UNM FOOTBALL
Former Lobos kicker granted restraining order to play fifth year
It is unclear if Luke Drzewiecki, a four-year starter for UNM would return to team
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Former New Mexico kicker Luke Drzewiecki received a temporary restraining order against the NCAA on Wednesday, opening the door for him to play a fifth year of college football.
The All-Mountain West honorable mention selection is the latest former Lobo to gain another year of eligibility by legally challenging the application of the NCAA鈥檚 new age-based eligibility model. Adopted in June, the policy allows athletes five years to play five seasons starting with their full-time enrollment or the season after their 19th birthday, whichever comes first.
But while the NCAA gave players from other classes a fifth year of eligibility, it declined to give one to outgoing seniors, claiming their presence would 鈥渄estabilize鈥� rosters. That decision led to a slew of separate lawsuits and a class-wide injunction handed down by a federal judge in Colorado, allowing Lobo defensive end Brett Karhu and safety Azariah Levells to return to UNM.
Filed by attorneys Ryan Downton and Mark Peper in Louisiana state court Wednesday, the lawsuit listing Drzewiecki and 31 other college athletes as plaintiffs claimed the NCAA is breaching its by not allowing them to play a fifth season while past and future players will be permitted to do so.
Starting in 2022, Drzewiecki played four seasons in four years with the Lobos. But he graduated high school in 2021 before enrolling at UNM early, leaving some initial uncertainty over whether he fit into the parameters of the Colorado injunction.
UNM kicker Luke Drzewiecki (13) is lifted up by his teammates to celebrate him being put on scholarship after the Lobos鈥� spring game on April 18.
Now eligible, UNM head coach Jason Eck said he only found out about the order during Wednesday鈥檚 practice and would consider a reunion with Drzewiecki.
鈥淲e鈥檙e interested 鈥� I haven鈥檛 talked to (Drzewiecki) yet since he got his (restraining order),鈥� he said Wednesday.
Drzewiecki told the Journal late Wednesday that he鈥檚 communicating with UNM to 鈥渟ee what the future looks like.鈥�
In four years with the Lobos, Drzewiecki made 51 of 56 attempted field goals (78.5%) and 120 of 122 attempted extra points (98.4%). He made a career-best 18 of 19 field goals (97.4%) last season before receiving an invite to the Baltimore Ravens' rookie mini-camp.
If Drzewiecki returned to UNM, he would be the instant favorite to start as the Lobos鈥� kicker. UNM has held a competition between Wagner transfer Nicholas Romero, Western Kentucky transfer Konner Olson and returner Grant Glasgow throughout fall camp.
Viewed as the frontrunner heading into camp, Eck said Romero has a sore leg. He was not a full participant in Wednesday鈥檚 practice.
Unlike Karhu and Levells, Drzewiecki is able to enter the transfer portal as a condition of his restraining order. Monday, UNM added Memphis transfer safety Jayden Flaker through a separate restraining order filed in Texas.
Drzewiecki was one of 16 college football players to gain a fifth year through Wednesday鈥檚 temporary restraining order. Three players 鈥� Ole Miss tight end Dae'Quan Wright, safety Wydett Williams and Oregon State running back Anthony Hankerson 鈥� are currently listed on NFL rosters.
If NFL clubs release said players by Sept. 1, Downton told ESPN, they will be able to join college football rosters under the restraining order. The signed order states the NCAA must open the portal for plaintiffs for one week after its entry.
Some players within the order 鈥� James Madison linebacker Trent Hendrick, for one 鈥� are planning on, per On3.
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
