LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KTSM) — After a 2024 season where New Mexico State averaged just 143 passing yards per game, one of Tony Sanchez's top priorities for 2025—along with finding a quality, reliable quarterback—was improving the wide receiver unit. This spring, New Mexico State is workin g with a 14-man wide receiver group. Nine are returnees and five are newcomers. NMSU lost Kordell David, Jordan Smith, Jahrique Lowe, and Isaiah Abeyta from last year's team. NMSU's 2025 Spring Roster (WR) Bold indicates returnee #0 PJ Johnson III (Senior) #3 Shawn Brown (Redshirt junior) #5 Donovan Faupel (Junior) #7 TJ Pride (Sophomore) #11 Jackson Owens (Senior) #12 Tyler King (Junior) #25 Jayden Bell (Redshirt sophomore) #26 Isaiah Griffin (Graduate student) #29 Kaden Trevino (Redshirt sophomore) #36 Ethan Singleton (Senior) #80 Izeyah Wright (Sophomore) #81 Allen Ortiz (Senior) #83 AJ Williams (Redshirt sophomore) Brodrick Malone (Freshman) NMSU's 143 passing yards per game in 2024 is the program's lowest mark since 2009 when it averaged 88 passing yards per game. Another reason why NMSU's passing game was what it was in 2024 was because it didn't have a go-to guy at the quarterback position. NMSU played four different quarterbacks (Parker Awad, Santino Marucci, Brandon Nunez, and Deuce Hogan) throughout the season. Neither completed 100 passes nor had a completion percentage higher than 47%. It's looking like a completely different story this season with NMSU bringing in Logan Fife, a senior with previous stops at Montana and Fresno State. "Overall, the group looks really good. It's an entirely new looking group out there, again some of the old guys are back, but we're excited about them," NMSU football head coach Tony Sanchez said. "The biggest difference is that quarterbacks throwing deliverable balls." Looking at the wide receiver room this spring, two of NMSU's top guys from the 2024 team are back with the Aggies this spring: TJ Pride and PJ Johnson III. Pride led the team with 374 receiving yards and 34 catches in 2024. Johnson III was right behind him with 346 receiving yards on 19 catches. Both caught two touchdown passes each last season. Faupel looks to bounce back from a 2024 season that was full of ups and downs for him medically. Looking at newcomers, Tyler King has turned heads so far this spring. King came to New Mexico State after a season at Wyoming. King recorded 236 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards while playing for the Cowboys in 2024. "[Tyler] King has done a tremendous job [this spring]," NMSU football head coach Tony Sanchez said. "He's a transfer from Wyoming. He's a really good player." AJ Williams provides New Mexico State with some height at WR. Williams is a 6'4'' redshirt sophomore that transferred in from Mary Hardin-Baylor. Jackson Owens has also been impressive this spring. Owens transferred to New Mexico State from Riverside City College. Owens was one of the top-ranked wide receivers in the country at the JUCO level in 2024. Brodrick Malone is the only true freshman in NMSU's wide receiver room this spring. Malone, a product of Houston, Texas, was rated a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports. He capped off his high school career at Atascocita High School with a senior season which included 28 catches for 523 yards to rank third on the team in both catches and yards. Johnson III, who has been a WR at NMSU since 2021, says this current wide receiver group reminds him of the unit on that 2023 team that won 10 games. "This is pretty much the room that reminds me of the season when we had 10 wins," Johnson III said. "I feel like not only have two-deep but three-deep everywhere." We'll get another look at how NMSU's wide receiver unit is coming along so far on Saturday when the program plays its spring game. https://twitter.com/NMStateFootball/status/1906755350876897420 NMSU will hold its 2025 spring game at the Bulldog Bowl in Artesia, NM this weekend. NMSU says admission is free. ...read more read less