2008 New Mexico Lobos Football Preview

2008 New Mexico Lobos season preview from Maddux Sports. Below you can find our official New Mexico Lobos football preview as well as the 2008 New Mexico Lobos Football Schedule. Before leaving be sure and bookmaker our live college football odds page which offers up to the minute point spreads for this weeks games.

Coach: Rocky Long (11th year at New Mexico)
Team Name: Lobos
2007 Overall Record: 9-4
Returning Starters: 10

In 2007, the New Mexico Lobos (9-4 overall, 5-3 MWC) finished tied for third in the conference. The team opened at UTEP where they lost a close one 10-6. After that, they went nine and three. Last year, they had their best season in a decade. The Lobos went to the New Mexico Bowl and defeated Nevada 23-0.

On offense, junior QB Donovan Porterie (418 ATT, 244 COMP, 3,006 YDS, 15 TDs, 9 INT) is back as the first 3,000-plus yard passer since 1994. He’s got a 12-6 record as a starter and a wealth of experience. Porterie has lost two 1,000-plus yard receivers; that could be problematic. The running game looks solid, led by senior Rodney Fergusson (292 ATT, 1,177 YDS, 13 TDs)—a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection. The O-line returns just two starters, but they have some fine young talent.

The defense was solid last season, allowing opponents just 19.0 PPG. Nationally, they were ranked 14th. The linebacking unit looks to be stretched this season and will need to play better than expected. The defensive line was sound in 2007 and despite losing two of three starters, looks to be solid again in 2008. The secondary is fairly sound, with four of five starters coming back. The corners are manned by two seniors and Lobo Ian Clark, the junior free safety, should be the unit leader.

Six loses in 2008 seem to be certain. Two tossups dot the Lobos’ schedule. The first is against Wyoming on October 4 and the second is at Air Force on October 23. An upset of BYU on October 11 or of Utah on November 1 would be a major accomplishment.

In a decade, Coach Rocky Long (61-61 in 10 years) has a .500 record. With just five starters returning on defense, the Lobos will find it difficult making a winning mark. Still, Long feels that he can get his team to a bowl game for an eighth straight season. The non-conference game versus Oklahoma on September 27 will be a litmus test for this squad.

If you enjoyed this piece, underneath this article are more team previews of schools that dont reside in the major conferences.