New Mexico State 2012 Recruiting

2011 New Mexico State Aggies ... Head Coach: DeWayne Walker

New Mexico State Aggies

2011 Record: 4-5

Sept. 3 Ohio L 44-24
Sept. 10 at Minnesota W 28-21
Sept. 17 UTEP L 16-10
Sept. 24 at San Jose St L 34-24
Oct. 1 at New Mexico W 42-28
Oct. 8 OPEN DATE
Oct. 15 Idaho W 31-24
Oct. 22 at Hawaii L 45-34
Oct. 29 Nevada L 48-34
Nov. 5 at Georgia L 63-16
Nov. 12 Fresno State W 48-45
Nov. 19 at BYU
Nov. 26 at Louisiana Tech
Dec. 3 Utah State

2010 CFN Prediction: 1-11
2010 Record: 2-9

Sept. 4 OPEN DATE
Sept. 11 San Diego St L 41-21
Sept. 18 at UTEP L 42-10
Sept. 25 at Kansas L 42-16
Oct. 2 Boise State L 59-0
Oct. 9 New Mexico W 16-14
Oct. 16 at Fresno St L 33-10
Oct. 23 at Idaho L 37-14
Oct. 30 San Jose St W 29-27
Nov. 6 at Utah State L 27-22
Nov. 13 Louisiana Tech L 41-20
Nov. 20 at Nevada L 52-6
Nov. 27 Hawaii
- Get Tickets

The Entire 2012 Recruiting Class

Top 5 New Mexico State Recruits To Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. DT Walton Thompson
6-5, 300, Scout.com three-star JUCO transfer

2. QB Andrew McDonald
6-0, 175, Scout.com two-star JUCO transfer.

3. DE Kalvin Cruz
6-3, 275, Scout.com two-star JUCO transfer.

4. DT Kevin Laudermill
6-3, 300, Scout.com two-star JUCO transfer.

5. CB Cameron Fuller
6-0, 175, Scout.com two-star JUCO transfer.

The 2012 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.

Team Concerns For 2012: The offensive line. The defensive side will be one of the big focuses of the class, but the O line has the bigger issues with three starters gone along with a few backups. Receivers Todd Lee and Taveon Rogers is done, as is starting quarterback Matt Christian, who took over and did a nice job.

Looking Ahead To The 2012 Season: The Aggies are slowly starting to improve under head coach DeWayne Walker, but it’s going to be tough to break through with most of the star programs leaving the WAC. QB Travaugh Colwell has to prove he’s ready, and he’ll get a ton of help from Kenny Turner, a likely all-conference performer. Three starters are gone from the line as are targets Taveon Rogers and Todd Lee. The defense didn’t make any major strides, and now it has to replace three starters up front and the entire secondary.

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.

Nov. 12 at NMSU 48 … Fresno State 45

Nov. 5 at Georgia 63 … New Mexico State 16
CFN Analysis: New Mexico State ran into a buzzsaw and was simply overmatched by a far more talented team. The pass rush couldn’t throw off Aaron Murray, and the offense couldn’t keep up the pace once the game got out of hand. With eight penalties, and three turnovers, the Aggies weren’t mistake-free like they needed to be, but they didn’t have a chance. Matt Christian didn’t get much time to work and couldn’t keep the chains moving, while Travaughn Colwell put up some decent numbers in garbage time with all the Georgia backups in. Even with this blowout loss, the team is playing better and should have an honest shot of coming up with a win next week against Fresno State if the passing game can get back on track.

Oct. 29 Nevada 48 … at New Mexico State 34 

Oct. 22 at Hawaii 45 … New Mexico State 34  

Oct. 15 at New Mexico State 31 … Idaho 24
CFN Analysis: It might not have been a perfect performance, but the Aggies won two games in a row thanks to a decent passing day from Travaughn Colwell, who completed 7-of-9 passes for 100 yards and a score and ran well enough to keep the chains moving. Kenny Turner was the playmaker and tone-setter on the ground with 171 yards and a score, but the offense had a hard time keeping the chains moving and didn’t put the game away until late with a few defensive stops. To get by Hawaii and Nevada over the next two weeks, the line has to make more plays behind the line. The D came up with just a sack and four tackles for loss against the poor Vandal line.  

Oct. 1 New Mexico State 42 ... at New Mexico 28
CFN Analysis: The Aggies got up early, and the Lobos never had a chance. The offense might be without top quarterback Andrew Manley, but Matt Christian was fantastic with three first quarter touchdown passes and sharp plays from deep. Great on third downs, NMSU converted 11-of-14 chances while getting nearly perfect balance with 242 yards on the ground and 296 through the air. Not only did Christian throw well, but he ran for 101 yards to go along with a strong game from Kenny Turner. When Turner is on, the offense is working. With Idaho up next in two weeks, the Aggies have rare momentum.  

Sept. 24 at San Jose State 34 ... New Mexico State 24
CFN Analysis: The Aggie lines continue to be awful, but there was some semblance of a running game against San Jose State with Kenny Turner coming up with 129 yards and a score. Matt Christian was fine in his first game as the starter in place of the injured Andrew Manley, throwing for 238 yards and a touchdown with a pick, and running for 58 yards and a score, but the defense was way too awful and the offense couldn’t keep up the pace. Fortunately, New Mexico is up next, but it’s on the road.

Sept. 17 UTEP 16 ... at New Mexico State 10
CFN Analysis: If the Aggies aren’t even going to try to run the ball, they at least have to be able to bomb away against mediocre teams like UTEP. The big problem continues to be pass protection, with Andrew Manley not getting enough time to consistently keep the chains moving converting just 3-of-13 third down chances. The defense did its job with a good pass rush bending but rarely breaking; the offense didn’t do its job. This game was winnable, and while the San Jose State and New Mexico games are on the road, and with Idaho to follow at home, winning two of the next three isn’t asking for too much if the O line play can be stronger. That’s asking for a lot to be changed up in a hurry.

