Mar. 10—Quarterback Jack Layne will open spring practice working with the first-team offense, head coach Jason Eck said during a press conference Monday.
An Idaho transfer, Layne completed 99 of 154 passes for 1,477 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions over six games last season before transferring to UNM. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound junior replaces former UNM quarterback Devon Dampier, who left for Utah in December after earning first-team All-Mountain West honors as a sophomore.
The Lobos are set to open spring practice Tuesday morning under Eck, the former head coach at Idaho.
“I think his familiarity with the system and having played for us for three seasons is an edge for him, but we gotta do a good job evaluating these other guys — they just didn’t get to play a lot last year,” Eck said. ” … We’ve really got to get a good feel for what they can do and see who steps up and emerges, and see who’s our best option whether that’s Jack or one of the guys who was here.”
Layne headlines a quarterback room including redshirt senior Isaiah Chavez, who served as Dampier’s backup last season; senior James Laubstein and redshirt junior Emery Floyd, two former transfers who did not see the field in 2024; and sophomore Gabriel Motschenbacher, a midyear transfer from L.A. Southwest (Calif.) College.
Only Chavez, one of the longest tenured players on the roster, has started at the FBS level.
“Obviously, it’s a real key position,” Eck said. “But I think Jack has had a good offseason, I think he’s doing a really good job and (I’m) excited to see how he continues to grow.”
Entering Eck’s first spring with the program, the Lobos also will be looking for new starters on the offensive and defensive lines, in the secondary and at every offensive skill position after upwards of 30 players transferred out of the program. In turn, UNM has added 32 transfers to supplement a roster without any clear-cut starters.
“I told the guys this morning, nothing’s etched in stone, man,” Eck added. “(But) you have to have a starting point. You can’t send out 33 guys the first snap and all (of) the three-deep out there, so you got to have 11 guys who go out there first.
“But, you know, I made sure (to make) a point of that, that it’s not etched in stone, that it’s not final.”
News and notes — UNM is in “pretty good shape” health-wise, Eck said, but will miss defensive lineman Keyshawn James-Newby, linebacker Jaxton Eck and offensive lineman Tevin Shaw this spring as they recover from surgeries. Wide receiver Keagan Johnson, running back D.J. McKinney and edge rusher Darren Agu will not be completely available at the start of spring practice, but Eck is hopeful they will return soon. — Eck said spring practice will be lighter on scheme installation to ensure coaches get a clearer picture of what players can do: “If a guy’s bogged down mentally and playing slow, you really can’t evaluate him because you’re not sure — is that how slow he is or is he just overthinking it?” he continued. “We want to get guys playing fast and knowing what to do (swo) we can really evaluate how good they are and what their strengths are.” — UNM is only carrying three specialists this spring: Punter Charles Steinkamp, kicker Luke Drzewiecki and long snapper Trey Dubuc. Eck said UNM will have to add more ahead of fall camp, but wanted to give returning players like Steinkamp and Drzewiecki a chance to prove themselves.
“(The way) I really look at it, those guys (have) got a great opportunity to show what they can do and earn the job this spring by their performance,” he said. “But they’ve got to earn it, they’ve got to play well and kick well.” — UNM will host a clinic for players in elementary school through junior high before the spring game on Friday, April 18.
“(We’re trying) to provide some value to the community and make it a good night to bring your kids out, get coached up by our players and coaches a little bit and then watch us play,” Eck said. — Eck confirmed Josh Perry has been moved from running back to linebacker after spending one season at the latter position. — Cornerback Cam Watts and defensive lineman Garrison Walker did not get waivers approved and will not be with the team going forward. Watts recently won a Mountain West title in the men’s 60-meter dash; his track eligibility is not expected to be affected.
