Toa Fa’avae and Kiefer Sibley strengthened their cases for larger roles, while New Mexico’s defense continued to set the tone during Saturday’s scrimmage.
For the first eight practices of New Mexico’s fall camp, defenders were required to wrap up, tag off and wait for the whistle.
That changed Saturday morning at University Stadium.
The intensity rose considerably during the Lobos’ first full scrimmage of camp, giving head coach Jason Eck and his staff their best opportunity yet to evaluate the team
in game-like situations.
There were plenty of encouraging signs, but the scrimmage also showed that New Mexico still has work to do before the season opener.
The biggest positives came from an explosive running game, the continued emergence of quarterback Toa Fa’avae, and a defense that once again looked capable of becoming one of the best units in the Mountain West.
This defense looks to be on another level than last year, with more depth, size, speed, and experience at linebacker. They look faster and play with more intention, as if they’ll dominate any offense they face.
The offense, however, struggled to consistently finish drives—particularly during the two-minute portion of the scrimmage. That reinforced two important realities: the quarterback competition remains unsettled, and the passing game still needs time to develop.
What Went Right: Fa’avae Changes the Quarterback Conversation
With Jack Layne’s availability for the season opener still uncertain, New Mexico is preparing Luke Moga, James Laubstein and Fa’avae to potentially lead the offense.
Just watching Saturday’s scrimmage, it was clear that the quarterback job remains wide open. Each candidate has his own strengths, but each also has areas that still need improvement. What may be hardest to replace, however, is the stability Jack Layne provides.
His knowledge of the offense, poise under pressure, and proven leadership cannot be easily duplicated. If Layne is unavailable, the battle to replace him will be one of the most important storylines to watch throughout the remainder of fall camp.
Laubstein was protected from live contact Saturday because the coaching staff has already evaluated him in meaningful game action. That allowed Eck and his staff to take a closer look at Moga and Fa’avae, two talented quarterbacks with limited live college experience.
Fa’avae made the most of the opportunity.
Before the scrimmage, he appeared to be behind Moga and Laubstein in the competition. By the end of the morning, he had placed himself squarely in the conversation.
“Toa, I thought, did some good things with his feet,” Eck said. “He impressed me.”
Fa’avae’s athleticism was his most noticeable weapon. He repeatedly escaped pressure, extended plays and turned potential losses into positive yardage. Whether on designed quarterback runs or improvised scrambles, he showed the speed, toughness and creativity to make life difficult for opposing defenses.
His performance was not limited to running the football. Fa’avae also delivered several decisive throws, including completions to Zhaiel Smith and Shawn Miller before connecting with freshman Dorian Patterson for a 25-yard touchdown.
Fa’avae admitted he occasionally left the pocket too quickly, an area he understands must improve. His legs are a legitimate weapon, but the next step in his development will be learning when to take off and when to stay patient and let a passing play develop.
Still, Saturday demonstrated that his dual-threat ability can bring another dangerous dimension to New Mexico’s offense.
Eck made it clear that Fa’avae improved his standing.
“I don’t think he was necessarily at the top of the race coming into today,” Eck said. “But I thought he helped himself.”
That does not mean Fa’avae has won the starting job. It does mean the competition may be much closer than it appeared before Saturday.
What Went Right: Kiefer Sibley Adds Another Explosive Weapon
New Mexico entered fall camp confident in a running back room led by Scottre Humphrey and Cameron Mathews. North Texas transfer Kiefer Sibley gave the coaching staff even more reason to believe the position could become one of the offense’s greatest strengths.
Sibley produced the two biggest plays of the scrimmage, breaking touchdown runs of approximately 55 and 38 yards. One reportedly came against the first-team defense, making the performance even more impressive.
The junior demonstrated patience behind his blockers before accelerating into the open field. Once Sibley found daylight, the defense could not catch him.
His performance showed that he can provide much more than depth. Sibley’s speed makes him a legitimate home-run threat capable of changing a game with a single carry.
During his sophomore season at North Texas, Sibley rushed for 274 yards and five touchdowns on just 45 attempts, an average of more than six yards per carry. He has also demonstrated his receiving ability during camp, including a long catch on a wheel route during Friday’s practice.
That versatility should give offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner several ways to get Sibley involved.
Humphrey may enter the season as the most recognizable name in the room, but the Lobos appear to have three running backs they can trust. Each brings a slightly different skill set, giving New Mexico the ability to keep its backs fresh and attack defenses in different ways.
That depth could become especially valuable while the quarterback situation is being settled.
What Went Right: The Defense Continues to Lead
The offense produced several explosive plays, but the defense likely won the scrimmage overall.
New Mexico’s defense was particularly effective during the two-minute portion of practice, keeping the offense from scoring on all three possessions.
Freshman linebacker Hayes Baum ended one drive with a strip sack near the 13-yard line. Jaxton Eck disrupted another possession with a sack that forced a long field-goal attempt, which was missed.
Those plays reflected what the defense has emphasized throughout camp: creating pressure, forcing turnovers and finishing drives.
New Mexico recorded 36 sacks last season, its highest total since 2005, but the Lobos were not as successful at consistently generating takeaways. Saturday’s performance suggested the defense is making progress in both areas.
The ability to take control late in drives is an encouraging sign for a unit with high expectations. Third-down stops, red-zone execution and two-minute situations often decide close games, and New Mexico’s defense looked comfortable when the pressure increased.
