Out for the season, QB Jack Layne is still finding ways to help New Mexico
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At first, it was purely a preventive measure.
After undergoing season-ending elbow surgery in August, New Mexico quarterback Jack Layne wore a hinged elbow brace with a sling on his right arm. And with the exception of a few post-operation sessions, he’s been at every practice since, carrying a binder of plays, encouraging his teammates and helping where he can.
Layne has not, however, been spotted on the sidelines through four games. He’s been observed roaming the field during warmups, but once kickoff comes? He’s gone.
Why?
“With his condition with his arm, especially the first couple games, (we) wanted him in the (coaches’) box,” offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner said, “just because we were worried about him on the sideline. Because Jack Layne’s not the kind of guy that’s going to be in the back.He’s going to be up on the sideline looking at the plays, coaching the quarterbacks, yelling at the defense.”
With that in mind, the decision was made: keep Layne away from any sideline collisions and out of harm’s way — again, a preventive measure more than anything else.
It’s since become practical.
Now spending games in the coaches’ booth, Layne has found a role: diagnosing coverages on the fly and helping the Lobos’ offensive coaches get a bead on opponent tendencies. The fifth-year senior goes through previous plays on an iPad, studies opponent coverages and suggests what plays UNM can use to attack them.
Would Layne rather be attacking said coverages himself? There’s little doubt he would, especially after passing for 2,486 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season.
But for a player that wants to coach when it's all said and done, Layne’s time in the booth has been a “super cool” experience in a season lost to injury.
“Getting to learn from coach Schleusner up in the booth (and) see how he calls plays,” he added, “and (learning) from (offensive analyst Adam Behrends and graduate assistant Connor Berry), just how they operate and (see) what game day’s like … I’ve been up there every game this season and every game has brought something different.”
One highlight? Seeing the process of halftime adjustments being made — this time, from a coach’s perspective.
Some games, UNM doesn’t really make them — there might be a tweak here or there, but that’s it. But when they do, it’s a mad dash from the University Stadium press box to a golf cart that whisks the coaches to the team weight room.
There, Layne said, it’s like a “NASCAR pit crew” has sprung up, with coaches whirring around and shouting out suggestions before they’re relayed to players.
Where do the suggestions go? Schleusner’s yellow legal pad.
“Every coach has their idea,” Layne added, “and (Schleusner) is just writing it down as fast as he can … It’s very (much) organized chaos, but they do a great job and it’s why they get paid the big bucks, man. It’s really cool to see.”
But if Layne’s there as more of a “fly on the wall,” Schleusner said he can only stay quiet for so long.
“He’s such a great leader,” Schleusner added. “(Layne’s) telling the quarterbacks simple things: trust your eyes, play fast, things like that. And I think he’s just seen how fast it goes — halftime’s just crazy.”
Beyond his time in the box, Layne was to do something he might not have normally done if he was playing.
With his identical twin brother Dylan Layne – a linebacker at Oregon State – playing a game at UTEP on Saturday night, Jack celebrated UNM’s 42-18 win over rival New Mexico State with his teammates, hopped in the car and drove over to El Paso to watch Dylan make eight total tackles in a 33-7 win over the Miners.
Jack and Dylan previously roomed together for three seasons at Idaho. Since Jack departed for New Mexico ahead of last season, he said the two are now “best friends” instead of roommates largely because they have to make an effort to talk to each other.
Saturday was the latest example.
“We (were) right there on the sideline,” Layne said, “so he would come over and talk to me in between series a little bit.”
Was Layne providing his brother with any advice?
“He was doing most of the talking,” he chuckled.
Before Layne was ruled out for the season, UNM filed a waiver on his behalf in case he missed what would’ve been his fifth and final year of eligibility. Layne said he hasn’t heard back on the waiver, but is expecting to be cleared to return to full practices in May.
No matter which way it goes, Layne’s happy to help in any way he can — whether that’s diagnosing coverages or helping bring a young starter like quarterback Toa Fa’avae along.
“Toa’s killing it, man … I’ve been trying to help him play faster with some of the passing stuff,” Layne said. “But I don’t wanna handcuff the kid because his legs are his superpower. He’s really doing a great job being a leader and leading the offense.”
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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