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New Mexico opens fall camp on Wednesday, exactly one month before the Lobos start their second season under head coach Jason Eck. And perhaps no season in recent history has been subject to as much excitement and anticipation as the one ahead, after UNM finished a surprising 9-4 last year.
There are, however, a few questions amid the hype.
Here’s five things I’d like to learn about UNM over the next month, from how its pass rush will look to whether a few veterans might be able to return:
1. Who will start at quarterback?
Last year, UNM held a quarterback competition between Jack Layne and James Laubstein, one that was a little closer than some might remember. But it always seemed that Layne had an upper hand — after all, he had played in this offense for three seasons at Idaho prior to arriving at UNM.
This year? Layne’s still the leader, but there might be more questions around this competition than the one that unfolded last August.
Laubstein is back for a sixth year via an NCAA waiver — could he be even better in this year’s competition?
“When he was in that battle last year, he hadn’t played,” Eck said July 16 at Mountain West Media Days. “I don’t think he had played a snap (on) offense here … I do think he’s coming into the battle now with some game experience, and some big-game experience. He made some huge plays.”
Could Luke Moga, a dual-threat Oregon transfer and former four-star prospect, be more decisive running — and passing — the ball?
Could Toa Fa’avae, now entering his sophomore season, find more consistency than he did during spring practice?
“Toa had a lot of great plays in the spring, but he had, you know, some bad plays and some turnovers,” Eck said. “Luke’s got to keep doing a good job of balancing when to stay in the pocket and when to scramble, that type of thing. Sometimes he likes to scramble a little bit (too much).
“You don’t want to take that away from him, but you don’t want a guy looking to scramble right away.”
And while Layne’s still the leader, Eck said he’ll be on a pitch count this spring after undergoing offseason elbow surgery — what does that look like? How will it affect the competition, if at all?
Wednesday, we’ll get at least some idea.
The other questions will almost assuredly have to wait until UNM gets at least a few weeks into practice.
2. Who will comprise UNM’s best five on the offensive line?
Listen to Malik Aliane long enough and you could hear just about anything.
On Eck, known for slicking his hair back and wearing nice suits: “He definitely gives off a little bit of mobster energy, for sure,” Aliane said July 15 at Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas.
The curvature (?) of the planet: “I’m not saying the Earth is flat. I just wonder what, like, shape the Earth is actually.” (Seated beside Aliane, UNM defensive lineman Brian Booker buried his head in his hands after this comment.)
And UNM’s offensive line, where Aliane is poised to play a key role this season?
“We’re gonna have a way better O-line this year,” the fifth-year lineman declared.
Of course, it doesn’t take much to see why Aliane thinks as much. UNM returns four primary starters from last year’s offensive line: Kaden Robnett at center, Jaymar Tasi at right guard, Tyler Lawrence at right tackle and Aliane, now set to play left guard after spending much of last season at left tackle.
Barring any injuries, it feels likely that those four end up in UNM’s starting five against Central Michigan. But the fifth spot remains a question; Eck said earlier this month that Weber State transfer Cole Millward and Elvin Harris will compete to start at left tackle after Aliane’s move inside.
The Lobos’ second-year head coach added that UNM might experiment with moving Lawrence to left tackle, leaving Millward and Harris to compete at right tackle.
“Those three guys are our candidates to be our starting tackles,” he added. “Which side they’re going to be on, we’ll see.”
3. Do the Lobos have any true difference-makers at receiver?
And let’s be clear: They should.
Over the winter, UNM brought in UNLV transfer Troy Omeire, a former four-star with previous stops at Arizona State and Texas; Eastern Washington transfer Miles Williams, who led the Eagles in receiving last season; and a slew of early enrollees like D.J. Darling and Massiah Mingo, the latter of which shined at various points this spring.
That’s on top of a group that returns Shawn Miller, Zhaiel Smith and Kader Diop, who was kept off the field with a lower-body injury last season. Put it all together and this is a deeper, more talented receiver room than what UNM was working with last season.
It still needs to be seen, though — remember that all of UNM’s top seven receivers battled injuries at different points this spring. And fall camp represents the first time Omeire (one of UNM’s five preseason All-Mountain West selections) will practice in Albuquerque with a clean bill of health.
Consider him the favorite to emerge as a real difference-maker for UNM. But make no mistake: the Lobos will need a few others to emerge over the next month for this offense to reach its ceiling.
4. Who can put pressure on the quarterback?
The Lobos might get a player back who could really help in this regard, but that’s another matter entirely. So at least for now, UNM is missing 16.5 sacks from its league-leading 36 last season, and it needs a few players to step up and help the Lobos reach similar heights.
Some easy candidates: Defensive ends Darren Agu and Albert Tuakalau, a College of San Mateo transfer who flashed this spring. But could UNM get a little help on the inside, especially from defensive tackles Brian Booker and Jalen McIver?
