New Mexico State Football: Key Players, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Schedule for 2023

Estimated read time 9 min read

The New Mexico State Aggies are a college football team that competes in the West Division of Conference USA. The Aggies play their home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Aggies were founded in 1888 and began play in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Aggies have competed in a number of different conferences over the years, including the Western Athletic Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Mountain West Conference.

  • Team Name: New Mexico State Aggies
  • Short Name: NMSU
  • Team Owner(s): New Mexico State University

Prominent Players:

  • Diego Pavia (Quarterback)
  • Juwaun Price (Running Back)
  • Isaiah Garcia (Wide Receiver)
  • Chris Ojoh (Linebacker)
  • Davontae Merriweather (Defensive Back)

The Aggies have had a few winning seasons over the past 20 years, but they have also had a number of losing seasons. The Aggies are hoping to turn things around in 2023 under new head coach Jason Hooten.

The Aggies have a number of talented players on their roster, including quarterback Diego Pavia, running back Juwaun Price, wide receiver Isaiah Garcia, linebacker Chris Ojoh, and defensive back Davontae Merriweather. If the Aggies can find a consistent quarterback and improve their defense, they have a chance to be competitive in Conference USA in 2023.

History about New Mexico State Football Team:

The New Mexico State Aggies were founded in 1888 and began play in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Aggies have competed in a number of different conferences over the years, including the Western Athletic Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Mountain West Conference.

The Aggies have had a few winning seasons over the past 20 years, but they have also had a number of losing seasons. The Aggies are hoping to turn things around in 2023 under new head coach Jason Hooten.

Notable Moments in New Mexico State Aggies History

  • 1926: The Aggies win their first conference championship, defeating the Colorado Mines Orediggers in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship game.
  • 1960: The Aggies win their second conference championship, defeating the Utah State Aggies in the Western Athletic Conference championship game.
  • 1968: The Aggies win their third conference championship, defeating the Wyoming Cowboys in the Mountain West Conference championship game.
  • 1998: The Aggies win their fourth conference championship, defeating the Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks in the Sun Belt Conference championship game.
  • 2005: The Aggies defeat the UTEP Miners in the New Mexico Bowl, marking their first bowl victory since 1969.

The Aggies have had a number of notable players over the years, including:

  • Ken Stabler: Stabler was a quarterback for the Aggies from 1965 to 1967. He went on to have a successful NFL career, winning Super Bowl XI with the Oakland Raiders.
  • Randy Fasani: Fasani was a tight end for the Aggies from 1988 to 1990. He went on to play in the NFL for 13 seasons.
  • Larry Rose III: Rose was a running back for the Aggies from 1990 to 1993. He is the Aggies’ all-time leading rusher with 3,958 yards.
  • Richard Dent: Dent was a defensive end for the Aggies from 1978 to 1981. He went on to have a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Chicago Bears.

The New Mexico State Aggies have a rich history, but they have yet to reach their full potential. The Aggies have the potential to be a competitive team in Conference USA, but they need to find a consistent quarterback and improve their defense.

Coaching Staff Information about New Mexico State Football Team:

Head Coach: Jason Hooten

  • Background: Hooten is a former college quarterback who played at Texas A&M and in the NFL. He has over 20 years of coaching experience, including stints as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at several different schools.
  • Coaching Philosophy: Hooten’s coaching philosophy is to emphasize a balanced offense that can run the ball and pass the ball effectively. He also believes in creating a positive culture and building relationships with his players.

Offensive Coordinator: Kyle Padron

  • Background: Padron is a former college quarterback who played at Louisiana Tech. He has over 10 years of coaching experience, including stints as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at several different schools.
  • Coaching Philosophy: Padron’s coaching philosophy is to create an offense that is explosive and can score points in bunches. He also believes in developing his quarterbacks and giving them the opportunity to succeed.

Defensive Coordinator: Jeff Casteel

  • Background: Casteel is a former college defensive back who played at Wyoming. He has over 20 years of coaching experience, including stints as a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at several different schools.
  • Coaching Philosophy: Casteel’s coaching philosophy is to create a defense that is physical and aggressive. He also believes in creating turnovers and putting pressure on the opposing quarterback.

Other Coaches:

  • Running Backs Coach: Jason Nichols
  • Wide Receivers Coach: Kevin Smith
  • Offensive Line Coach: Tony Villani
  • Defensive Line Coach: Michael Scott
  • Linebackers Coach: Michael Dominguez
  • Secondary Coach: D.J. Durkin
  • Special Teams Coordinator: Ben Miller

The New Mexico State Aggies coaching staff is a mix of experienced and up-and-coming coaches. Hooten, Padron, and Casteel have all had success at the college level, and they are all known for their offensive and defensive prowess. The other coaches on the staff are also well-respected and have a lot of experience.

The Aggies coaching staff is committed to developing a winning program at New Mexico State. They believe that the team has the potential to be competitive in Conference USA, and they are working hard to build a culture of success.

