New Mexico State Aggies starting QB for Week 7: Who is Tony Sanchez's QB1 for game against Jacksonville State Gamecocks?
The New Mexico State Aggies started the season with a win but followed it by dropping three straight games. They are coming off an open week. The All-Conference USA matchup will see the Aggies take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on Wednesday, with kickoff scheduled at 7:30 pm ET in Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.
For the Aggies, Wake Forest transfer junior quarterback Santino Marucci started the last game. Barring any injury or setback before the game, he should get the nod to start this Wednesday.
Will Santino Marucci continue to start for New Mexico State Aggies in Week 7?
Yes, with no injuries to report, Santino Marucci will be under center for the Aggies. Coach Sanchez confirmed his participation.
At Wake Forest, as a freshman in 2021, he didn't get any time on the field. After little to no action in his first two years at Wake Forest, he decided to take a transfer and join Tony Sanchez's program for more playing time.
Santino Marucci's performance in the 2024 season
Since he's a transfer quarterback, Marucci may take some time before he finds synergy with his team. He's thrown just two touchdown passes to his route runners and one rushing touchdown in two full games of participation.
In a 31-11 loss against Sam Houston, he passed for 74 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He followed that up with a far better performance against the New Mexico Lobos, where he threw for 189 yards and one touchdown. He also added 42 rushing yards on six carries and one score.
“Santino started an entire game, played the whole game, did some good things, it was nice to see him make some throws at the end. We want to see that gradual improvement," Sanchez said, via KTSM.com.
"Coach [Tyler] Wright needs to do a good job of getting him mentally ready and we got to make sure we get him a menu that he [Marucci] can execute.”
The oddsmakers don't expect Tony Sanchez's New Mexico State Aggies to challenge the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, who enter this game as a 20.5-point favorite.