New Mexico’s ‘electric’ freshmen grew up fast and are off and running
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“These freshmen have done a great job stepping up ... they all have a role, and they’re doing a tremendous job.”
The Lobo football youth movement is happening much faster than anticipated.
With Preseason All-Mountain West selection Troy Omeire out for the season after tearing his achilles, and fall camp standout Shawn Miller seemingly unlikely to return due to a concussion, the Lobos had to quickly shift focus and find players to take on bigger roles.
Enter three true-freshman wide receivers: Bailen George, DJ Darling, and Massiah Mingo.
“These freshmen have done a great job stepping up,” head coach Jason Eck said. “They all have a role, and they’re doing a tremendous job.”
Fa’avae finds George for a 52-yard touchdown on 3rd & 1. George on the play: “I knew it was (an all-out blitz) and (I) was one-on-one — I’m gonna make a play.”
George leads UNM with 218 receiving yards and three touchdowns through five games. The 18-year-old receiver has come on quickly and understands the value of being a go-to target in the offense, but he also knows not to get ahead of himself amid the outside noise and praise.
“It definitely means a lot,” George said when asked about leading the team in yards and touchdowns. “But I just try to stay level-headed knowing each week I gotta go get it — it’s never enough.”
Fa’avae layers a throw between three defenders to Darling for 14 yards on 1st & 10.
With Toa Fa’avae established as UNM’s full-time starting quarterback, the receivers have strengthened their chemistry with the second-year gunslinger and acknowledged the growth they’ve seen.
“I feel like it was a pretty significant difference,” Darling said when asked whether having more live reps with one quarterback instead of two made a difference. “We saw [Fa’avae’s] last game, and he took a jump. I feel like he’s getting more comfortable and we’re getting more comfortable with him.”
Darling, who put up a season-high 75 yards against UTEP, missed time during fall camp with a hamstring injury, but that hasn’t hindered the Missouri City native’s ability to get on the field early and make an impact.
“It means a lot,” Darling said when asked about the coaches' trust in him to take on a large role this early in the season. “It’s always good when your coaches trust in you, especially as freshmen.”
Fa’avae slides to his right and finds Darling over the middle for 36 yards on 1st & 10.
“I definitely think he’s getting more comfortable in the pocket,” Darling said of Fa’avae. “In prior weeks, sometimes if the read wasn't there, he’d try and run. I feel like [last game] he was able to step up and just deliver the ball even [with] pressure, which is good to see.”
Mingo, a Bishop Gorman High School graduate, established himself early in the fall as a key offensive piece. After catching two passes in the first quarter against Central Michigan, Mingo suffered a lower-body injury that sidelined him for three weeks.
He returned against UTEP and quickly reminded everyone of his “gadget” and “electric” playmaking ability, as Darling and George described it.
Fa’avae layers a throw over a defender with pressure in his face to Mingo for 19 yards on 1st & 10.
The trio of freshmen combined for eight catches, 167 yards, and two touchdowns in a season-best passing performance for Fa’avae and the offense against the Miners.
UNM will face higher-quality defenses than UTEP’s down the stretch, but Fa’avae and the pass-catchers did what they were supposed to do against a unit in turmoil. Fa’avae’s ability to layer throws between and over defenders was encouraging.
Fa’avae didn’t have much experience progressing through route concepts in high school, where he ran a run-heavy, option-based offense. Against the Miners, he showed he can do just that. “With Toa being the starter, I feel like our connection has taken a jump,” George said. “Our connection is growing.”
Fa’avae goes through his first three progressions before finding George on the backside slant for a 10-yard touchdown.
Forced into early action, UNM’s true-freshman wide receivers are transforming the Lobos’ offense alongside starting QB Toa Fa’avae. Here’s how the young quartet is taking over.