Reider: Two things I liked, one thing I didn't from UNM's first three days of practice

New Mexico's first three days of football practice under head coach Jason Eck concluded on Friday, and the Lobos had plenty to praise and consider. Here are two things the reporter liked and one concern he had about the early sessions:

To start, the reporter appreciated the promising youth movement at receiver. Freshmen Massiah Mingo and DJ Darling have made solid impressions during the first week of practice. Both have shown physical improvements and have started to internalize the team's playbook. Mingo, in particular, has been lauded for his conditioning, having gained weight over the summer.

While the reporter acknowledged that spring practice can sometimes be a deceptive gauge of a player's abilities, he believes these rookies show real promise for the upcoming season.

Another point of positivity was the return of defensive end Brett Karhu, who has been instrumental in creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Karhu's presence, combined with contributions from defensive ends Albert Tuakalau, Darren Agu, linebacker Jaxton Eck, and Clay Martineau, suggests that UNM's pass rush may have more staying power than initially thought. This development is particularly encouraging, as the defense often lags behind the offense in the early stages of camp.

On the downside, the absence of starting quarterback Jack Layne, who is recovering from an elbow injury, is a significant concern. While Layne continues to participate in practice, his injury status remains uncertain and could potentially impact the quarterback competition. The reporter mentioned that UNM has alternatives, such as Oregon transfer Luke Moga and 2021 senior James Laubstein, who are also vying for the starting role.

However, Layne's return timeline is still unclear, which may create further uncertainty for fans and observers of the team.