The Road to Kickoff: 5 Biggest Storylines of Lobos Fall Camp
We are officially 30 days out from Week 1 in college football (24 days to Week 0 for those keeping count) and the start of the New Mexico 2026 campaign. Before we look ahead to Central Michigan on Sept. 5 at University Stadium, there are plenty of storylines to focus on as fall camp begins today in Albuquerque.
Here are the five biggest storylines heading into fall camp in no particular order but worth noting, nonetheless.
Is there a quarterback battle brewing? With Jack Layne returning to lead the offense fresh off a repaired elbow, the redshirt senior should be slated to start camp as the true QB1. After throwing for 2,486 yards and 13 touchdowns, and running for another four, it's hard to imagine any incoming transfer or freshman displacing Layne over the next 30 days. But Oregon transfer Luke Moga, a former four-star recruit, didn’t transfer to Albuquerque to simply be the backup. Although he didn’t see many reps in Eugene, Ore., the 6-foot-2 talent is notably more athletic at the position than Layne but is still adapting to a new offense. Nor should you forget about specialist James Laubstein, a downhill running threat, and redshirt sophomore Toa Fa’avae, another mobile quarterback who rushed for over 2,000 yards in his high school career and led his team to three straight state championships. It will be interesting to see how the position battle shakes out.
Will the running game take a step forward in 2026? The offensive line returns four starters from a season ago, but the running back room saw two of its most productive players depart to the NFL and the transfer portal, respectively (Damon Bankston - NFL, DJ McKinney - transferred to Tulsa). They combined for 225 carries and 12 TDs last season, so replacing the touches won’t be clear cut. However, the Lobos return highly touted Scottre Humphrey, who is entering his fourth collegiate season. The veteran back was a former FCS All-American at Montana State before transferring to UNM in 2025. He showed promise after amassing 1,386 yards in 2024 (25th most in Montana State history) and started 2025 rushing for 141 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns against Idaho State. However, an injury in the UCLA game (48 yards on 6 carries and a touchdown in the first quarter) shortened his season, thus leaving his potential unmaterialized. Deshaun Buchanan also returns to the team after posting a meager seven rushes for 14 yards last season, but the Idaho transfer came over with head coach Jason Eck after leading the Vandals in rushing in 2024 (567 yards on 69 carries and five touchdowns). Higher expectations are placed squarely on the veterans’ shoulders to carry the torch this season, but can transfers Cam Mathews (Memphis) and Kiefer Sibley (North Texas) add a boost to the room?
Can the defensive line reproduce the pressures and sacks it did a season ago? Keyshawn James-Newby was one of the most impactful players on the field for UNM last season. He played 681 snaps on the defensive line and posted nine sacks with a pass rush grade of 92.7 (fourth best in the country out of 748 eligible players according to Pro Football Focus). He was so impactful that the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the seventh round, 252nd overall; replacing him is as close to impossible as it gets. However, with the recent class-wide injunction that granted a fifth year of eligibility to high school graduates of 2022, UNM gets a boost as edge-rusher Brett Karhu is expected to report to camp this week. Karhu ranked second behind James-Newby in pass rush grade on the team (PFF) at 74.7, created 31 pressures and had seven sacks. Returners Brian Booker (2026 Outland Trophy Watchlist for the top interior lineman in the nation), Jalen McIver and Xavier Slayton bolster the defensive line, which looks to be a strength and provides more depth than it did a season ago. Will any other unknown defensive lineman emerge on the front lines?
Will the defense continue the hot streak it was on last season - and possibly be better? The defense returns five starters (possibly six with a Karhu reunion) and was a primary strength for this team. The Lobos finished ranked 46th in the country in scoring defense in 2025-26 (22.3 points per game allowed) and top 40 in the FBS in stopping the run (only allowing 112.8 rushing yards per game). Four of the top five defensive graded Lobos (according to PFF) return with the one exception being James-Newby. LB Jaxton Eck (81.8), DE Darren Agu (79.9), LB Mercury Swaim (77.2), and S Austin Brawley (76.0) all grade out well on defense according to PFF, so the expectation should be progress this season. In terms of overall playing experience and snap counts, super senior safety Tavien Combs also returns for his unprecedented seventh season (671 snaps on defense to rank third on the team). Rounding out the secondary is junior safety Frankie Edwards (497 snaps and 47 tackles – ranked fourth on the team). With one of the most solid foundations and continuity on defense in the Mountain West, is this unit primed to take it to the next level?
Can the offense turn into a more explosive attack? The offense was explosive at times but had only three players surpass double-digit explosive plays on the ground last season (plays of 10 yards or more); Bankston (14), Laubstein (13) and Layne (11). For context, Bankston finished 16th in the MW where 12 other running backs finished ahead of him. MW Offensive Player of the Year QB Anthony Colandrea of UNLV finished with 35 explosive runs. In terms of the passing game, Jack Layne only attempted 47 passes of 20 yards or more out of 326 total passing attempts (14.4% of the time) - he only completed 17 of them. Although the Lobos didn’t quite have that deep-threat passing option to turn to, they could see more of that this season in additions Troy Omeire (UNLV), Miles Williams (Eastern Washington), and true freshmen Massiah Mingo and DJ Darling. And consider the addition of new passing game coordinator Carson Walch – with coaching stops at the collegiate level and the NFL (Browns, Bears, Eagles) – the new coach could unleash a new staple in the passing game. Walch has worked with some of the NFL’s best receivers in Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey, Desean Jackson, Nelson Agholor and Mack Hollins.
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