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2025 MOUNTAIN WEST CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): JAXTON ECK, JUNIOR, LINEBACKER, NEW MEXICO,...Becomes the first New Mexico player to be named the MW Defensive Player of the Year. The Lobos' Brian Urlacher was the Player of the Year in 1999 before the award was separated into offense and defense...Has posted 126 total tackles for an average of 10.5 per game, both of which rank eighth in the FBS...Paces the Mountain West and ranks fifth in the FBS with 64 solo tackles and 5.33 solo tackles per game...Has totaled 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks...Has recorded seven double-digit tackle games this season...Forced a fumble in a win over Idaho State in Week 2 and recovered a fumble in a win over San Diego State in Week 14.

Named the Old Trapper Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Lobos' defensive efforts in a 35-10 win over UCLA at The Rose Bowl in Week 3...His 18 tackles against Boise State in Week 7 are tied for seventh-most in a game in the FBS this season...Recorded a safety in New Mexico's 33-14 win over Utah State in Week 9...Top-ranked MW linebacker in rushing defense (89.5), according to Pro Football Focus...Has helped UNM turn in the nation's most improved rushing defense (99.5 yards per game fewer than last season) and the nation's third-most improved scoring defense (15.5 points per game fewer)...Second among Mountain West linebackers and 11th nationally in "Stops," according to PFF (the number of plays that represent a failure by the offense) with 55...Has helped New Mexico (9-3, 6-2) to its best overall and MW records and first bowl eligibility since 2016. - Mountain West Football

(DS#22 ILB) Jr/2027

ILB Jaxton Eck, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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11/28/25 - Cade Keith, rFr/2029, New Mexico, 6-5, 239 (DS#13 TE) + More +

Cade Keith caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Jack Layne in the second overtime to send New Mexico past San Diego State, 23-17 on Friday after both teams turned the ball over in the first OT. The Lobos (9-3, 6-2 Mountain West) remain in the hunt for their first Mountain West championship. With their win, as well as two-time defending champ Boise State's win over Utah State, the Mountain West Conference championship's participants will be decided by computer rankings. Two out of Boise State, New Mexico, San Diego State, and UNLV will be selected to play for the title.

James Laubstein and D.J. McKinney each scored rushing touchdowns, and Dorian Thomas led with five catches for 31 yards. Layne had 127 yards on 14-of-25 passing. In a hectic overtime period, San Diego State took possession first and Austin Brawley intercepted Jayden Denegal on the first play. Three plays later, Laubstein fumbled at the 3-yard line to end the first extra frame. Layne connected with Keith on the first play of the second overtime, and the Lobo defense held strong with sacks on second and third down to force a fourth-and-30 for San Diego State, which failed to convert. The Aztecs (9-3, 5-3) were led by Lucky Sutton's 110 yards and one touchdown on 22 rushes. - New Mexico/AP College Football

(DS#13 TE) rFr/2029

TE Cade Keith, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico/AP College Football
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11/24/25 - Luke Drzewiecki, Sr/2026, New Mexico, 6-0, 186 (DS#37 K) + More +

WEEK 13 MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LUKE DRZEWIECKI, NEW MEXICO, Senior, Kicker, Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica Eisenhower HS,...Scored eight points in New Mexico's 20-3 win at Air Force, helping the Lobos to their first win in Colorado Springs since 2000...Hit a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter to make it a 17-0 game...Converted a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the final margin...Moved into second in New Mexico history in career field goals made (47). - Mountain West Football

(DS#37 K) Sr/2026

K Luke Drzewiecki, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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11/22/25 - Damon Bankston, rSr/2026, New Mexico, 5-10, 193 (DS#54 RB) + More +

Jack Layne and Damon Bankston had touchdown runs and New Mexico beat Air Force 20-3 on Saturday night. New Mexico (8-3, 5-2 Mountain West Conference) took a 7-0 lead on a game-opening, 75-yard drive that Layne ended with a 12-yard run. Bankston's 2-yard scoring run capped a 15-play, 82-yard drive that began in the first quarter and ended three minutes into the second for a 14-0 lead. The Lobos ran 14:16 off the clock on their first two possessions.

