2013 New Mexico State Spring Analysis

2013 New Mexico State Aggies ... Head Coach: Doug Martin

New Mexico State Aggies

2013 Schedule
8/31 at Texas
9/7 Minnesota
9/14 UTEP
9/21 at UCLA
9/28 San Diego State
10/5 at New Mexico
10/12 OPEN DATE
10/19 Rice
10/26 Abilene Christian
11/2 at Louisiana
11/9 Boston College
11/16 OPEN DATE
11/23 at Florida Atlantic
11/30 Idaho

Why To Be Excited New head coach Doug Martin is getting plenty of time to work and figure out what he needs to do before a late spring start. Everything needs to start from scratch after losing the final 11 games following a season opening win over Sacramento State, and there are plenty of pieces to play around with. 15 starters return along with both specialists, and almost all the backups return, too, meaning it should be a spirited spring session with lots of fights for jobs. Quarterback Andrew Manley is a good place to start, but he needs more time to operate. Getting five starters back on the line should help. The defense returns most of the key defensive backs and top-tackling linebacker Trashaun Nixon.

Why To Be Grouchy It’s going to take a lot just to make the team competitive. The Aggies didn’t just lose, they lost to a lot of awful teams and very, very badly. Ten of the 11 losses came by double digits, including clunkers against UTSA, Texas State, UTEP and New Mexico. The defense needs more of a pass rush, but it loses top sacker Donte Savage along with defensive tackle Walton Taumoepeau. The offense has to find more pop and explosion, but second-leading receiver Kemonte Bateman is gone after serving as top-target Austin Franklin’s running mate.

What Needs Working On The pass rush was bad, the running game was worse, and there wasn’t nearly enough steady production on either side of the ball, but the Aggies can’t begin to improve without first starting to win the turnover margin. The team just isn’t good enough to make a slew of mistakes, and while turnovers weren’t too much of a problem, generating them was. The defense managed to come up with a paltry four picks on the year, mainly because the defensive front was only able to generate ten sacks and rarely touched opposing passers. There wasn’t much luck when the ball was on the ground, either, coming up with just five of 18 fumbles; the defense didn’t recover a fumble over the final six games of the year and came up with just two after coming up with three in the first two games.

Team Concerns For 2013: The Aggies have to work on everything. New head coach Doug Martin has to first work on the defense that failed to generate any pass rush and was miserable against anyone who wanted to run the ball. On the other side of the ball, there has to be a running game to give quarterback Andrew Manley a little bit of help. It starts with an offensive line that got Manley hammered and didn't come up with anything for the rushing attack. There's no hope of getting better without improving the turnover margin. The Aggies came up with just four picks and five recovered fumbles.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Receivers. It's a tough beat for Doug Martin with almost no time to work and no conference to sell to prospects, but he's doing what he can. Linebacker Brandon Hines is a nice get out of Texas, and running back Marquette Washington has the speed and size to end up working the offense around, but the key might be the receiving corps. Jerrion Burton and James Ooten out of California will eventually be starters, while Prentavious Morehead will someday be a No. 1 target.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 108. That Class Was Heavy On ... More and more and more instant options. Head coach DeWayne Walker has been able to build a little bit from the freshman classes, but he’s gone heavy after JUCO, JUCO, JUCO over the last few years. This seasons’ haul won’t be any different. The Aggies have to reload at several spots and need an overhaul on the lines, and while the offensive side isn’t going to get an influx of talent, the defense is about to get several ready-made options. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 118. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. JUCO receiver Kemonte Bateman is a 4.4 blazer who can finally provide some pop for the Aggie passing game, but the program also needs to develop more quarterback depth and find more options. There isn’t a sure-thing starter in the lot, but it’s a strength-in-numbers class with 6-5, 225-pound Matt Jaramillio, Travaughn Colwell, and Gary Isaacson all fighting it out to be the face of the program in the near future. JUCO transfer DE Sean Brown needs to be an instant impact pass rusher.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 110. That Class Was Heavy On ... JUCO transfers. DeWayne Walker struggled with his first recruiting class, and his second one isn't all that great. However, considering the team made decent strides after starting from near-scratch, it was a must to get more players who can help the team right away. And here come the JUCO transfers with seven coming in highlighted by OT Aundre McGaskey, who might be an anchor from snap one. DT David Mahoney should be a big factor right away, while QB Matt Christian will get every chance to start.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 120. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive tackle. New head coach DeWayne Walker is a defensive coach by trade and he wanted to start off his era by improving the interior of the defense … now. Three JUCO transfers are coming in, John Finau, D’Juan Yates, and Vincent Federico, and they’re all expected to make an impact. Walker was also able to get two JUCO receivers, William Bullock and Marcus Allen, who would’ve been big-time producers in the Hal Mumme era.