Story by
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
Practice report: Notes, quotes as Lobos prepare for rival New Mexico State
- Story byAlbuquerque Journal, N.M.
- Practice report: Notes, quotes as Lobos prepare for rival New Mexico State
Practice notes and quotes ahead of New Mexico 's game against rival New Mexico State (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.):
There's a few reasons Jason Eck said Troy Omeire 's performance against the Sooners probably wasn't his "finest moment."
Advertisement
In Saturday's 14-6 loss to Oklahoma , the seventh-year senior receiver saw five official targets and notched three drops — the most he's ever had in a game. For comparison, Omeire only dropped two passes last season with UNLV and four in two seasons with Arizona State , per Pro Football Focus (PFF).
One of the drops was on a fade route in the end zone from quarterback Toa Fa'avae, a play that would've made it 7-6 midway through the second quarter. For his part, Eck said he thought a more catchable pass could've been thrown in that spot.
"A little bit more air, a little bit more away from the defender can help with that," UNM's second-year head coach said Monday. "And it's something we got to just keep making sure, as we coach at practice … we gotta make sure we're getting the exact right look."
But even Omeire, a UNLV transfer, knows games like that are "rare" for him. And a big effort Saturday would go a long way towards righting the ship.
Advertisement
"It was definitely hard for me to even have a game like that," he said Wednesday. "But to come back next week, rivalry week, and obviously show what I can do … I just want to thank God for the opportunity to come back and have a big week."
"We gotta keep getting (Omeire) the ball," Eck added. " … We believe in him and I know he'll come back."
Through three games, Omeire has four catches for 90 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown against FCS Mercyhurst. While his targets have remained high — only freshman receiver Bailen George (15) has more — the former four-star prospect's start to his time with the Lobos has been less impactful than expected.
Why? If nothing else, Omeire is still making up for lost time.
Advertisement
After transferring from UNLV over the winter, he sat out all of spring practice while recovering from an offseason surgery. Then he suffered a hamstring injury that limited him for all of fall camp.
Over that span, Omeire lost hundreds of reps with Moga and Fa'avae. Former UNM receiver Keagan Johnson missed a similar amount of time before last season and was able to overcome that, catching a team-high 61 passes for 772 yards and three touchdowns by year's end.
This year? Omeire is still working through it.
"By the end of the season, where we're supposed to be, we're gonna be there," he said.
Advertisement
Notes and quotes
*
Wednesday, UNM tight end Bear Tenney announced he was entering the transfer portal. The former Sacramento State transfer has not been with the team since the start of the season, a program spokesman told the Journal.
*
Even if UNM's biggest test of the season has come and gone, Eck still wants to see improvement from his quarterbacks, and the offense at large: "It's not, like, a panic state or anything. I think Oklahoma is gonna be the best defense we play during the regular season. But we do need to keep our foot on the gas pedal as far as getting those guys improved, and improving our passing game and running game."
Advertisement
*
Eck believes tight end Cade Keith (10 catches, 169 yards, 1 touchdown) is playing at an All-Mountain West level to start the season: "He's just doing a tremendous job. He's a guy we gotta continue finding a way to (get) the ball to. He's been a difference maker … He's blocking at a much higher level than he did last year. Excited for what he's bringing to the table and very proud of how he's worked to improve."
*
It took a little time to get comfortable in UNM's defense, especially after he was added to the roster midway through fall camp. But Memphis transfer Jayden Flaker (9 total tackles) has found a productive role alternating with Drew Speech as one of UNM's nickel safeties: "We're like thunder and lightning," Flaker said. "He's fast, he's the speed, he's really quick and guards zone and man coverage. And I'll fit the run, fit the box — I'll do all that dirty work. But we work perfectly together … I wouldn't be where I am right now without him."
Advertisement
*
Defensive lineman Deven Dyer spent his freshman and sophomore seasons at NM State after graduating from La Cueva High School. And his parents, Patrick and La'tasia Dyers, both competed as collegiate athletes at NM State — will there be a split household for the Dyer family this weekend? "Nah, (Patrick) will definitely be a Lobo," Dyer said. "He's gonna support wherever his kids are at. I'm gonna have to ask him when I go home now … I think they're for sure rocking with the Lobos."
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