Luke Drzewiecki added a short field goal and New Mexico led 17-0 at halftime. Drzewiecki's 23-yarder was the only score of the second half for the Lobos. Air Force (3-8, 2-5) avoided the shutout on Reagan Tubbs' 27-yard field goal at the end of a 19-play drive early in the final quarter. Lane completed 10 of 15 passes for 105 yards and added 24 yards on eight rushes. Bankston carried 10 times for 61 yards. The Falcons managed just 161 total yards, 110 on the ground. Both teams play regular-season finales on Friday when the Lobos host first-place San Diego State and the Falcons travel to play Colorado State. - New Mexico/AP College Football

(DS#54 RB) rSr/2026

RB Damon Bankston, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico/AP College Football
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11/19/25 - Luke Drzewiecki, Sr/2026, New Mexico, 6-0, 186 (DS#37 K) + More +

WEEK 12 MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LUKE DRZEWIECKI, NEW MEXICO, Senior, Kicker, Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica Eisenhower HS,...Scored eight points in New Mexico's 20-17 win over Colorado State, converting a pair of field goals and a pair of point-after attempts...His 45-yard field goal at the end of the first half sent the Lobos into the locker room up 10-0...Hit a 35-yard field goal with 8:46 to go to in the fourth quarter for what would be the winning margin...With his first field goal, became New Mexico's career kick scoring leader. - Mountain West Football

(DS#37 K) Sr/2026

K Luke Drzewiecki, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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11/19/25 - Austin Brawley, Sr/2026, New Mexico, 5-09, 180 (DS#999 FS) + More +

WEEK 12 MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: AUSTIN BRAWLEY, NEW MEXICO. Senior, Safety, Massillon, Ohio/Ohio,...Snagged two interceptions and made three tackles, including 1.5 for loss, in a 20-17 win over Colorado State, the Lobos' first over the Rams since 2009...In his first game back after missing eight games and 10 weeks with injury, Brawley had a tackle for loss on CSU's second drive of the game, forcing a punt...He added a shared TFL on a Rams 4th-down play in the second quarter to force a turnover on downs...Grabbed his first interception of the season on Colorado State's first drive of the second half...With the game tied at 10 in the fourth quarter and CSU in field-goal range, Brawley intercepted another pass and returned it 57 yards, setting up UNM's go-ahead score. - Mountain West Football

(DS#999 FS) Sr/2026

FS Austin Brawley, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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11/19/25 - Luke Drzewiecki, Sr/2026, New Mexico, 6-0, 186 (DS#37 K) + More +

WEEK 10 MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LUKE DRZEWIECKI, NEW MEXICO, Senior, Kicker, Shelby Township, Michigan/Utica Eisenhower HS,...Scored a career-high-tying 10 points as New Mexico beat UNLV 40-35 to become bowl eligible...Was 4-for-4 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals...Converted a season-long 46-yard field goal on the final play of the first half and added a 40-yarder on the Lobos' first drive of the second half...Became New Mexico's career extra points leader with his second of the day and finished the game two points shy of becoming UNM's career kick scoring leader. - Mountain West Football

(DS#37 K) Sr/2026

K Luke Drzewiecki, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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11/19/25 - Cade Keith, rFr/2029, New Mexico, 6-5, 239 (DS#13 TE) + More +

WEEK 9 MOUNTAIN WEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER/FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: CADE KEITH, NEW MEXICO, Redshirt Freshman, Tight End, Las Vegas, Nevada/TCU,...Had seven catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in New Mexico's 33-14 win over Utah State...His reception and yardage totals were both career highs...His 40-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was a career-long reception...Four of his seven catches went for first downs...Was the top-rated tight end in the FBS this week per PFF, with a 96.2 grade. - Mountain West Football

(DS#13 TE) rFr/2029

TE Cade Keith, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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11/01/25 - Jack Layne, rJr/2027, New Mexico, 6-2, 206 (DS#40 QB) + More +

Jack Layne threw three touchdown passes, D.J. McKinney scored the winning touchdown with 3 minutes to go, and New Mexico defeated UNLV 40-35 on Saturday. The Lobos (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West) saw leads of 21-0 in the first half and 34-21 in the third quarter disappear before McKinney scored the go-ahead touchdown with 3 minutes remaining. UNLV took a 35-34 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in the game when Anthony Colandrea hit Nick Elksnis with a 14-yard touchdown pass, but the Lobos drove 75 yards in eight plays for McKinney's big touchdown.