With Jaxton Eck leading a talented and experienced group, the defense has a chance to become the foundation of another successful Lobo season.
Eck, without a doubt, is the best middle linebacker in the Mountain West Conference and looks to have the same kind of year he had last year, minus all the accolades he didn’t have.
This writer believes he can play on Sunday; he reminds me very much of Zach Thomas from Texas Tech, not the biggest out there, but he is all over the field and has much greater physicality this year.
Something that should really help the Lobos is the addition of a high-profile linebacker from Memphis, Jayden Flaker, who Jason Eck commented would play the nickel position for the Lobos.
“He kind of gives us a bigger body at Star, which could be good against teams that want to run the ball — you know, Central Michigan, North Dakota State,” he added. “You want to be more three linebackers than five (defensive backs) and things like that. He’ll help on (special) teams as well.” (quote courtesy of Sean Rieder of Albuquerque Journal)
Flaker, who is now eligible to compete after receiving a temporary restraining order last week. The fifth-year player joined the Lobos and took part in practice Monday afternoon.
Flaker, a 6-foot-2, 235-pound native of Scarborough, Maine, recorded 19 tackles during his two seasons at Memphis. Before joining the Tigers, he played at North Carolina Central, where he led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with 85 tackles as a sophomore in 2023.
What Did Not Go So Right: Offensive Consistency
The explosive plays were exciting, but they also covered up some inconsistency.
Outside of Sibley’s two long touchdown runs and Fa’avae’s scoring pass to Patterson, the offense had difficulty sustaining drives. The defense generated consistent pressure, and the quarterbacks did not always remain patient in the pocket.
Fa’avae’s running ability was a major positive, but the Lobos cannot become overly dependent on their quarterbacks escaping pressure and creating something after a play breaks down.
Against Mountain West opponents, New Mexico will need better timing, stronger pass protection and more consistent execution through the air.
The offensive line must also give whichever quarterback wins the job enough time to work through his progressions and get the ball to a talented group of receivers and tight ends.
But that being said, he always wonders when a team lines up against another: is the defense good enough to shut down the offense for the most part, or is it the offense?
Failing to score during all three two-minute opportunities was the biggest concern, but he always wonders when a team lines up against another: is the defense good enough to shut down the offense for the most part, or is it the offense?
The defense deserves considerable credit, but those possessions also showed that the offense must become more efficient when quick decisions, precise execution and situational awareness are required.
Penalties, missed assignments, protection breakdowns and unfinished drives can quickly turn explosive potential into frustrating inconsistency. Those are the details New Mexico must clean up before the games begin to count.
What Did Not Go So Right: No Separation Yet at Quarterback
Fa’avae improved his standing Saturday, but New Mexico still does not appear to have a clear answer at quarterback if Layne is unable to play in the opener.
Laubstein brings experience and has already demonstrated that he can perform under pressure. Last season, he led New Mexico on a 75-yard touchdown drive against Boise State, completing 8 of 11 passes for 67 yards and converting two fourth-down opportunities.
Moga brings significant athletic upside, while Fa’avae may be the most dangerous runner in the group.
Each quarterback offers something different, but none has separated enough to end the competition.
That is not necessarily a major concern at this stage of camp. Competition can bring out the best in every player involved. Eventually, however, the Lobos will need to identify a starter and give him the opportunity to establish command of the offense.
The longer the competition remains unsettled, the fewer first-team repetitions the eventual starter will receive before the season begins.
New Mexico does not need its quarterback to do everything. With a deep running back room and a potentially dominant defense, the Lobos need someone who can protect the football, make smart decisions and consistently keep the offense on schedule.
When I am asked what made Jack Layne special for the Lobos last year, this is my take on him. He is not flashy, and he is not going to out-run you with blazing speed.
What he brings is leadership and a low turnover rate. He does a great job with his knowledge of this offense, and he will never hurt this Lobo offense under Offensive Coordinator Luke Schleusner.
So whoever the Lobos go with at quarterback will have to show the ability to move the chains behind a very big offensive line and two very talented running backs who can run the ball and take it to the house on any given possession.
The Bottom Line
Saturday’s scrimmage gave Eck and his staff exactly what they needed: an honest evaluation of the team under live conditions.
Sibley proved the running back room may be even deeper and more explosive than expected. Fa’avae showed that he deserves serious consideration in the quarterback competition.
Patterson continued to emerge as an intriguing red-zone target, and the defense reinforced its reputation as the most consistent unit of fall camp.
There are still concerns. The offense must protect the quarterback better, sustain more drives and execute when the pressure rises. Most importantly, someone must eventually take control of the quarterback position.
Still, the overall picture was encouraging, and for head coach Jason Eck to have two really good Coordinators on both Offense with Luke Schleusner and Defense with Spence Nowinsky, the Lobos are in good hands.
The Lobos have speed, toughness and legitimate playmakers on both sides of the football. They also have something every successful team needs: competition for playing time throughout the roster.
If the offense can develop the consistency to match the defense’s intensity, New Mexico will enter the 2026 season with the talent, depth and confidence to compete for another Mountain West championship.
The first scrimmage did not provide every answer, but it offered Lobo fans plenty of reasons to believe this team has the pieces to make another championship run.