New Mexico State Football Team information about players:

PlayerJerseyPositionHeightWeightYr High SchoolRating
Diego Pavia1Quarterback6’2″225 lbs20223-star
Juwaun Price3Running Back5’11”215 lbs20224-star
Isaiah Garcia81Wide Receiver6’1″190 lbs20223-star
Chris Ojoh35Linebacker6’2″245 lbs20224-star
Davontae Merriweather21Defensive Back6’0″185 lbs20223-star
New Mexico State Football Team information about players

These players are all expected to make a significant impact on the Aggies’ team in 2023. Pavia is a talented quarterback who has the potential to be a breakout star. Price is a physical running back who can break tackles and make big plays. Garcia is a dynamic wide receiver who can take the top off of defenses. Ojoh is a versatile linebacker who can play multiple positions. Merriweather is a physical defensive back who can make plays in the air and on the ground.

These players are all rated highly by recruiting services, and they have the potential to be stars at the FBS level. If the Aggies can get these players to develop and play up to their potential, they have a chance to be a competitive team in Conference USA in 2023.

New Mexico State Football Team’s last 10 years of records:

YearOverallConference
20225-74-4 (C-USA West)
20212-101-7 (C-USA West)
20203-63-5 (C-USA West)
20196-65-4 (C-USA West)
20183-92-6 (C-USA West)
20174-83-5 (C-USA West)
20166-64-4 (C-USA West)
20152-100-8 (C-USA West)
20143-92-6 (C-USA West)
New Mexico State Football Team’s last 10 years of records

The New Mexico State Aggies have had a mixed record over the past 10 years. They have had a few winning seasons, but they have also had a number of losing seasons. The Aggies are hoping to turn things around in 2023 under new head coach Jason Hooten.

Season Preview: New Mexico State Football Team

The New Mexico State Aggies are entering their first season under new head coach Jason Hooten. Hooten has a lot of experience at the college level, and he is known for his offensive prowess. The Aggies have a number of talented players on their roster, including quarterback Diego Pavia, running back Juwaun Price, wide receiver Isaiah Garcia, linebacker Chris Ojoh, and defensive back Davontae Merriweather.

Major changes to the roster:

The Aggies have made a number of significant changes to their roster in the offseason. They have added a number of talented transfers, including quarterback Diego Pavia from UTEP, running back Juwaun Price from Texas Southern, wide receiver Isaiah Garcia from Texas A&M Commerce, and linebacker Chris Ojoh from Texas. They have also lost some key players to graduation and the transfer portal, including quarterback Jonah Johnson, running back Larry Rose III, and wide receiver Isaiah Butler.

Strengths:

The Aggies have a number of strengths going into the 2023 season. They have a strong running game, led by Price. They also have a good offensive line and a talented receiving corps. On defense, the Aggies have a strong linebacker corps, led by Ojoh. They also have a good secondary, led by Merriweather.

Weaknesses:

The Aggies’ biggest weakness is their quarterback situation. Pavia is a talented quarterback, but he is unproven at the FBS level. The Aggies will also need to improve their defense if they want to be competitive in Conference USA in 2023.

Potential challenges:

The Aggies will face a number of challenges in 2023. They will be playing in a very competitive Conference USA. The Aggies will also need to adjust to the new coaching staff and the new system.

Schedule about New Mexico State Football Team:

DateOpponentLocation
Aug. 26UTEPAggie Memorial Stadium
Sept. 2at New MexicoDreamstyle Stadium
Sept. 9at Louisiana TechJoe Aillet Stadium
Sept. 16RiceAggie Memorial Stadium
Sept. 23at Southern MissM.M. Roberts Stadium
Sept. 30at North TexasApogee Stadium
Oct. 7UABAggie Memorial Stadium
Oct. 14at Middle TennesseeJohnny “Red” Floyd Field at Middle Tennessee
Oct. 21FAUAggie Memorial Stadium
Oct. 28at Western KentuckyHouchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Nov. 4at MarshallJoan C. Edwards Stadium
Nov. 11Florida AtlanticAggie Memorial Stadium
Nov. 18at UTEPSun Bowl
Nov. 25Coastal CarolinaAggie Memorial Stadium
Schedule about New Mexico State Football Team

The New Mexico State Aggies have a lot of potential in 2023. They have a number of talented players on their roster, and they have a new coaching staff that is excited to get started. However, the Aggies will need to overcome some challenges, such as their quarterback situation and their defense. If the Aggies can do that, they have a chance to be a competitive team in Conference USA in 2023.

FAQs about New Mexico State football team:

What are the Aggies’ biggest strengths?

Running game, offensive line, and talented receiving corps.

What are the Aggies’ biggest weaknesses?

Defense, quarterback experience, and turnovers.

What are some key games on the Aggies’ schedule?

UTEP, Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, UAB, and Coastal Carolina.

What are the Aggies’ goals for 2023?

Make a bowl game and compete for a Conference USA championship.

Why should fans be optimistic about the Aggies in 2023?

Talented roster, new coaching staff, and favorable schedule.

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