UNM position preview: Competition underway for fifth starting spot on Lobos' offensive line

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Offensive line

After just one play, Kaden Robnett knew something was wrong.

Early last September, Wyoming kicked off to Idaho and after the first snap — a toss to running back Elisha Cummings — the 6-foot-2, 296-pound center felt something off in his knee. When the Vandals punted, he found his position coach, Cody Booth, on the sideline and explained what he was feeling, even if he didn’t quite know what it was.

“(I’m) like, I really messed up my knee,” Robnett remembered after practice Aug. 9. “He goes, ‘you good?’ I’m like, I’ll be fine. Let’s go. I’m ready to ride. I don’t care — like, no matter what, I’m not going out.”

He didn’t. Robnett played the first half at center, before shifting to right guard in the second — all with a completely torn meniscus.

Idaho upset Wyoming, 17-13.

“It was hard to brace on that back foot,” Robnett said. “But I mean, the adrenaline is rushing. You just don’t feel it at that point.

“After the game? I was limping.”

These days, the limp is gone. And with that, a healthy Robnett is expected to serve as UNM’s starting center this season, bringing that same toughness to a line with four starting spots set entering the Lobos’ opener against Michigan, Aug. 30.

“Bringing him from Idaho, obviously people would think, ‘oh, he’s just gonna be a favorite,’” said Booth, now New Mexico’s offensive line coach. “But he’s put his head down and worked, and busted his butt and earned the respect of the guys in the room.”

A Graham, Washington native, Robnett joins left tackle Malik Aliane, left guard — and Mercer transfer — Israel Mukwiza and right guard Richard Pearce to comprise four-fifths of UNM’s starting group. Pearce is the one returning starter of the group after playing a team-high 904 snaps on offense last season. He was named one of UNM’s six captains earlier this week.

“He’s become a better leader,” Booth said of Pearce, “and (understands) how to hold people accountable. Fundamentally, he’s gotten better with his hands in his pass sets. (We are) still trying to work with him (and) obviously we can always get better, but I have seen him getting better on the technical and fundamental side.”

But a competition for UNM’s starting right tackle spot is still underway: Alabama A&M transfer Nevell Brown entered camp working out of the position before Isaiah Sillemon and (Air Force transfer) Tyler Lawrence entered the competition. The former previously competed with Robnett and Aliane for UNM’s starting center and left tackle spots, respectively, after playing as a “rhino” tight end last season.

A late addition to the competition, Booth said Lawrence has made strides during camp.

“From where he came from (with) Air Force and the triple option offense, (and now) learning how to pass set, he’s a guy that has positional flexibility,” Booth said. “He’s very smart. He can bend, he’s explosive, he can redirect.”

Until a fifth starter is identified, UNM will keep experimenting with different rotations, Booth said.

“... And kind of see if we want to rotate early in the year, or if we’ve got five guys (we can depend) on,” Booth said. “But I think, early in the year, we’ll rotate some guys and figure it out from there.”