New Mexico WR Troy Omeire ruled out for season
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New Mexico wide receiver Troy Omeire has been ruled out for the season, per an availability report released by the league on Thursday.
The 6-foot-5, 226-pound senior left a 42-18 win over New Mexico State last week with what head coach Jason Eck said was a sprained ankle.
Thursday, a UNM spokesperson confirmed that Omeire suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon, prematurely ending his seventh season of college football.
Through four games with the Lobos, Omeire caught six passes for 112 yards, the third-best mark on the team. The former four-star prospect was largely expected to serve as UNM’s top receiver this season after transferring in from UNLV, where he caught 31 passes for 514 yards last year.
Omeire previously played at Arizona State and Texas, where injuries kept him off the field for his first two seasons of eligibility.
Without Omeire, UNM is expected to lean on receivers Bailen George (9 catches for 156 yards), Zhaiel Smith (4 catches for 57 yards), DJ Darling (2 catches for 44 yards) and Massiah Mingo (2 catches for 26 yards) going forward.
Mingo, a 5-9, 170-pound freshman, does not have an injury designation entering UNM’s game against UTEP. The Las Vegas native left UNM’s 38-7 win over Central Michigan with an ankle injury, and has not appeared in a game since.
“We’re expecting him to practice fully (Tuesday),” Eck said. “He needs a good week of practice just to get back into the speed of things.”
In addition to Omeire, offensive lineman Elvin Harris was also ruled out for the season after suffering an undisclosed injury during practice this week. The 6-6, 315-pound fourth-year senior appeared in three games this year and was listed on UNM’s most recent depth chart as a backup left tackle.
Tight end Tripp Walsh and receiver Shawn Miller have been ruled out for Saturday’s game, per the report. Eck said Walsh (one catch for five yards) re-aggravated a knee injury that forced him to miss games against FCS Mercyhurst and Oklahoma; Miller has not appeared in a game after suffering a concussion ahead of the Lobos’ season opener.
Eck said Miller could return to practice after UNM’s bye week “at the earliest.”
Tight end Joey Olsen, wide receiver Abraham Williams, offensive lineman Tevin Shaw and safety Keshawn Monroe have also been ruled out against UTEP. The former three have yet to play in a game this season; Monroe has appeared in two.
Offensive lineman Danzel Newell and defensive tackle Jake DeVos are questionable for Saturday’s game. Newell, a 6-5, 265-pound freshman, has started UNM’s last two games at left tackle.
Tavorus Jones and Lamar Sperling — two of UTEP’s top options at running backs — are listed as questionable entering Saturday’s game. Jones has rushed for a team-high 196 yards while Sperling has run for 20.
A second availability report will be released in the hours before Saturday’s game. All Mountain West teams are required to submit availability reports with designations, but without injury specifics, prior to each league contest.
Availability reports (as of Thursday, Oct. 1)
New Mexico
WR Troy Omeire — Out (Full Season)
OL Elvin Harris — Out (Full Season)
QB Jack Layne — Out (Full Season)
DE Cody Thumlert — Out (Full Season)
TE Joey Olsen — Out (Full Game)
TE Tripp Walsh — Out (Full Game)
WR Shawn Miller — Out (Full Game)
WR Abraham Williams — Out (Full Game)
OL Tevin Shaw — Out (Full Game)
S Keshawn Monroe — Out (Full Game)
DT Jake DeVos — Questionable
OL Danzel Newell — Questionable
UTEP
LB Ekow Taylor — Out (Full Season)
DL Oryend Fisher — Out (Full Game)
WR Mason Ferguson — Out (Full Game)
WR CJ Simon — Out (Full Game)
OL Jackson Bradley — Out (Full Game)
OL Rashad Smith — Out (Full Game)
RB Tavorus Jones — Questionable
RB Lamar Sperling — Questionable
CB Darien Fantroy — Questionable
OL Jaymon Lamb — Questionable
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.
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