New Mexico Has A Three-Way Battle At Quarterback
Who will be starting for the Lobos?
There will be a new starter in ABQ
Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire
The New Mexico Lobos are in need of a new full-time quarterback as Lamar Jordan who is now trying to latch onto the Atlanta Falcons as a wide receiver.
The Lobos go three-deep at quarterback and a few even have some FBS experience form 2017. The three battling are Coltin Gerhart, redshirt sophomore Tevaka Tuioti, and junior transfer Sheriron Jones.
In the first scrimmage, head coach Bob Davie had Gerhart as the No. 1 but do not expect that to be a hint at who is going to be the starter in a few weeks. Tuioti took first-team reps in Saturday’s scrimmage, so it truly is a battle between a few players.
Gerhart is confident that he can be the guy.
“I’m just going to have to keep working hard,” Gerhart said via the Albuquerque Journal. “I have to keep improving as a leader of this team and establish myself as the starter and have the guys look at me as the starter. Once I keep improving every day, by the end of fall camp I think it will be mine.”
Confidence is key but Gerhart has competition with Tuioti as they both saw time last year and the latter had more passing yards compared to Gerhart. However, as most know the key to being the Lobos quarterback is how well they can run the ball and master the option-based attack.
One question that always comes up with a quarterback battle is how the relationship is between the teammates.
“When we are off the field we are friends, but when we are on the field it’s a competition,” Tuioti said of his position mates. “To me it’s whatever the coaches want, whatever is best for the team. I don’t know where I stand yet, but we still have fall camp to prove ourselves. It’s exciting.”
Jones might have the biggest hill to climb as he has transferred a few times which includes a stint at Tennessee and two JUCO stops at Independence Community College in Kansas he played at Mt. San Jacinto in California. He was a highly recruited player out of high school but struggled to move up the Vols depth chart, but he will have two years of eligibility left.
Odds are that the Lobos will start either Gerhart or Tuioti will be under center Week 1.