At the very least, Eck hopes so.
“It’s tougher to chip with the (running back) or leave a tight end to help if you can get good pass rush out of your (defensive tackles),” Eck said earlier this month.
5. Will UNM actually get any extra help?
Friday, a federal judge in Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that made former UNM defensive lineman Brett Karhu and safety Azariah Levells eligible for a fifth year of competition. Of course, the appeal for a reunion is clear: Karhu (7.5 sacks last season) would immediately elevate the Lobos’ defensive line while Levells would give this secondary another productive veteran to work with.
In response to Friday’s order, Karhu even posted a photo of himself driving to Albuquerque on social media Monday. And as part of a separate motion for a preliminary injunction, filed last week in New Mexico, he stated that UNM’s coaches informed him he has a “roster spot, scholarship and NIL compensation available for me” if he were to be granted an injunction.
Abq ! pic.twitter.com/hFAqzvsXVT
— Brett Karhu (@brettkarhu) August 3, 2026
“It is also my understanding that I will not be taking away a scholarship from a 2026 graduating high school senior as UNM’s high school scholarship decisions were made several months ago,” said Karhu, pouring cold water on the idea that his reunion with UNM would cause any roster cuts.
Whether it actually happens might be more of a question than it seems.
First, the NCAA plans to appeal the decision. A reversal might not be out of question.
Second, Karhu has a separate lawsuit filed on his behalf, one that will continue despite the ruling out of Colorado. Levells does not have that additional insurance — if the order out of Colorado is reversed,
And what will it take to get both back on the field in a timely fashion?
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @lenaweereider.
FALL CAMP SCHEDULE
All sessions are open to the public. UNM is asking fans in attendance to not film practice and to sit in the stands when a session is in University Stadium.
*
Aug. 5: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
*
Aug. 6: 12 to 2:30 p.m.
*
Aug. 7: 3 to 5:30 p.m.
*
Aug. 9: 2:15 to 4:45 p.m.
*
Aug. 10: 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.
*
Aug. 11: 7:15 to 9:45 p.m.
*
Aug. 13: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
*
Aug. 14: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
*
Aug. 15: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*
Aug. 17: 3:05 to 5:05 p.m.
*
Aug. 18: 3 to 5:15 p.m.
*
Aug. 19: 3 to 5:15 p.m.
*
Aug. 20: 3 to 5:15 p.m.
Continue reading...
There are, however, a few questions amid the hype.
Here’s five things I’d like to learn about UNM over the next month, from how its pass rush will look to whether a few veterans might be able to return:
1. Who will start at quarterback?
Last year, UNM held a quarterback competition between Jack Layne and James Laubstein, one that was a little closer than some might remember. But it always seemed that Layne had an upper hand — after all, he had played in this offense for three seasons at Idaho prior to arriving at UNM.
This year? Layne’s still the leader, but there might be more questions around this competition than the one that unfolded last August.
Laubstein is back for a sixth year via an NCAA waiver — could he be even better in this year’s competition?
“When he was in that battle last year, he hadn’t played,” Eck said July 16 at Mountain West Media Days. “I don’t think he had played a snap (on) offense here … I do think he’s coming into the battle now with some game experience, and some big-game experience. He made some huge plays.”
Could Luke Moga, a dual-threat Oregon transfer and former four-star prospect, be more decisive running — and passing — the ball?
Could Toa Fa’avae, now entering his sophomore season, find more consistency than he did during spring practice?
“Toa had a lot of great plays in the spring, but he had, you know, some bad plays and some turnovers,” Eck said. “Luke’s got to keep doing a good job of balancing when to stay in the pocket and when to scramble, that type of thing. Sometimes he likes to scramble a little bit (too much).
“You don’t want to take that away from him, but you don’t want a guy looking to scramble right away.”
And while Layne’s still the leader, Eck said he’ll be on a pitch count this spring after undergoing offseason elbow surgery — what does that look like? How will it affect the competition, if at all?
Wednesday, we’ll get at least some idea.
The other questions will almost assuredly have to wait until UNM gets at least a few weeks into practice.
2. Who will comprise UNM’s best five on the offensive line?
Listen to Malik Aliane long enough and you could hear just about anything.
On Eck, known for slicking his hair back and wearing nice suits: “He definitely gives off a little bit of mobster energy, for sure,” Aliane said July 15 at Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas.
The curvature (?) of the planet: “I’m not saying the Earth is flat. I just wonder what, like, shape the Earth is actually.” (Seated beside Aliane, UNM defensive lineman Brian Booker buried his head in his hands after this comment.)
And UNM’s offensive line, where Aliane is poised to play a key role this season?
“We’re gonna have a way better O-line this year,” the fifth-year lineman declared.