(AP) LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Dakota Warren booted three field goals and UTEP set up a touchdown with a 60-yard run on a fake punt in a 16-10 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday night.

On the fake punt, the ball was snapped to Joe Banyard, who raced 60 yards to the New Mexico State 6. Moments later, Leilyon Myers scored on a 5-yard run.

Warren connected on field goals of 42, 47 and 37 yards. Myers was tough up the middle -- 55 yards on 16 carries.

New Mexico State couldn't establish a running game, rushing for just 16 yards on 29 attempts. Aggies quarterback Andrew Manley completed 20-of-37 pass attempts for 242 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked six times.

New Mexico State moved the ball inside the UTEP 5-yard line three times, but only had a field goal to show for it.

Sept. 10 New Mexico State 28 … at Minnesota 21
CFN Analysis: For a variety of reasons, the Aggies’ win at Minnesota was special. Not only was it the biggest win in the DeWayne Walker era, by far, but it was also a road win over a BCS conference team that showed that yes, this might be an interesting season and yes, there is hope to turn things around once WAC play kicks in. The defense didn’t do much of anything to stop the Gophers cold, but it was great on third downs – allowing just 2-of-12 conversions – and it came up clutch in the final moments when needed. Andrew Manley might have made a few mistakes, but he bombed away for 288 yards and three touchdowns, proving that the Week One performance against Ohio wasn’t a fluke. Now it’s time to build on this and beat UTEP to show that this wasn’t a fluke. 
 
Sept. 3 Ohio 44 … at New Mexico State 24
CFN Analysis: Andrew Manley threw the ball as well as expected, bombing away for 362 yards and two scores, but he got drilled way too often and he didn’t get any help from the ground game. The Aggies finished with just six net yards thanks to a porous line that couldn’t get anything going and couldn’t keep Ohio out of the backfield. Donyae Coleman had a great game with 14 tackles and a fumble recovery, but the NMSU defense needs to find more playmakers and has to generate some semblance of a pass rush. That’s going to be tough against Minnesota.

The 2011 Class Is 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.

2011 Entire Recruiting Class

Five New Mexico State Recruits You Should Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. WR Kemonte Bateman
6-1, 185, Three-star JUCO transfer

2. S Austin Franklin
He is a great athlete playing safety and wide receiver. He is over six foot and has 4.5 speed. As a safety he can get to any play with speed, he does have trouble getting away from blocks. Either position he plays on the next level he will need a redshirt year to learn technique. His biggest asset is he is such a tremendous athlete.

3. QB Matt Jaramillo
6-5, 225, Two-star prospect

4. C Valerian Ume-Ezeoke
6-2, 265, Scout.com’s 37th ranked center

5. QB Gary Isaacson
6-1, 180, Two-star prospect

2011 Recruiting Class
Kemonte Bateman WR 6-1 185 Los Angeles, Calif. (Pasadena JC/Crenshaw HS)
Brandon Betencourt RB 5-11 185 Las Cruces, N.M. (Mayfield HS)
Sean Brown DE 6-5 253 Oakland, Calif. (Chabot College/Oakland Tech.)
James Calhoun WR 5-11 180 Riverside, Calif. (Riverside JC/North HS)
Houston Clemente OL 6-1 285 Honolulu, Hawai'i (St. Louis HS)
Travaughn Colwell QB 6-3 185 Manvel, Texas (Manvel HS)
Andy Cunningham OL 6-4 290 Frisco, Texas (Frisco HS)
Anthony Edwards DB 6-0 185 Lancaster, Calif. (Antelope Valley College)
Jeremy Harris DB 6-2 180 Dorsey, Calif. (East Los Angeles JC/Dorsey HS)
Abram Holland DT 6-2 260 Rio Rancho, N.M. (V. Sue Cleveland HS)
Matthew Jaramillo TE/QB 6-5 245 Albuquerque, N.M. (West Mesa HS)
Andrew Kersten OL 6-6 305 Minneapolis, Minn. (El Camino JC/Washburn HS)
Alexander LaVoy LB 6-2 230 Reno, Nev. (Butte CC/Mcqueen HS)
Joseph Matthews WR 6-1 175 Tucson, Ariz. (Rincon HS)
Faison McKinnis OL 6-7 300 Frisco, Texas (Centennial HS)
Germi Morrison RB 6-0 191 Panorama City, Calif. (LA Valley College/Monroe HS)
Samuel Oyenuga DB 5-10 165 Rowlett, Texas (Rowlett HS)
Valerian Ume-Ezeoke OL 6-2 267 Garland, Texas (Garland Lakeview Centennial HS)
Lester White DB 6-2 200 Riverside, Calif. (Riverside JC/North HS)

Five Utah State Recruits You Should Care About
Player writeups by Scout.com

1. QB Chuck Keaton
Very good athlete playing quarterback, he has a strong arm but is not very accurate. Tries to do too much by himself and that gets him in trouble at times. He can be deadly running the ball. Tries to throw a fastball rather than a catchable pass, needs to learn some touch on his passes.

2. S Peni Vea
6-0, 175, Scout.com’s 109th ranked cornerback. Three-star prospect.

3. CB Ladale Jackson
5-11, 160, Scout.com’s 127th ranked cornerback

4. S Bridger Peck
6-2, 205, Scout.com’s 116th ranked safety

5. OT Stetson Tenney
6-5, 295, Two-star JUCO transfer