What to expect from UNM’s trio of signal callers after losing Layne for the season
New Mexico will play multiple quarterbacks in season opener against Central Michigan
“I think our guys all have different strengths. I think they complement each other, so we’re gonna use all the assets we have.”
New Mexico has its answer — or answers — at quarterback.
Last season’s starting quarterback, Jack Layne, will miss the entirety of the 2026 season and undergo a second surgery on his right elbow after receiving a second opinion from a medical professional, head coach Jason Eck said Thursday.
The prognosis wasn’t a surprise for those close to the situation. Layne and his surgically repaired arm hadn’t attempted a single pass during fall camp. His availability for Central Michigan looked bleak, and the Lobos had already been preparing as if Layne wouldn’t take a snap this season.
Layne’s absence resulted in a three-man competition among quarterbacks James Laubstein, Luke Moga and Toa Fa’avae. The expectation was for UNM to name a starter as the season drew nearer. Instead, Eck announced just 10 days before the season opener against Central Michigan that “multiple quarterbacks” would play.
“We’re excited about them,” Eck said. “I think our guys all have different strengths. I think they complement each other, so we’re gonna use all the assets we have.”
James Laubstein is the veteran in the room. He was granted a sixth year of college eligibility after winning an appeal to the NCAA for a waiver granting him an extra season in May. Laubstein argued that at least one of his seasons spent in junior college shouldn’t count toward his NCAA eligibility. Laubstein transferred to UNM in 2024 after spending two seasons at Sussex County CC.
Where Laubstein excels is through his physicality on the ground. UNM deployed Laubstein similarly to former Brigham Young QB and New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill — a hard-nosed runner who can fight for a first down in short-yardage situations. Laubstein has proven he can score from anywhere on the field after scoring a 40-yard touchdown en route to a UNM 23-17 overtime win over San Diego State in the 2025 regular-season finale.
The evaluation of Laubstein as a passer, however, gets trickier. Over the course of 17 fall camp practices, Laubstein displayed an ability to throw on the run, maneuver in and out of the pocket and, of course, create positive plays with his legs. But he didn’t have a lot of success in the pocket on throws over 10 yards.
That’s not to say Laubstein can’t, or hasn’t, delivered chunk plays through the air. He’s found a connection with tight end Cade Keith during fall camp and most recently delivered a strike to wide receiver DJ Darling for a 10-yard touchdown during last week’s scrimmage.
But the majority of his completions have been close to the line of scrimmage. That’s expected when facing arguably the Mountain West’s best defense. To his credit, Laubstein has taken care of the ball extremely — something that’ll pay dividends throughout the season.
New Mexico quarterback Luke Moga (10) unleashes a throw during UNM’s fall camp. Photo: Ryan Kelly-Romero (R&R Sports Photography)
Moga, the Oregon transfer, is in a similar boat as Laubstein. He’s committed very few turnovers, and his accuracy throwing on the run has been encouraging. Moga is fast, and when he escapes outside the pocket, it’s almost impossible to bring him down. Moga’s understanding of when to take off from the pocket slide and get out of bounds is a strength.
He does, however, tend to drift backward when holding onto the ball.
As of late, Moga has started to catch fire. He’s playing with more confidence — more poise from within the pocket. He’s targeting the middle of the field more often. Wide receiver Shawn Miller and tight end Tripp Walsh have seen the bulk of Moga’s targets during UNM’s scrimmages.
Moga, similar to Laubstein and Fa’avae, is very effective with his legs. UNM will have designed runs for all three passers. When all goes wrong, expect Moga to rely on his escapability from within the pocket. Moga mentioned that Eck wants to see more “plan A arm, plan B legs” amid learning a new offense.
There’s been an emphasis on getting through his progressions and allowing plays to develop. The offense has shown more explosive potential through the air with Moga, although that evolution is also a work in progress.
His two biggest completions of camp were to Darling (45-yard TD unofficially) and Miller (25 yards unofficially).
Sophomore Fa’avae is the wild card.
Fa’avae possesses the highest upside amongst the three. He delivers the strongest zip on the ball, and despite sharing a room with two strong runners, Fa’avae may be the best one.
He has been firmly in the race since the start of camp but was always considered on the outside looking in, behind Laubstein and Moga. That narrative started to shift after his strong showing in UNM’s first live scrimmage.
UNM quarterback Toa Fa’vae (13) rushes around defenders during a scrimmage at fall camp. Photo: Ryan Kelly-Romero (R&R Sports Photography)
Fa’avae may be considered undersized, but he sure doesn’t play like it. Fa’avae was a headache for defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky during live action. Whether it was designed or off-script, Fa’avae moved the chains over and over again with his legs. He was hard to bring down. He helped open things up in the run game and delivered multiple tight-window throws.
Fa’avae’s talent raises the ceiling sky-high, but inexperience and inconsistency lower the floor. With more willingness to push the ball downfield comes more turnover-worthy plays. Fa’avae committed too many turnovers, including a crucial fumble in the red zone that sputtered an encouraging drive during UNM’s second scrimmage.
The majority of UNM’s explosives through the air during fall camp came from the arm of Fa’avae. During the Lobos’ most recent scrimmage, he delivered a beautiful deep ball to wide receiver Kader Diop for 38 yards along the sideline before finding wide receiver Massiah Mingo for 54 yards on a deep post.
How much Fa’avae will play is uncertain, but offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner may have difficulty keeping Fa’avae and his legs on the bench for an entire game. His development is worth getting excited about.
Suffocate, throttle, or dominate—pick your verb, because New Mexico’s defense executed them all on Saturday night.
In front of 24,126 fans, their largest home-opening crowd since 2014, the Lobos dismantled Central Michigan 38-7 to secure their most decisive season-opening victory against an FBS opponent in 42 years. Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky’s unit delivered a masterclass in relentless execution, holding the Chippewas without a single first down for nearly the entire first half and surrendering just three yards across CMU's opening 12 plays.