s) a guy, hopefully, we think could step (in) and compete to start,” Eck said.

— Markus Fetcho (Laney College) and Cole Millward (Weber State) are expected to compete to start at tackle for UNM. “Millward is a guy who I’m really excited about,” Eck said. “(He) started a lot of games at Weber State, and you look at a lot of our guys who have transferred from Weber State or the Big Sky Conference and were good players there, (they’ve) made real easy transitions.”

— And after losing its three starting specialists in kicker Luke Drzewiecki, punter Daniel Hughes and long snapper Trey DuBuc, it appears that kicker Nicholas Romero (Wagner), punter Michael Kern (California) and long snapper Lincoln Epstein (Central Michigan) will all be in the mix for starting roles.

2. For at least one transfer, there’s more than meets the eye.

Of the four former four-star recruits UNM added via the portal, it was relatively clear what three might bring to the table.

Oregon transfer quarterback Luke Moga could either win the starting job, or backup Jack Layne à la James Laubstein; Southern Cal transfer transfer tight end Joey Olsen could provide the room with another great athlete, the type of boost Eck was looking for; and UNLV transfer receiver Troy Omeire could replace Keagan Johnson as UNM’s WR1.

Again, easier said than done. But for a group of talented players, their expected roles have been clear since they signed. 

All except for one. In a linebacker room with two returning starters, what could Boise State transfer linebacker and former four-star recruit Clay Martineau’s role look like?

To Eck, the 6-foot-3, 227-pound Martineau’s length and athleticism could set him up for a “flex” role, one in which he’ll play up and rush the passer.

“We’re gonna take a look (to see) if he can rush the passer a little bit, too,” Eck said. “He had some nice blitzes (at Boise State). Another way that he’d maybe be a first and second down linebacker (and) maybe a third down defensive end.

“ … Obviously the skill set is different from being an edge rusher and being a linebacker, so we gotta do a good job with him. But his length and athleticism adds a little something to that room.”

3. A couple transfers could miss part of spring practice. 

Last year, Keagan Johnson missed the majority of spring practice before taking over as UNM’s leading receiver. The Lobos might have a similar arrangement this year: Omeire is dealing with a knee injury that could limit him “a little bit” during spring practice, Eck said.

Olsen, the Southern Cal tight end, also “tweaked” his knee, “so that might be a little bit of an issue for him,” Eck said.

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