Mar. 25—Jack Layne stood in the huddle. Ran to the line. Helped move his teammates into the right position, at the right time. Everything you might expect from New Mexico's junior quarterback and presumptive starter.
He just didn't play.
Layne remained sidelined during Tuesday's practice with an elbow injury, an unexpected development after UNM returned from spring break last week.
Head coach Jason Eck said Layne's injury will not require surgery and the program is evaluating non-surgical treatments to be completed this spring.
"It's not a tear, but there's something going on with the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) that showed up that we just got to be cautious with and let it recover," UNM's first-year coach said Tuesday. "(It's) more of just an overuse thing. We gotta do a better job of keeping him on a pitch count and make sure he's not throwing too much."
An Idaho transfer, Layne entered spring practice as the clear candidate to start for UNM after throwing for 1,477 yards, 14 touchdowns and four touchdowns in six games last season. He participated in the Lobos' first day of spring practice on March 11 before he was held out over the next two sessions with a sore right arm.
At the time, Eck said he expected Layne to return after spring break. Tuesday, he indicated there's now no clear timeline for when he might be cleared to play.
"I don't know if we're gonna get much more out of him this spring," Eck said. "But I think that's just another opportunity for these other quarterbacks who I really like ... as we get Jack back, whether it's the last week of spring ball or fall camp, then we can see where the competition goes from there."
Layne, however, remained active during Tuesday's practice, listening in on huddles and helping receivers get lined up before plays — even if being out is "kind of torture" for a quarterback eager to get back out.
"I can bring energy every day, I can bring effort, bring attitude, stuff like that," Layne said Tuesday. "That's what I'm trying to do."
"He's not going to detach himself ... He was over there coaching and getting better," Eck said. "And I think Jack will be a coach one day — he wants to be a coach, and will be a tremendous coach. But (it's) a great example of how you can still make a difference, even though you might not be fully cleared to participate."
In Layne's place, senior James Laubstein has been UNM's first-string quarterback. The former Sussex County (New Jersey) and University of New Haven (Connecticut) transfer appeared in three games for the Lobos last season, but did not see time at his listed position.
"I've just been getting better every day, getting more comfortable," he told the Journal on Tuesday. "Obviously it's hard when we're in OTAs (organized team activities) and it's not full speed ... (it's) not necessarily live, but the tempo we're going at? It's fast. Every day (I'm trying to) get a little bit better, a little more comfortable."
News, notes and observations
OFFENSIVE LINE: A new first-string offensive line was unveiled Tuesday — Nevell Brown (left tackle), Israel Mukwiza (left guard), Isaiah Sillemon (center), Richard Pearce (right guard) and Elvin Harris (right tackle). Harris replaced Brown at right tackle, and the latter replaced Travis Gray at left tackle; Eck said the shuffling isn't unusual as UNM works to find its first five.
"We got to dabble with all those things this spring so that we can kind of get it figured out," he said, "so as we get into camp, we can really develop that good chemistry and camaraderie between the first five."
FIRST DAY BACK: Running back D.J. McKinney was a full-go at Tuesday's practice for the first time this spring — even if Eck didn't think it looked exactly like that.
"He caught my eye today with some blitz pickups," he said of the Sam Houston State transfer. "I thought he did a good job — for a guy who's been out, he didn't make first-day mistakes ... He did a good job of tracking linebackers and picking things up in protection."
VISTORS: UNM had two notable visitors Tuesday — Mountain West associate commissioner John Sullivan, who was a consensus All-American kicker at UNM in 2007, and Hershul Olloway Jr., a sophomore running back and defensive back recruit out of St. Pius High School.
"Had a great time and experience at (UNM) practice today!" Olloway posted Tuesday via X. "Thank you for the experience and hospitality! Looking forward to the future."
HAMMER TIME: Safety David Murphy earned Monday's hammer (given to whoever Eck deems the player of the practice) after a session that saw the defense finish with a major flourish and Murphy delivering perhaps the biggest hit of the day in a third-down team period.