Layne completed 17 of 22 passes for 342 yards and his QB rating was 243.8. James Laubstein was 2-of-3 passing for 29 yards and added 99 yards rushing. Keagan Johnson had 158 yards receiving and Damon Bankston had 122. Colandrea threw for 382 yards on 36-for-46 passing with three touchdowns for the Rebels (6-2, 2-2). Layne and Laubstein each threw early touchdown passes, and Layne had an 84-yard TD pass to Bankston for a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. UNLV then rallied behind a Colandrea touchdown pass, a Keyvone Lee TD run and a 25-yard pick-6 by Quandarius Keyes. New Mexico went back ahead on another long pass by Layne, this one an 80-yard touchdown connection with Johnson, and the Lobos led 31-21 at halftime. The Lobos held the lead until midway through the fourth quarter, then were forced to rally for the winning score. - New Mexico/AP College Football

(DS#40 QB) rJr/2027

QB Jack Layne, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico/AP College Football
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09/27/25 - Jack Layne, rJr/2027, New Mexico, 6-2, 206 (DS#40 QB) + More +

Jack Layne threw four touchdown passes and New Mexico scored 24 points in the second half to rally for a 38-20 win over rival New Mexico State on Saturday. Layne threw a 24-yard touchdown to Dorian Thomas to give the Lobos (3-1) the lead for good late in the third quarter. After an Aggies field goal, receiver Michael Buckley took a lateral then connected with Keegan Johnson on a 41-yard score. Layne threw an 8-yarder to Scottre Humphrey to pull away. Layne also threw a 5-yard TD to Cade Keith and a 31-yard score to Shawn Miller in the first half but still trailed 17-14 at the break. Layne was 23-of-30 passing for 303 yards. Johnson made five catches for 117 yards.

Logan Fife was 20-of-37 passing for 255 yards and a pick for the Aggies (2-2). Receiver Donovan Faupel had the lone TD throw, a 34-yarder to TJ Pride coming off a reverse, and caught six passes of his own for 97 yards. Gavin Harris also had 97 yards receiving. Bernock Iya had a 42-yard scoop-and-score. The Lobos tied a single-game team record with nine sacks, led by Keyshawn James-Newby with 2 1/2. This was the 115th game of Rio Grande Rivalry. It was just the 16th time the two schools both came into the rivalry game with winning records and the first since 1992. New Mexico leads 75-35-5 in the series that began in 1894. - New Mexico/AP College Football

(DS#40 QB) rJr/2027

QB Jack Layne, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico/AP College Football
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09/15/25 - Jaxton Eck, Jr/2027, New Mexico, 6-0, 224 (DS#22 ILB) + More +

WEEK 3 MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: JAXTON ECK, NEW MEXICO, Junior, Linebacker, Brookings, South Dakota/Idaho,...Recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including five solo efforts, in leading New Mexico's defense in a 35-10 win at UCLA...Five of his tackles came in the fourth quarter...Tipped a third-and-2 pass that was intercepted in the fourth quarter, sealing the win...Helped the Lobos to their first win over an Autonomous 4 conference opponent since 2008 and their fewest points allowed to such an opponent since 2002. - Mountain West Football

(DS#22 ILB) Jr/2027

ILB Jaxton Eck, New Mexico
News Source: Mountain West Football
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09/13/25 - Damon Bankston, rSr/2026, New Mexico, 5-10, 193 (DS#54 RB) + More +

Damon Bankston ran for 154 yards and a touchdown and caught a 43-yard touchdown pass to help New Mexico rout UCLA 35-10 on Friday night for its first victory over a Big Ten opponent. Jack Layne threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns, D.J. McKinney and Scottre Humphrey each ran for a score, and the Lobos (2-1) knocked off a power conference foe for the first time since defeating then-Pac-10 member Arizona on Sept. 13, 2008. New Mexico came into the game as 15 1/2 point underdogs, according to BetMGM. However, first-year coach Jason Eck's offense bullied the home team for 298 yards rushing on 46 carries.

