2022 in Review

Offense

Hopkins threw for 1,913 yards for the Blazers in 2022 as he and Vincent led UAB to a 7-6 mark and a Bahamas Bowl win—giving the QB consecutive bowl victories under center.

Should Hopkins win the starting job he can extend plays with his legs, something that the Lobos may need to utilize as the offensive line may not be the strength of the team.

In 2022, Lobo QBs were sacked 3.53 times per game, 127th in the nation while UNM allowed a whopping 8.58 tackles for loss per game, 129th in the nation.

The QB is one of many changes on the offensive side of the ball as recruiting and the transfer portal leaned heavily toward adding depth at the skill positions on the offensive side of the ball.

The big question of whether any of the fresh faces will produce early enough for it to matter for the current coaching regime.

Defense

Those two are the only starters remaining from the 2022 defense.

Adding to the secondary strength is Bryson Washington who transferred in from Oklahoma. Washington has the size and speed to fit into the CB/LB hybrid position the Lobos use in their 3-3-5 scheme.

The entire front seven will feature new faces.

The defense in 2022 was a bright spot as they were ranked 47th in the nation allowing just 360.5 yards per game.

Gonzalez is a defensive-minded coach and despite the lack of returnees, that side of the ball should again be the stronger unit.

Schedule

Following that, the nonconference schedule opens for them. Tennessee Tech will be the home opener should get the record to 1-1, a visit from New Mexico State and a trip to UMass follow and both of those could be winnable.

Then it is conference play, and we will see if the improvement, especially on the offensive side of things, will come to fruition.

Divisions are a thing of the past in the Mountain West. The nonconference could yield a 3-1 mark and should be a 2-2 mark at the minimum.

The conference schedule has a trip to Nevada and a visit from Hawaii, both games that could be there for the taking.

Year Four of the Danny Gonzalez regime will need to produce wins. The head man has produced a 7-24 mark in three years in Albuquerque and he is just 3-20 in conference play during his tenure.

This appears to be a make-or-break year for him, but as mentioned, the schedule is set up for more success.

The nonconference portion needs to see them at 3-1 and in addition to Nevada and Hawaii the Lobos also get a visit from Utah State.

All three of those teams are projected to be in the bottom section of the conference—along with New Mexico. If they can get those six wins it will be a huge season for Gonzalez and the Lobos.

The best case is the Lobos get all six of those wins and go bowling, perhaps even stealing another win at home against UNLV or at Wyoming.

Worst case, nothing clicks, and the nonconference results in a 1-3 start and the conference season is long and difficult.

The recruiting class from last spring was solid and should point to more success in the future. The question is whether success will come fast enough for it to matter for the current staff.