Aug. 15—NOTE — This is the second in a series of position previews heading into UNM’s Aug. 24 home opener against Montana State. Already completed: Running backs and specialists. Today: Defensive line and edge.
Donte Wilkins knows what the guys in his room are going though: Enough to know you can’t sympathize too much.
“I had to tell them that, ‘hey, I was in your shoes so I know exactly what you’re going through,'” New Mexico‘s defensive line coach told the Journal last week. “‘I’ve been through it. No, I do not feel sorry for you — because I understand exactly what’s going to happen on the other side of this thing.'”
Because before the former Virginia defensive tackle entered coaching, he played out his senior season under Bronco Mendenhall in 2016 — the latter’s first year coaching the Cavaliers. The changes Wilkins saw then, he said, are well underway at UNM.
As are the expectations — the same ones Wilkins eagerly embraced on the defensive line eight years ago.
“My thing right now is I want to stop the run,” Wilkins said. “That’s what I’m focused on right now: Just fundamentals, being able to have people come into our stadium and understand that they cannot, and will not, run the ball. That’s all we’re focused on right now, just getting better with our mindset every day, attacking the run game and understanding that the teams with all the sacks are the teams with the best run defense — because people have to pass the ball.”
Experience always plays up front and Wilkins returns plenty on the defensive line: redshirt senior Kyler Drake, redshirt junior Tyler Kiehne and redshirt senior Bryce Santana have largely anchored UNM’s top line throughout fall camp in what Drake feels is a “simpler” defense than last year.
“That allows to not us to have think so much about where we’re going, but actually (focus) on what we’re doing,” he told the Journal on Wednesday. “Like we could just play one gap defense and make plays in our gap rather than trying to think about slanting or moving around so much. I think that’s the main difference … the guys that were already here have learned a lot, they’re learning more than they even thought they could know about how to be a good interior D-lineman.”
At defensive tackle, UNM is working with two senior transfers in De’Jon Benton (USC) and Devin Brandt-Epps (Old Dominion). Wilkins said ability and burst make the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Benton a candidate to play at all four spots on the defensive line, while the 6-3, 303-pound Brandt-Epps did a “great job” getting stronger over the summer.
“He’s 300-plus pounds and he doesn’t (have) a big belly,” Wilkins added. “He’s not rolling around out there. He’s been able to get off the ball and knock people back, so he’s been a great asset to our defensive line.”
In contrast, UNM returns just one edge with significant game experience: Gabe Lopez. The 6-2, 236-pound redshirt senior made 26 total tackles with two sacks last season, and has been cited by former BYU great and edge coach Jan Jorgensen as the “heartbeat” of the Lobos’ defense.
“We needed a guy who had credibility and who was a really good player for them last year to be able to be a guy who embraced the new culture, and embrace what we’re trying to do,” he said of the 12-game starter. “And he has. He’s a really fun guy to coach and he’s one of those dudes — and I say this in a very positive way — but he’s got, there’s something a little loose up there.
“And it’s what you need to be a good defensive player.”
Beyond Lopez, the room is comprised of a handful of relatively inexperienced returners and a few intriguing transfers — none more so than Okiki Olorunfunmi. After three injury-riddled seasons at Weber State, the 6-6, 252-pound senior has emerged as a starter entering his first season with the Lobos.
“I really feel like he’s one of those guys where when you see him in person, you’re just like, ‘holy cow,'” Jorgensen said. “Because he’s all of (6-6), built like a statue and he looks the part, and he can play the part … He’s one of those guys that if he played all his years there at Weber State, I think he’d be at a Power 4 school. But we were able to get him and he’s developing.”
Redshirt sophomore Cal transfer Moso Tuitele is also developing, and his overall athleticism and ease of movement makes Jorgensen think he could end up playing a big role this fall. Freshmen Hyrum McCarter and John Sierra are also being brought up “slowly,” while Max Lantzsch, who joined the Lobos from East Carolina last summer as a tight end, is adjusting to his new position.
Is there enough depth? Jorgensen said it’s on him to make sure there is.
“There’s a lot of learning you do when you finally get out there and play and you see how fast the game goes and all that stuff,” Jorgensen said. “There’s a lot of confidence that comes along with that. The challenge for me as a coach is just building that with these guys and building that confidence, building that skill set with the guys who haven’t had a lot of game experience.
“In terms of athleticism and capability, (it’s) there — I’m just trying to do my job as a coach to get them ready to roll and have enough guys be ready to play.”
Depth details
Edge Antoineo Harris Jr.: Jorgensen said camp has been about finding the right spot for the 6-3, 253-pound senior Indiana State transfer, whether it’s in the interior or out at his listed position.
“We got this dude in our dime package inside, we got him in our dime package outside, we got some movement stuff with him inside, let him go off the edge — he’s just so explosive, man” Wilkins said. “He’s one of those guys, you look at him (and) you’re like, ‘how are you only 250 pounds? You look way bigger than 250 pounds.’ Like he’s got a big lower half where he possesses all that power, so it’s just been really cool to see his natural ability kind of come out there. It’s our job to make sure we kind of hone in those skills and make sure (we) use them the correct way.”
DE Max Elkman: The 6-6, 250-pound Elkman — one of three returning reserve ends with Landon Williams and Joe Ray Maez — has consistently shown out during scrimmages throughout fall camp, with even Jorgensen calling the redshirt sophomore’s development a “pleasant surprise.”
“I know he watches a lot of NFL film, he does a lot things to try and make himself a better player and he’s actually surprised me since he came into my room,” Jorgensen said. “Because in the spring, we first started him inside and then about halfway through, (we) moved him out to end and just wasn’t really sure what we’re going to get out of him … (We’re) planning on him being a guy who will also play a role for us, and he’s impressed me that way.”
DL Garrison Walker: The 6-1, 296-pound Auburn transfer appeared in nine games over three seasons for the Tigers and has been a “breath of fresh air” since transferring to UNM over the summer, Wilkins said.
“The kid comes in every single day with just work on his mind,” he added. “He just wants to work, he just wants to get better. He’s what a coach looks for because he’s looking to get better — he doesn’t take coaching personally (and) he just wants to get better.”
