UNM football: First wave of transfer additions announced

Dec. 26—More than one Eck will be on hand for head coach Jason Eck’s first season at New Mexico.

Former Idaho linebacker Jaxton Eck — Jason’s son — is transferring to UNM, the program announced Thursday via a post on social media.

Jaxton Eck, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound sophomore, earned first team All-Big Sky honors after logging a team-high 134 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one interception in 14 games last season. He entered the transfer portal following his father’s departure from Idaho on Dec. 14, picking up offers from UNM, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Stanford, Coastal Carolina and UMass.

With UNM losing two of its starting linebackers via the portal or expired eligibility, Eck will be expected to help fill an immediate need within the Lobos’ defense. He has two years of eligibility remaining.

Eck was one of six transfers formally announced on Thursday, the first wave of additions as UNM rebuilds its roster following former head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s departure. Fourteen Lobos have committed to new programs and nearly 20 remain in the portal.

Offensive linemen Richard Pearce and Malik Aliane and safety Tavian Combs announced their returns to UNM over the past couple weeks.

The remaining transfers announced by UNM:

QB Jack Layne (Idaho)

A 6-2, 200-pound quarterback, Layne completed 99 of 154 passes (64.3%) for 1,477 yards, 14 touchdowns and four interceptions in six games for Idaho last season. The redshirt sophomore from Lake Oswego, Oregon entered the season as the Vandals’ starter before he was sidelined with a collarbone injury suffered in a season-opening loss to Oregon.

After missing nearly two months, Layne returned before the end of the season and passed for 1,309 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions and helped lead Idaho to a 4-1 finish. He has three years of eligibility…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/unm-football-first-wave-transfer-040200989.html

Author : Albuquerque Journal, N.M.

Publish date : 2024-12-27 04:02:00

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