Lobo football: Why Dylan Hopkins was held out of practice, a new QB2 and injury updates
UNM quarterback Dylan Hopkins drops back to pass during a spring practice at UNM鈥檚 indoor facility.
Six days into fall camp, there鈥檚 an established routine. The things that might鈥檝e been surprising the first couple days, are no longer surprising. What might鈥檝e stood out, doesn鈥檛 stand out as much anymore.
It鈥檚 the period of camp when head coach Danny Gonzales said they鈥檒l figure out what kind of football team they have; where a departure from routine is worthy of attention.
New Mexico starts every practice with quick-hit plays from the first, second and third teams, in that order. Wednesday was no different. Yet it was: freshman quarterback Devon Dampier took snaps with the ones. Sophomore D.C. Tabscott took snaps with the twos, junior Justin Holaday with the threes.
Then, during individual sessions, Dampier and Tabscott led the way throwing routes on air. Holaday, freshman Aidan Armenta and redshirt junior Isaiah Chavez were right behind them.
See what鈥檚 missing? All of this without starter Dylan Hopkins, dressed in full pads, standing close by and watching. And that鈥檚 all he did 鈥 for the first time in six months as a Lobo, he 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 take a single snap, make a single handoff or throw a single pass in practice.
Why?
鈥淚鈥檝e shut Dylan down,鈥 Gonzales said after practice Wednesday. 鈥淒ylan鈥檚 thrown about a 1,000 balls and we know what Dylan can do, so I want to get some of those other guys some reps with the first team and second team.鈥
The plan now? Hopkins will be held out of practice until Monday for five days of rest, including Sunday鈥檚 scheduled off day, before giving him more run next week. Gonzales added he鈥檒l have an additional rest period before New Mexico opens at Texas A&M on Sept. 2.
Far from routine, indeed.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had a starting quarterback around here that鈥檚 been established this long into camp,鈥 Gonzales said. 鈥淪o (it鈥檚) not something we do. But he鈥檚 got the second most starts in the league, he鈥檚 an established guy, he knows what he鈥檚 doing, he knows the offense 鈥 like a pitcher, you鈥檝e got to keep a pitch count on some of those guys.
鈥淭he other ones, they need to compete to see who鈥檚 gonna be the second one.鈥
From Monday on, it鈥檚 officially been Dampier. UNM鈥檚 third-stringer since March, Gonzales said he earned the opportunity to move up over the first three days of camp and took the vast majority of reps with the ones on Wednesday.
It is not set in stone. Just because it鈥檚 the first change in the depth chart since March doesn鈥檛 mean there won鈥檛 be another anytime soon, and Gonzales confirmed Tabscott and Holaday will be in the mix.
Nor has it been perfect. Wednesday, Dampier threw a pick during a third down session to safety Jermarius Lewis, who returned it for a touchdown 鈥 which drew Gonzales鈥 ire as Lewis returned to the sideline, more because of the play he 诲颈诲苍鈥檛 make before the one he did.
(Which is partially by design: 鈥淲e probably sacked them four, five times in the third down period where I鈥檓 not blowing the whistle, because we need to make plays in the secondary,鈥 Gonzales said.)
On Monday, Dampier admitted this spring 鈥 and all the adjustments that came with it 鈥 was a little rough in hindsight. Camp is different than he expected, too. 鈥淭he time you dedicate to football during camp, it was a little shocking,鈥 he said.
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It鈥檚 coming along, though. Truly. By the Journal鈥檚 count, he was 6-for-8 passing Wednesday with the ones during what was essentially a 7-on-7 session, a pair of throws over the top to wide receiver Jeremiah Hixon standing out more than anything. Days like that have been the norm more often than not.
And a summer working on the mental side of the game is steadily showing up on the field, too.
Gonzales isn鈥檛 grading anybody vying for the backup spot on a curve, but the basis of his assessment has been crystal clear.
鈥淲ho鈥檚 moving the ball the best (and) how the offense plays the best behind which guy 鈥 which voice, which leader,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o far, it鈥檚 been Devin.鈥
鈥淩ealistically, I鈥檓 not too worried about where I position myself right now,鈥 Dampier said on Monday. 鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to really get better at what I can control. That鈥檚 what we preach in the quarterbacks room 鈥 control what you can control.鈥
Injury updates: Safety D鈥橝rco Perkins-McAllister has missed every practice since Friday due to a back injury, but Gonzales confirmed he was set to receive an MRI on Wednesday afternoon.
鈥淗e鈥檚 got some numbness in his leg,鈥 Gonzales said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got full strength, full motion, but he鈥檚 got some tingling on that side. So we need to figure out what it is before we move forward.鈥
Wide receiver Duece Jones was held out of practice Wednesday after twisting his knee during two minute drills on Tuesday night.
Offensive lineman Travis Gray missed practice as well with a 鈥渟tinger鈥 on his arm, although Gonzales indicated he鈥檒l likely be back on Thursday.