April 17, 2008
Albuquerque Journal
It's Arnett's Time To Step Up
By Greg Archuleta, Journal Staff WriterZach Arnett is keeping his head— if not his helmet— about the lack of experience at the linebacker position during the University of New Mexico's spring football practice.
The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Arnett, projected as the starter in the middle for his senior season, participated in four plays of 7-on-7 passing drills without his helmet during a recent practice.
Waving off the gesture's significance with his hand, the La Cueva grad simply says now is the time for he and fellow senior Herbert Felder (6-1, 230) to lead by example and help mentor the eight others in spring ball— all freshmen or sophomores and all but one without a second of Division I playing experience.
"It's important that me and Herb take a leadership role," Arnett says. "That means being correct on every play, being 100 percent on assignments and giving all-out effort."
Even if it means taking Arnett's share of reps while UNM's equipment managers repair his helmet.
The unit itself needs fixing, in terms of replacing four seniors from the 2007 group— George Carter, Major Mosely, Cody Kase and Brett Madsen— that helped UNM finish No. 13 in the nation in yards allowed.
Only sophomore Terel Anyaibe, a special teams player with a handful of reps at linebacker in seven games last season, has any seasoning outside Arnett and Felder. Currently, the 6-2, 217-pound Anyaibe is penciled in as the right-side starter.
"It's really something different being the first one out there for drills. I have no time for mental errors," says Anyaibe, who grew up playing soccer until he saw his brother, Georgia Tech senior defensive tackle Elris, take up football in high school.
"When I was on the sidelines last season, I learned from the guys that were playing," Anyaibe says. "I studied their pluses and minuses. In the offseason, I really worked hard in the weight room and tried to increase each of my lifts by 30 pounds. Now, I'm just trying to be consistent, be dependable and play with heart."
The linebacker learning curve extends to the coaching staff, where first-year assistant Tony White takes over for departed defensive coordinator Osia Lewis.
While Lewis learned UNM head coach Rocky Long's 3-3-5 scheme while the two were at Oregon State in the early 1990s, White learned Long's scheme as a player— a linebacker— at UCLA in 1997.
"This defense is very complicated," White says. "I think I can coach the defense from a player's eyes. I can teach them the importance of getting the call quickly, thinking on your feet. What's happening with our young guys now is they're thinking too much."
White says redshirt freshman Carmen Messina is showing flashes of being a dependable player. Walk-on redshirt Julian Conley also is playing ample reps.
The corps, however, is not been at full strength. Redshirt freshman Jonathan Rainey, listed on the pre-spring depth chart as the second-team right linebacker, has missed practice to concentrate on his academics. Long says he hopes to have Rainey on the field for the final week of spring.
Sophomore Greyson Wieczorek is not allowed contact while he recovers from a knee injury in '07, and walk-on redshirt freshman Griffin Keller is out with a knee injury.
Junior college transfer Tray Hardaway arrives in the fall, and incoming freshman Joe Harris may get a longer look in August than normally afforded a true freshman.
White says as many players who show him they're ready will play next season— he's even prepared to go only with the starters if they're the only ones ready.
Arnett says the unit is talented enough to replace last year's group.
"We've got the guys to do it," he says, "but only time will tell if we'll be as good as last year."
EXTRA POINTS: The Lobos changed their practice schedule to accommodate Long's appearance Friday before the NCAA Infractions Committee. UNM practices from 6-8 a.m. today, takes Friday off and resumes Saturday from 6-8 p.m.
... The defense "won" a 20-minute scrimmage with the offense Wednesday. The first-team offense scored twice, but both efforts came against the third-team defense. The offense scored only a field goal otherwise.
... Tight end Mitch Straub returned to practice Wednesday after sitting out one day with a mild concussion. Nose tackle Jeremiah Lovato missed a second straight day of practice Wednesday with a sprained foot.
... Junior tight end Trey Buckley has left the program.
Up next
Cherry-Silver Game: April 26, 1 p.m., at Santa Fe High