On Saturday afternoon, Tennessee football returns to Neyland Stadium to square off with New Mexico State in an attempt to get back on track. The Vols will meet the Aggies in Knoxville at 4:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
Ahead of each Tennessee game, we’ll talk to someone who covers the Vols’ opponent that week. This week, Las Cruces Sun-News reporter Nick Coppola talked NMSU quarterback Logan Fife, the Aggies’ best players and more.
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How would you characterize New Mexico State’s season to this point?
“Overall, unless they pull 3 wins out to end the season to save it, it’s the season that got away. They have lost 3 heartbreakers so far this season to Liberty, Missouri State and Kennesaw State, all in the final moments of the game. They can easily be sitting here with 4-6 wins if just 1-2 things went their way in those games. Even their losses to Louisiana Tech and New Mexico were ones that were closer than the final score. Against LA Tech, they trailed 27-14 in the 4th before letting it slip. They led UNM 17-3 before being outscored 35-3 the rest of the way. It’s a more talented team than last season for sure, compared to last year, but they are finding new ways to lose each week.”
Who are some players for NMSU that Tennessee fans should know?
“Donovan Faupel is their leading receiver and the go-to target for Logan Fife. He ranks top 10 in Conference USA in receiving yards. WR TK King will be their main explosive threat in the passing game and has made several big plays since returning from a hamstring injury at the beginning of October. Defensively, DT Ezra Christensen is their sack leader. He’ll play a lot and make a lot of plays. DE Jamall Thompson Jr. is another one to watch on the DL. LB Sone Aupiu is their top LB right now with Tyler Martinez out injured, and he’s stepped up in a big way recently. DB Bernock Iya snagged 2 INTs last week, and is a big part of DC Joe Morris’ multiple defense scheme at nickel. S Naeten Mitchell is a big takeaway guy, and I’ve been impressed with how CB Zedekiah Rodriguez-Brown has filled in for Dakerric Hobbs since the latter tore his labrum against New Mexico.”
If NMSU wants to keep this game close, what will it have to do?
“Takeaways. Tennessee’s offense is one of the nation’s best. They have to take the ball from them to get them off the field as much as possible. NMSU has been quite good at takeaways this season and has at least 1 in every game this season. That needs to continue if they want to keep this close. Offensively, create explosives without negatives. They’ve had plenty of big plays throughout the season, but negate them too often with turnovers or turnover-worthy plays, negatives, etc. Those will hurt NMSU against a team like UT.”
How has Logan Fife performed at quarterback this year?
“Up and down. He’s been behind most, if not all, of NMSU’s big-time plays offensively. But he’s also responsible for plenty of negatives and turnovers. That’s been his issue all season. Fife needs to keep making the big plays he’s making but stop canceling them out with negatives. This coaching staff has had 100% confidence in him all season, so they believe in him. He just has to help himself more.”