Of course, it doesn’t take much to see why Aliane thinks as much. UNM returns four primary starters from last year’s offensive line: Kaden Robnett at center, Jaymar Tasi at right guard, Tyler Lawrence at right tackle and Aliane, now set to play left guard after spending much of last season at left tackle.
Barring any injuries, it feels likely that those four end up in UNM’s starting five against Central Michigan. But the fifth spot remains a question; Eck said earlier this month that Weber State transfer Cole Millward and Elvin Harris will compete to start at left tackle after Aliane’s move inside.
The Lobos’ second-year head coach added that UNM might experiment with moving Lawrence to left tackle, leaving Millward and Harris to compete at right tackle.
“Those three guys are our candidates to be our starting tackles,” he added. “Which side they’re going to be on, we’ll see.”
3. Do the Lobos have any true difference-makers at receiver?
And let’s be clear: They should.
Over the winter, UNM brought in UNLV transfer Troy Omeire, a former four-star with previous stops at Arizona State and Texas; Eastern Washington transfer Miles Williams, who led the Eagles in receiving last season; and a slew of early enrollees like D.J. Darling and Massiah Mingo, the latter of which shined at various points this spring.
That’s on top of a group that returns Shawn Miller, Zhaiel Smith and Kader Diop, who was kept off the field with a lower-body injury last season. Put it all together and this is a deeper, more talented receiver room than what UNM was working with last season.
It still needs to be seen, though — remember that all of UNM’s top seven receivers battled injuries at different points this spring. And fall camp represents the first time Omeire (one of UNM’s five preseason All-Mountain West selections) will practice in Albuquerque with a clean bill of health.
Consider him the favorite to emerge as a real difference-maker for UNM. But make no mistake: the Lobos will need a few others to emerge over the next month for this offense to reach its ceiling.
4. Who can put pressure on the quarterback?
The Lobos might get a player back who could really help in this regard, but that’s another matter entirely. So at least for now, UNM is missing 16.5 sacks from its league-leading 36 last season, and it needs a few players to step up and help the Lobos reach similar heights.
Some easy candidates: Defensive ends Darren Agu and Albert Tuakalau, a College of San Mateo transfer who flashed this spring. But could UNM get a little help on the inside, especially from defensive tackles Brian Booker and Jalen McIver?
At the very least, Eck hopes so.
“It’s tougher to chip with the (running back) or leave a tight end to help if you can get good pass rush out of your (defensive tackles),” Eck said earlier this month.
5. Will UNM actually get any extra help?
Friday, a federal judge in Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that made former UNM defensive lineman Brett Karhu and safety Azariah Levells eligible for a fifth year of competition. Of course, the appeal for a reunion is clear: Karhu (7.5 sacks last season) would immediately elevate the Lobos’ defensive line while Levells would give this secondary another productive veteran to work with.
In response to Friday’s order, Karhu even posted a photo of himself driving to Albuquerque on social media Monday. And as part of a separate motion for a preliminary injunction, filed last week in New Mexico, he stated that UNM’s coaches informed him he has a “roster spot, scholarship and NIL compensation available for me” if he were to be granted an injunction.
Abq ! pic.twitter.com/hFAqzvsXVT
— Brett Karhu (@brettkarhu) August 3, 2026
“It is also my understanding that I will not be taking away a scholarship from a 2026 graduating high school senior as UNM’s high school scholarship decisions were made several months ago,” said Karhu, pouring cold water on the idea that his reunion with UNM would cause any roster cuts.
Whether it actually happens might be more of a question than it seems.
First, the NCAA plans to appeal the decision. A reversal might not be out of question.
Second, Karhu has a separate lawsuit filed on his behalf, one that will continue despite the ruling out of Colorado. Levells does not have that additional insurance — if the order out of Colorado is reversed,
And what will it take to get both back on the field in a timely fashion?
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at [email protected] or via X at @lenaweereider.
FALL CAMP SCHEDULE
All sessions are open to the public. UNM is asking fans in attendance to not film practice and to sit in the stands when a session is in University Stadium.
*
Aug. 5: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
*
Aug. 6: 12 to 2:30 p.m.
*
Aug. 7: 3 to 5:30 p.m.
*
Aug. 9: 2:15 to 4:45 p.m.
*
Aug. 10: 4:45 to 7:15 p.m.
*
Aug. 11: 7:15 to 9:45 p.m.
*
Aug. 13: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
*
Aug. 14: 9 to 11:30 a.m.
*
Aug. 15: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
*
Aug. 17: 3:05 to 5:05 p.m.
*
Aug. 18: 3 to 5:15 p.m.
*
Aug. 19: 3 to 5:15 p.m.
*
Aug. 20: 3 to 5:15 p.m.
Continue reading...
