Three things we learned from UNM football's first week of spring practice

Mar. 30—UNM opened spring practice this week, making Tuesday and Thursday's sessions open to the media for limited viewing periods.

Three things we learned from the Lobos' first week of practice under head football coach Bronco Mendenhall:

1. Devon Dampier is UNM's quarterback

Last spring, the previous coaching staff promised an open competition between the likes of fifth-year senior Dylan Hopkins, redshirt freshman D.C. Tabscott, junior Justin Holaday and Dampier, then an early enrollee out of Saguaro (Arizona) High School. It never totally felt like one as Hopkins was clearly UNM's best, most experienced option. However, notice of the competition was unsurprising as most coaches, at most schools, would offer much of the same in that spot.

Different story this spring.

"Yeah, Devon," Mendenhall said when asked about the quarterbacks on Thursday. "That's our quarterback."

Which is an unfamiliar — if welcome — reality for a quarterback who completed 40 of 64 passes for 525 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions last season with 328 rushing yards and four touchdowns to boot.

"I've never been in (a) situation like this before," Dampier said on Tuesday. "So, just trying to handle it the best I can, I'm trying to lead and just make sure I'm following what our coaches (want) to drive (into) people — what our will is. I mean, we go by earned not given, and that's our mentality everywhere."

What goes on behind him might end up being more interesting. In a bit of surprise, Holaday, now a senior, has worked as UNM's QB2 while Tabscott has found himself with the third-string, often sharing reps under center with running back Eli Sanders taking snaps in the wildcat.

Mendenhall alluded that an addition to the room is more likely than not, too.

"Our fans and the program can expect other players coming in before the start of the season," Mendenhall added. "So we need more depth at that position but again, Justin Holaday has done a nice job so far. And at this point, always have to have at least two — I prefer three.

"Mountain West, there's a lot of parity, a lot of good competition. And the style of play that we have, our quarterback is a really good athlete ... But you have to have enough depth to make it through the season."

2. Offensive transfers show promise early

Two days of limited practice viewing isn't nearly enough time to discern how much the new transfers have improved the offense. There has, however, been plenty to like: Sanders and Arizona State transfer Javon Jacobs have all gotten solid run at running back while transfer wide receivers Isaiah Jones (Syracuse) and Shawn Miller (Illinois) flashed throughout the first two days.

Perhaps the biggest question — what will this offensive line look like? — won't be resolved for quite some time. But amid some upheaval, the fact that UNM's wide receivers room potentially added another top option in Jones and that there's another enticing competition among Jacobs, Sanders and returner Andrew Henry should be encouraging.

"We have a lot of different ways you can use us," Sanders said on Thursday. "Everyone has their own abilities, everyone comes with their own package kinda. So it's just like finding ways to put your favorite players in the best position to score and put points on the board."

3. UNM's linebacker depth is in question

On Thursday, Mendenhall confirmed that linebacker Syaire Riley was no longer with the program after he opted to retire following Achilles surgery earlier this year. Consider what UNM has at linebacker now after Alec Marenco (531 snaps in 2023) entered the transfer portal in January and Riley (542 snaps) moved on:

Dimitri Johnson (661 snaps; first among LBs in 2023)Mihalis Santorineos (250 snaps)Jayden Wilson (29 snaps)Hunter Haemker (22 snaps)Skylar Cook (0 snaps)Leonardo Gallegos (0 snaps)Lucas Lucero (0 snaps)Kam Robinson (0 snaps)Semaj Sims (0 snaps)Moso Tuitele (0 snaps)

Further: Cook, Lucero, Robinson and Sims don't have any snaps at the Division I level; Robinson, a former East Los Angeles Community College transfer, and Cook, a former three-star prospect out of El Centro, Calif., both took redshirts last season. Tuitele, a Cal transfer, was moved from tight end to linebacker almost immediately after joining the Lobos.

Linebacker isn't the only position with question marks — cornerback and defensive line come to mind — and to the top of the room's credit, Johnson has proved himself to be a sturdy, reliable presence in the middle. But who steps up and establishes themselves over the next few weeks will be especially telling, for both the defense's fortunes and what the Lobos might be looking for in the portal this spring.