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UNM football: Tight end bid just that: tight

3-way race emerges with new offense

By Iliana Limón
Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Chris Mark knows this is his big chance.

Mark has spent the past three years watching others playing at starting tight end for the Lobos.

"I've been patient, but I know that this is my opportunity to take over that job," said Mark, a 6-foot-5, 247-pound junior.

"I've been waiting too long for this chance to just let it slip by me now."

University of New Mexico coach Rocky Long said he needs two strong tight ends to step up and fill a void on his depth chart.

"So far, we have a lot of candidates but no one has really emerged as two favorites," Long said. "I'm sure we'll find two guys, but we've got a strong competition right now."

Luke Walters, a 6-4, 238-pound sophomore, and Tim Merrill, a 6-5, 270-pound sophomore transfer, are the strongest tight end candidates looking to knock out Mark.

"We're all friendly, but we also are all fighting for the chance to play," Walters said. "I know I try to look my best every practice. I want the coaches to say I'm taking my job seriously."

The tight ends are slated to be receivers and blockers in new offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin's modified spread offense, the fourth attack the Lobos are learning in as many years.

"It's not as bad as I thought it would be," Walters said. "I think we've all worked pretty hard, and the offense is starting to click."

Tell that to Merrill, a talented junior college transfer who was brought in to immediately challenge the others for playing time.

Coaches shout his name often in practice, a painful way of pointing out his mistakes in front of the entire team.

"There is so much coming at me right now, but I know that I can help this team once I get the hang of everything," he said.

"I know the coaches brought me here because they believe I can help this team, and I want to step up. I just need to keep studying and improving."

Mark might not have won the coaches over yet, but he has some advantages in his favor.

He has spent the most time in a UNM uniform and has seen the most playing time.

"I got in last year, and I was an absolute mess," he said. "I had terrible butterflies, and I know I forgot what I was supposed to do because I was so nervous. Now that's gone, and I can just focus on making a good play and helping the team."

Mark is especially eager to wrestle away serious playing time by the end of fall camp because he says he believes Baldwin has special plans for his tight ends.

"Every year, we have talked about tight ends being more important, but it's really true with this offense," Mark said.

"Plus, coach Baldwin used to be a tight ends coach," he said. "It seems like he really wants to use tight ends. And that just makes me want to work even harder to be a starter."

O-lineman hurt: Backup right tackle Zayn Bin-Bilal suffered an injured knee earlier this week and has been forced to miss workouts. UNM head trainer Dave Binder said Bin-Bilal, a redshirt freshman from Taos, is eager to get back on the practice field, but he is not being allowed to practice until doctors get an MRI of his knee. Binder said Bin-Bilal's knee hasn't swelled, which should make it much easier to treat the injury.

Good deeds: The Lobos will spend their first day off after six consecutive practices lifting weights and attending team meetings in the morning and evening. During their time off in the afternoon, the Lobos will visit patients in University of New Mexico Hospital's new wing devoted to treating children.