Now a preseason All-MW honoree, UNM’s Brian Booker hoping to not leave any plays on the table

LAS VEGAS — For a defense as talented and deep as New Mexico’s, one key question remains with fall camp less than two weeks away: After since-departed defensive linemen Keyshawn James-Newby and Brett Karhu terrorized opposing offenses to the tune of 16.5 sacks last season — nearly half of UNM’s league-leading 36 — what Lobos can help replace that staggering level of production?

Last week, Brian Booker made one thing clear: He wants to be a big part of the answer.

Speaking at Mountain West Media Days, UNM’s fifth-year interior defensive lineman said he’s hoping to make more plays than last season while still serving as one of the Lobos’ most effective run defenders.

A preseason All-Mountain West honoree, the 6-foot-3, 330-pound Booker made 19 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in a starting role last season after transferring to UNM from Texas Southern. But if the Mansfield, Texas native was more than adequate playing the run, Booker entered the offseason feeling he left a “lot of meat on the table.”

“I could have had so much (more),” he said last Wednesday at Palms Casino Resort. “… I gave it all I could give, but sometimes it didn’t pay off, you know what I’m saying? It’s just a more personal thing for me — I left a lot of plays on the table, a lot of sacks, a lot of (tackles for loss), that kind of thing.”

It’s not as if Booker hasn’t shown the ability, though. In a 41-25 loss to Boise State on Oct. 11, he racked up 3 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in one of his strongest outings as a Lobo, an eye-popping flash of the player he’s hoping to be.

“Boise was one of those games where we just showed up and showed out,” he said. “It was a loss, but still … (UNM) had 11.5 tackles for loss in the first half. Shoot, who’s gonna tell you something?”

Nor does Booker always have the cleanest path to those eye-popping plays. As an interior defensive lineman, he’s cognizant of the balance he has to strike between staying on assignment and making the plays he believes he’s capable of.

One of the keys to that balance, Booker said, is simply letting the play come to him.

“Knowing when you gotta make your play,” he said, “and when to make a sacrifice.”

And above all else?

Focusing on the details.

“(He’s) always meeting with (defensive line coach Hebron Fangupo) any chance I get,” Booker said. “We always watch film all the time, just focusing on the small things. Like, we’ll go back to see where I messed up and then how we can fine-tune it, where we can improve off of that.”

Booker isn’t the only one hoping he can take his game to another level.

Last week, Jason Eck said he thought Booker did a “good job” playing the run last season but believed he stood to grow as a pass rusher. UNM’s second-year head coach also pointed out that, at least from Booker’s position, there weren’t as many obstacles towards him doing so.

“It’s tougher to chip with the (running back) or leave a tight end to help if you can get good pass rush out of your three techniques,” he said last Thursday.

In the spring, defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky marveled at Booker’s power and quick feet, agreeing with the idea he could be considered a freak athlete. He pointed to his ability to pick up his feet and move on one play before sweeping up offensive lineman Malik Aliane — listed at 6-2, 320 pounds — on the next.

“Book got his hands inside and he lifted him up like he was a kitten, you know what I mean?” Nowinsky laughed in April. “(Like) he saved him from drowning in the river! It was unbelievable.”

On the flipside? Nowinsky wants to see more “nasty” out of Booker.

“This is not a negative for later on in his life,” he added. “But if I have one criticism, he’s probably too friendly. He’s too nice, too gentle at times.”

Almost every improvement will be necessary for Booker to play a role on the defensive line’s stated goal: Breaking UNM’s single season sack record of 53.

If it happens, Booker will almost assuredly play the role he hopes to.

“We just know one person has to get 17.5 sacks on the season to almost guarantee that, so it’s probably going to come from the edge,” he chuckled. “Shoot, you get 17.5 sacks in a season, what (else) is there to say? And (from) a defensive line perspective, we’re all hunting for that.

“But we still just gotta maintain focus on what we can control.”

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.