Humphrey Ready To Take His Place Among All-Time Elite New Mexico Football RBs
“I’m going to do everything in my power to help my team win. I want to be first-team (All-MW). I want to get all those (individual awards); I want to rush for over 1,000 yards and score touchdowns.”
When Jason Eck secured Scottre Humphrey in the transfer portal a season ago, the FCS All-American was expected to be the next great New Mexico running back.
But an early season injury derailed those plans.
Now fully healthy, clear of a crowded backfield, and real tenure in the trenches with four returning offensive lineman back, the fourth-year back has a real chance to realize the potential he set out to achieve.
During one of the Lobos’ early fall camp practices, the running backs group, led by Humphrey, heads over to the agility bags to get in footwork drills first before the RBs are paired with the quarterbacks for simple hand-off and mesh drills.
This is Humphrey’s second fall camp with UNM. After transferring to New Mexico in early 2025 from FCS powerhouse Montana State, the Seattle native sought higher goals and wanted to prove he could compete with the big boys in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
When Humphrey committed to UNM in January of 2025 for then-new coach Eck, the two already were acquainted.
While at Idaho, Eck recruited Humphrey out of high school. Humphrey was a three-star recruit whom 247 Sports projected to be a Group of Five starter. As a senior at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Humphrey produced 1,900 rushing yards, 450 receiving yards and 26 total touchdowns. He earned Metro League Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Although Humphrey chose Montana State over the Vandals, he and Eck would meet several times over the next two years in the Big Sky Conference. MSU toppled Idaho in both of their 2024 meetings – 38-7 on Oct. 12 and 52-19 on Dec. 13 in the FCS quarterfinals.
Humphrey rushed for 124 yards on 19 carries in the first game but missed the second due to injury. Still, Eck called Humphrey the best RB in the conference after the FCS playoff that Humphrey missed.
Shortly after that game, Eck accepted the job at UNM and got to work on rebuilding a roster.
First task: Do not miss out on Humphrey, now in the transfer portal, a second time. Humphrey received Group of Five offers from Mountain West contenders Boise State, UNLV and New Mexico, as well as Power 4 offers from North Carolina, Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia.
Humphrey ultimately decided on cherry, silver and Eck.
To say that Humphrey came to UNM with lofty expectations is an understatement. He had earned first-team All-Big Sky and second-team FCS All-American honors in 2024 after rushing for 1,386 yards. He also gained 100 yards or more in eight regular season games, including a career-high 160 yards against Portland. Humphrey rushed for 140 yards against New Mexico where he scored a last-second touchdown to beat the Lobos that season.
Expectations, however, took a hit in his first season as a Lobo. After a 141-yard, two-TD effort in the season opener against Idaho State, Humphrey sustained an injury in week three vs. UCLA that impaired his production for the rest of 2025.
Humphrey’s injury opened the door for fellow FCS transfers Damon Bankston (Weber State) and DJ McKinney (Sam Houston State) to get their swings.
Bankston and Mckinney didn’t miss.
Bankston rushed 114 times for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 2025, including some home-run bursts, most notably the kickoff return in the Rate Bowl against Big-Ten Minnesota.
McKinney finished with 111 carries for 464 yards and seven touchdowns.
Both Bankston and McKinney moved on from UNM in 2026, and the torch has returned to Humphrey to carry it forward.
“The preparation I did in the summer, Coach (UNM strength and conditioning coach Caleb) Heim put in a great plan for us, a great plan for me especially, to get stronger, faster (and) stronger mentally for the season,” Humphrey told The Pit Press following the second day of camp.
After being somewhat limited in performance last season, he said his potential has been unmaterialized until now. But the adjustment from the FCS to FBS is ongoing.
“It was a transition (transferring up from FCS to FBS),” Humphrey said. “It was a different scene for me, a different challenge. But really, I believe in God, I believe in my faith, I believe in me, and I truly believe this is the place for me. And I’m ready to make it happen this year.”
He also believes that he can’t do it on his own. In this day and age, roster continuity and experience is at a premium.
Not many schools this season return four starting O-linemen. It’s no secret that winning football cultures are built on toughness and grit, but having the hogs up front is equally important. Just ask Eck, a former offensive lineman himself.
“Bringing back all the guys on the offensive line, the (position) room as a whole, the young guys to the vets – it’s just beautiful. I’m really excited,” Humphrey said. “The leaders on the line have been bringing up (confidence) with the whole team, really.
“... Especially with my boy, my guy Malik (offensive tackle), he’s one of my best friends on the team. He’s bringing everybody up. “And (second-team All-MW center Kaden) Robnett is back. He’s healthy and back for the whole fall camp, which is amazing.”
With eight returning starters on the offense, the forecast for the Lobos is hot and sunny, just like Albuquerque. If Humphrey can maximize his potential, his goal of churning an all-conference-like season is definitely on the horizon.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to help my team win. I want to be first-team (All-MW),” Humphrey said. “I want to get all those (individual awards); I want to rush for over 1,000 yards and score touchdowns.”
