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The good news for coach Tony Samuel is many of the key players return from last season's team and are hungry to take the next step and play in the New Orleans Bowl. There will be challenges, including a schedule that features six of the first eight games on the road. Also, Samuel is working with two new coordinators this year. Former offensive coordinator Barney Cotton, who held the position since 1997, is now at Nebraska. Steve Stanard, the defensive coordinator for the past three seasons and an original member of Samuel's staff, is now at Colorado State. Gerry Gdowski, the quarterbacks coach, will take over the offensive coordinator spot, while safeties coach Ross Els now runs the defense. If the Aggies can survive the early schedule and stay healthy, the talent is there to win the conference and break the nation's longest bowl drought. OFFENSIVE KEYS: Prior to the 2002 season, New Mexico State had to replace three players who combined for 3,349 yards. No sweat. Last fall, four Aggies combined for 4,330 yards, and they all return. The triggerman is quarterback Paul Dombrowski , who was the 2002 Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. He rushed for 868 yards with 12 touchdowns and also was handy through the air, completing more than 60 percent of his passes. Reliable backup Buck Pierce was withheld from contact drills this spring while recovering from ankle surgery.I-back Eric Higgins started all eight games in which he played and rushed for 499 yards and three scores. Tony Bostic will also see considerable action this year. Clearing the way for the I-backs will be Marcus Dixon, a returning starter at fullback. The Aggies must replace a pair of productive receivers, but Chris Lumpkin and Ronshay Jenkins are experienced and performed admirably in the spring. Tight end Alex Davis has started 32 consecutive games. One starter returns on each side of the line -- left tackle Trevor Kline and right guard Steve Subia. DEFENSIVE KEYS: Like the offensive backfield, New Mexico State's linebacking trio was untested heading into last season, but responded by outperforming its predecessors. Middle linebacker Jimmy Cottrell started every game as a true freshman and led the team with 102 tackles. Weakside backer Rich Glover was a second team All-Sun Belt pick and strongside backer Tim Patrick led the team in sacks.All four starters return to the defensive line, but three of them -- left end Traydell Bullock, nose tackle Joe Olivo and rush end Greg Scaffidi -- missed spring practice with injuries. Bullock was the leading tackler on the line, while Olivo was first-team All-Sun Belt in 2001. Lionel Apineru, who started eight of the 10 games he played, filled in for Olivo this spring. Tommy Laborin started five games at three different positions. The Aggies enter the season looking to replace all four starters in the secondary. Cameron Wright and Chris Davis nailed down the starting corner jobs in spring ball, but Jeremiah Imperial showed he could play as well. As many as seven players will challenge for playing time at safety. Free safety Matt Griebel played considerably last year as a freshman, while Wuan Harris and Eric Carrie made strides in the spring. SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Dario Aguiniga returns after earning first team all-conference honors in 2002. He was 17-of-23 on field-goal attempts and booted two from 50 yards or deeper. Junior college transfer Steven Smith participated in spring drills and will take over the punting chores.FINAL ANALYSIS: After close calls the last two seasons, New Mexico State looks to close the deal this year.In 2001, the Aggies relinquished fourth-quarter leads against co-champs North Texas and Middle Tennessee. Last year, with a bid to the New Orleans Bowl hanging in the balance, NMSU blew a fourth-quarter lead against North Texas. The Aggies figure to be one of the top rushing teams in the nation again. There are holes to fill in the secondary, but the team won last year with a mediocre pass defense. The key to putting New Mexico State over the top likely will be the defensive line. Although four starters return, most missed spring practice with injuries. If they're healthy in the fall, the Aggies could go bowling for the holidays. • Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
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