UNM football notebook: West Mesa graduate Elijah Brody taking second position change in stride

When Elijah Brody looks back, there might have been a sign of what was to come.

On the very first day of offseason workouts, the New Mexico sophomore receiver-turned-safety and former West Mesa High School star looked up during a drill — only to find linebackers assistant coach Nate Palmer urging him through it.

“Without any, like, idea of me possibly playing linebacker,” Brody remembered Tuesday.

A few weeks later, Palmer texted Brody. He was being added to the linebacker group chat.

And that was that.

“It’s for real now,” Brody laughed.

It is, in fact, real. Brody is playing linebacker now.

After shifting from receiver to defensive back last season, the former Journal male prep athlete of the year is finding early success in his second collegiate position change, even receiving some extended run with UNM’s first team defense this week.

“He’s really embraced the position switch,” head coach Jason Eck said Tuesday. “And, you know, anytime you’re trying something new, it’s an adjustment. And I think he had some days that were maybe an adjustment or (had some) growing pains early, but I think he’s coming into his own and making plays.”

A highly prolific signal caller at West Mesa, Brody likens playing linebacker to working as the “quarterback of the defense.” That mentality has helped him take to some of the “little” fundamentals — finding his key and keeping his eyes in the right spot mainly — as he works alongside veterans like Dimitri Johnson.

As for the growing pains? Having already seen two separate “welcome to college football” moments at receiver and safety, Brody got one this spring courtesy of center Malik Aliane as he reached to the second level.

The message?

“You’re in the box with the big boys now,” Brody laughed, “so you gotta keep your head on a swivel.”

Brody might be among them soon, though. At 225 pounds, he’s up 25 pounds from the end of last season, a change Eck believes is simply his body running its natural course.

“I think he’s a guy, if you would’ve kept him at receiver or DB, he probably would’ve really had to starve himself, really watch his weight to stay around 210,” he added. “His body’s growing into (itself).”

As is his career at a new spot — one he’s thankful to have ended up in.

“I’m playing Division I football. That’s every kid’s dream,” Brody said. “I’m just grateful to wake up and come out here and come into the office. (I’m) definitely using the momentum I picked up towards the end of (last season) to just keep the ball rolling throughout the spring and summer, and then into football season.”

Tuesday’s practice

Some odds and ends from the Lobos’ 10th practice of spring:

HAMMER: Tuesday’s hammer (designed for the overall player of the practice) went to cornerback Abraham Williams, a 6-foot-1-inch, 189-pound senior Idaho transfer who highlighted a team session with an interception on first-string quarterback James Laubstein.

Along with Montana State transfer Jon Johnson, it’s become clear Williams is at the top of UNM’s corner depth and could very well be a day one starter. But Tuesday was also his first look at kick returner, a position Eck wants to see him work at over the remaining spring practices.

“He has elite speed,” Eck said. “I think he really accelerates and hits (the gap) fearlessly, (has) good vision. But he just makes full speed cuts — a lot of times, kickoff return, you’re hitting it at full speed, you’re making cuts, you’re making cuts, you have the ball in your hands.”

JOHNSON’S BACK: Wide receiver Keagan Johnson made his full pads debut Tuesday, mostly picking up plays with the second-string offense and flashing during a one-on-one period. The 6-foot, 185-pound Kansas State transfer was held out of the first half of spring with an ankle injury, but his return is “huge” for an offense that could use another reliable receiver.

“We needed some more speed at receiver and sure hands, (a) big target,” Eck said. “I think getting a big chance to see him over these last few days, I wanna see him be sturdy now this last week. Hopefully he can get (the) next five practices in and we can kind of trust that he’s going to be reliable and he’s kind of over that ankle.”

TIGHT ENDS: Tuesday saw a couple big catches from freshman tight end Cade Keith, a 6-foot-5-inch, 228-pound TCU transfer looking to set himself apart from the position’s depth behind Weber State transfer Keayen Nead.

“He has really good hands (and) I think he is really good with his assignments … He’s definitely a guy who’s going to be in the mix and play for us some next year,” Eck said. “I think how good of a summer he has will probably decide (if) he can be the second tight end in 12 personnel. Keayen is probably our starter right now, but you know, you got to have good subs.”