Nico Iamaleava was 22 of 34 passing for 217 yards and a touchdown, and the Bruins (0-3) didn't have a chance with a sloppy effort on both sides of the ball exacerbated by 13 penalties for 116 yards. After attempting trick play passes on the first two snaps, the Lobos turned to the ground game and immediately found success, leading to Humphrey's 1-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Layne lobbed a fourth-down toss to tight end Simon Mapa in the corner of the end zone for an 8-yard score to make it 14-0 before the Bruins finally got on track with Iamaleava's 12-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Titus Mokiao-Atimalala. After UCLA pulled within 14-10 on Mateen Bhaghani's 51-yard field goal in the third quarter after recovering a muffed punt, New Mexico took charge for good with a punishing 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by Bankston's 2-yard touchdown run. - New Mexico/AP College Football

(DS#54 RB) rSr/2026

RB Damon Bankston, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico/AP College Football
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09/06/25 - Scottre Humphrey, Jr/2027, New Mexico, 5-10, 209 (DS#59 RB) + More +

Scottre Humphrey rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns and New Mexico defeated FCS Idaho State 32-22 on Saturday. Damon Bankston's 1-yard rushing score gave the Lobos (1-1) the lead in the fourth quarter, and Humphrey, a junior transfer from Montana State, scored his second touchdown on the next drive after an Idaho State three-and-out to give Jason Eck his first win as New Mexico's head coach.

Jack Layne was 13-of-21 passing for 155 yards and Dorian Thomas had five catches for 55 yards. Humphrey broke free for 61-yards in the second quarter to make it 14-3, but Idaho State took the lead with three straight scoring drives spanning halftime. Davis Harsin and Jackson Sharman split time at quarterback for the Bengals (0-2), with Harsin going 17 of 26 for 181 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and Sharman completing 11 of 13 passes for 84 yards. - New Mexico/AP College Football

(DS#59 RB) Jr/2027

RB Scottre Humphrey, New Mexico
News Source: New Mexico/AP College Football
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02/13/23 - Dylan Hopkins, rSr/2024, New Mexico, 6-2, 225 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Dylan Hopkins spent less than 24 hours in the portal before becoming the third graduate transfer quarterback to join the Lobos in as many years. Gonzales said that wasn't quite the plan but Hopkins' addition was a "special case" given his experience and familiarity with new cordinator Bryant Vincent's offense. The numbers aren't bad, either: the former UAB starter completed 136 of 215 passes (63%) last season for 1,913 yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Hopkins possessed sneaky efficiency, finishing ninth in the country in passing yards per completion (14.07 yards) among qualified starters. He remains the early favorite to come out on top in an open competition. - Albuquerque Journal

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2024

QB Dylan Hopkins, New Mexico
News Source: Albuquerque Journal
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02/04/23 - Keagan Johnson, rSr/2026, New Mexico, 6-0, 199 (DS#159 WR) + More +

Keagan Johnson was careful not to say anything bad about his former school when the Iowa transfer spoke to reporters for the first time since he enrolled at Kansas State and joined the Wildcats as a wide receiver, but it is obvious that he thinks he is stepping into a more powerful offense than the one he left behind. Statistics back him up. Iowa averaged 251.6 yards per game last season, a number so low that it ranked ahead of only one team in all of college football - New Mexico. By comparison, K-State put up 418.8 yards per game on its way to 10 victories and a Big 12 championship.

There is no comparison between the two systems and Johnson is giddy about his potential with his new team. "I think I can provide an explosive weapon," Johnson said, "and be a big-play type talent." Johnson came to that conclusion while he watched K-State defeat TCU in the Big 12 championship game last December. The 6-foot-1 and 194-pound playmaker liked the way the Wildcats used Malik Knowles as both a receiver and a ball-carrier out of the backfield on gadget plays. Now that Knowles is off to the professional ranks, Johnson thinks he can replace his skills next season - and maybe even do more while playing under offensive coordinator Collin Klein. "I really liked their trajectory and the way that Coach Klein has added new things," Johnson said. "They have a lot of different, creative ways to get their playmakers the ball and it's really appealing to me." The possibility of taking over as K-State's new No. 1 receiver or its top deep threat was one of the main attractions that drew him to Manhattan. - The Kansas City Star

(DS#159 WR) rSr/2026

WR Keagan Johnson, New Mexico
News Source: The Kansas City Star
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