A Quick Overview of the New Mexico State Aggies
Photo via FoxSports.com
New Mexico State is coming off a surprising victory over its arch rival, the New Mexico Lobos. NMSU is 1-1 on the season and will travel to Lexington with a renewed sense of confidence after its most recent victory and Kentucky’s two-game losing skid. The Wildcats will be in for the fight of their lives in game that nobody predicted to be competitive. Kentucky is favored by 19.
NMSU head coach Doug Martin played quarterback and was a graduate assistant coach under Jerry Claiborne at the University of Kentucky. He’s in his fourth season at New Mexico State. His Aggies were 3-9 a year ago, but beat Idaho, Texas State, and Louisiana to win three consecutive conference games for the first time since 2004. NMSU lost to UTEP 38-22 in the season opener. Below is a statistical analysis of both team’s conference and national rankings.
Ranking New Mexico State in the Sun Belt Conference (11 teams)
DEFENSE
Scoring: 6th, 34 points per game (ppg)
Rushing: 7th, 255 yards per game. (ypg)
Passing: 3rd, 172 ypg
Total: 6th, 427 ypg
OFFENSE
Scoring: 5th, 27 ppg
Rushing: 7th, 120 ypg
Passing 5th, 205 ypg
Total 9th, 326 ypg
3 BEST PLAYERS
— LB Rodney Butler averages a mind-blowing 19.5 tackles per game. He’s also registered 3.5 tackles for loss.
— LB Terrill Hanks is also highly productive by averaging 13 tackles per game. Hanks leads the team with 4.5 tackles for loss.
— QB Tyler Rogers has rushed for 84 yards. Passing numbers are: 38-76, 411 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs.
Ranking Kentucky in the SEC (14 teams) and nation (128 teams)
DEFENSE
Scoring: 14th, 44.5 ppg, national rank-125th
Rushing: 14th, 253 ypg, national-118th
Passing: 12th, 289 ypg, national-106th
Total: 14th, 542 ypg, national-123rd
OFFENSE
Scoring Offense: 13th, 21 ppg, national-106th
Rushing: 13th, 95 ypg, national-117th
Passing: 10th, 184 ypg, national-96th
Total: 13th, 279 ypg, national-121st
New Mexico State is a different team with and without RB Larry Rose. Rose rushed for over 1,600 yards a year ago, but missed the Aggies’ first two games. His return would have a significant impact on Saturday’s game as UK has yet to slow-stop-interfere in its first two opponents’ rushing attack.
A month ago, the majority of media and fans considered this matchup as a certain win and a gap-game sandwiched in-between Florida and South Carolina. Starting in the third quarter against Southern Miss and running through sixty minutes of tomfoolery in the Swamp, this game has changed its course in terms of predictability. 19 point spread or not, from what I’ve seen so far in 2016, the Cats will have their hands full with Doug Martin’s Aggies.
18 Comments for A Quick Overview of the New Mexico State Aggies
Defense is 123rd nationally
Offense is 121st nationally
So what you’re saying is is Kentucky was overrated at ~75th in the preseason polls
Thanks Freddie, not interested.
I think youre wasting your time with this info…Do you have any updates on the BB Cats?
At this point, if you aren’t rooting for the other team, you aren’t a real UK fan. The only shot we have at getting rid of Stoops and Barney is if we completely hit rock bottom. I hope we lose by 30+ this weekend, and would love to see some of the better players transfer to schools that deserve their talents.
terrible logic. good grief. worst comment ever, and that’s saying a lot for this place.
Freddie, I just want to thank you for your posts. At this point, most everyone is annoyed, or worse, with football, but the posts should go on. I’ll keep watching from home, waiting for them to turn it around, but can’t bring myself to buy tickets to watch this product at the stadium.
In their last 4:43 of this season, UK’s football team has outscored opponents 7-0.
LOL awesome.
I could name a couple of commenters on here that I could see seriously posting this stat.
Serious question…..If Kentucky loses Saturday what do you think the reaction will be from fans and the coaching staff?
Meh
“When are Big Blue Madness tickets being given out?”
I don’t think the fans can get any tougher on the team but we could lose some coaches if we lose next week.
I guess at least we cant complain about starting off the year with 5 wins and losing the last 7.
New Mexico wins…
OMG take the points and bet all you can on NM St.
I kind of expect this game to go along he lines of the EKU game last year, with UK getting the win in an ugly game by a desperation play in the last minute. At the end of it all the commentators will say it’s a shame that one of these teams had to win.
How optimistic of you!
Delusional are we