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New Mexico closed its first two-thirds of spring practice Wednesday, a session that saw one of the Lobos’ freshmen make plays and a couple of his teammates return from injuries. 

One standout, one update and other news, notes and quotes from Wednesday:

One standout

An easy pick — largely because of the picks.

Cornerback Jahmir Torres logged three interceptions across multiple team periods Wednesday, ending practice with his third and final pick of the day. In light of that effort, the 5-foot-10, 176-pound freshman was awarded the Hammer, given to whoever head coach Jason Eck deems the player of the practice.

“He’s just maturing and getting better … He’s really doing a good job,” Eck said. “And that’s gonna be a heck of a competition for who starts (among Torres, Eric McClain, Ormanie Arnold and Frankie Edwards III). I think all four of those guys are gonna play, but who goes first and how much will be a great competition.”

Torres logged significant time at corner over nine games last season, his first with a set position.

“Now I’m slowly learning the corner position (and) what comes with it,” said the Los Angeles native. “(Last year) was definitely challenging, but the guys in the corner room kept pushing me, telling me I’m something great, so I got to work.”

One update

For the Lobos, perhaps the best development over the last two practices?

They’re slowly, but steadily, getting a little healthier.

While the latter practiced in a limited capacity, UNM got tight end Bear Tenney and wide receiver Zhaiel Smith back on the field Wednesday. That’s on top of getting a pair of receivers — Kader Diop and D.J. Darling — back on Monday, alleviating the stress on a position snake-bitten by injuries.

Eck did not, however, have much more to share on running back Deshaun Buchanan, who spent the last two practices in a walking boot and on crutches after suffering a foot injury last Friday.

“He’s gotta get an MRI,” he said. “We don’t know exactly (what it is). The X-ray didn’t show anything broken, but it’s something with his foot.”

Defensive lineman Jalen Charles has also been missing from practice this week. Eck said that the Memphis transfer is being treated for a concussion.

“He’s out for a little bit,” he added.

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RULE CHANGE: Monday, the NCAA confirmed it is , where athletes would have five years to compete immediately after their high school graduation or 19th birthday. The clock would start for athletes on the earliest of those two occasions.

Eck is largely in favor of the change: “I kind of like the idea of getting rid of the waivers and just saying, ‘hey, you got five years,’” he said. “ … I do think it would be good legislation and I’m hoping for it. I’m curious how they’re going to roll that out.”

SCRIMMAGE: Friday’s scrimmage, Eck said, will be a little lighter than last week’s.

“We won’t go as long as we did (last Friday),” he added. “I kinda built it in that we’d have two half-scrimmages or less, and then two more full scrimmages, which was last week and then the spring game will be the second one. I’d say (it will go) 40-50 plays – I think we did 89 last week.”

Is there anything in particular he’d like to see out of Friday?

“Stay healthy and avoid injuries,” he laughed.

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .