Jason Eck knew exactly what he wanted from Thursday’s scrimmage. And from the outside looking in, it looks like he got it.
“(Staying) healthy,” New Mexico’s second-year head coach said.
UNM held its second scrimmage of fall camp Thursday, mostly holding its starting units out from tackling while allowing its second- and third-string groups to get some reps.
Three takeaways from the 75-play session, with thoughts on the quarterback competition and pass catchers:
Note: All statistics are unofficial.
1. This quarterback competition could go down to the wire
Don’t mistake UNM’s season opener as the deadline for a decision, though.
Monday, Eck said he wants to name a starting quarterback by the middle of next week. With the exception of the Lobos’ specialists, that’s the day Eck wants to inform everybody on the team about their roles for the season.
That includes the quarterbacks and, if nothing else, Thursday’s scrimmage — and Eck’s comments afterwards —seemed to solidify the sense that the competition could go all the way to the self-imposed deadline.
After starring in last Saturday’s scrimmage, Toa Fa’avae completed 3 of 6 passes for a touchdown and an interception over three drives. The touchdown was Fa’avae at his best: A strike over the middle to wide receiver Zhaiel Smith, who stretched out to make the catch for UNM’s first red zone score over two scrimmages.
The interception? Fa’avae dropped back and chanced it under pressure, releasing a pass that safety CJ McBean hauled in with little issue.
“We gotta keep protecting the football,” Eck said. “You know, (Fa’avae) was a little reckless sometimes with the football. We gotta keep improving that.”
Luke Moga had perhaps the busiest stat line of the day, completing 10 of 14 passes over three drives. The Oregon transfer turned in one of his better drives of camp on his first turn with the second-team offense, connecting on 4 of 5 passes before handing off to running back Kiefer Sibley for a short touchdown run.
It should be noted that all of Moga’s drives were against the second-team offense. But this was sharper stuff than what he put up last Saturday, and Eck acknowledged as much.
“I thought he played better today than he did in the last scrimmage,” he said.
Finally, James Laubstein. The sixth-year senior completed 1 of 5 passes Thursday, connecting with freshman wide receiver Bailen George for his lone completion. He did a few nice things on the run. And all three of his drives were with the first-team offense.
All of James Laubstein’s drives were with the ones in today’s scrimmage.
Is he the frontrunner in UNM’s quarterback competition? Here’s Jason Eck’s answer. pic.twitter.com/t1bYfpobxr
— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider) August 20, 2026
With that in mind, is it fair to say Laubstein is leading the competition?
“I wouldn’t say we’ve made any decisions like that,” Eck said, “but I think he’s doing a good job.”
Fa’avae roared back into the competition in UNM’s first scrimmage. Moga seemed to help his case in its second. Eck says there’s enough data from the three – maybe not to make a final decision, but to at least shape the direction of where this competition will go with four practices left before the deadline.
Is there enough separation?
“I still think it's pretty close,” Eck said.
After this week, I think it’s going to be Laubstein. But the only safe bet in this competition is that it’s more than likely going down to the wire.
2. A veteran receiver is finding his footing in a big way
It’s not often a fifth-year senior makes a big jump from the start to the end of fall camp. But that’s exactly what Shawn Miller, one of UNM’s longest-tenured receivers, has done over the last week.
After an offseason procedure on the little finger of his left hand, Miller dealt with a string of drops through the first week of camp. He said what was once a strictly physical ailment turned into more of a mental block, one he decided to address by catching more out of practice.
“Preparation is a big thing with confidence, and I didn’t hold that weight on myself because I knew I was going to be good anyways,” he said. “Starting like the last scrimmage, I let it all out, found my old self and started catching the ball more.”
That preparation certainly showed up Thursday: Miller made a heck of a play on a pass thrown by Moga from the sideline before catching three out of four passes from the Oregon transfer in his final drive of the session.
If it wasn’t a perfect day — Miller and Moga were clearly not on the same page on a downfield throw at one point — but it looks like Miller has righted the ship at this point. And for all the hype around some of UNM’s transfer and freshmen receivers, that was something the Lobos really needed to happen sooner rather than later.
“He’s done a great job here and really played well over this week,” Eck said.
3. Another freshman finds a way to stand out
It wasn’t a receiver this time. You would be forgiven, however, if you mistook him for one.
Freshman Trey Moore, a lanky 6-5, 210 pound tight end, racked up two highlight catches Thursday, catching a pass from quarterback Cade Mitchell for a touchdown before making a sensational leaping grab on a ball Fa’avae lofted down the sideline.
Whether Moore will have a pronounced on-field role remains to be seen. But there've been some real nice flashes from Ventura, Calif. native to this point, and that’s worth a nod here.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.