VIDEO: Teddy and Brook Show (5/15)

In our weekly sports video, we explain APR-mandated sanctions against NMSU football and dive into the New Mexico high school baseball and softball tournaments:

Under circumstances, Symington hire appears to be good one

The New Mexico State Aggies announced the hiring of Chris Symington as offensive line coach last week.

Symington appears to be a good hire for the program, particularly when considering the circumstances surrounding his addition. The Aggies were put in a tough spot when offensive line coach Steve Marshall left for the Green Bay Packers last week. Marshall was hired at NMSU in January, coached spring practices and then departed. Not that he can be necessarily blamed for the move - he has a career to worry about after all, and the NFL is the NFL. With that being said, it wasn't an ideal time for a college program to find a key replacement to its coaching staff.

Symington's connection to the Aggie football program are from his days coaching at Eastern Michigan University of the Mid-American Conference from 2003-08. This was the same period of time Aggie head coach Doug Martin was head coach at Kent State University, and NMSU offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon led the Bowling Green program.

Symington also comes with a pretty good background: previously at Colorado State University-Pueblo, a Division II program in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Symington has also worked at Tennessee State (2000-03), Western Kentucky (1996-99) and Vanderbilt (1990-94).

The CSU-Pueblo website called Symington "potentially the most influential assistant coach in the history of the….football program." The biography continued to say Symington - who was also the ThunderWolves run-game coordinator - produced four All-Americans, six all-region selections and one Gene Upshaw Award finalist in his first four seasons coaching the CSU-Pueblo offensive line. It also said that "under Symington's direction, CSU-Pueblo's offensive line has established itself as one of the top units in the country."

The Thunderwolves had a strong rushing offense last year, averaging 42.7 points per game while rushing for 213 yards per contest and 26 touchdowns.

The Aggies could certainly use stability at the offensive line coaching position - Symington will be the program's fifth coach there over the past four years. That is a mind-boggling statistic, and a reminder of how difficult it is for the NSMU football program to hold its coaches. That turnover alone has been a played a big factor in the team's struggles over the years.

Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

Three Aggies headed to NFL teams as undrafted free agents

Three New Mexico State Aggie football players signed with teams as undrafted free agents following the 2014 NFL Draft on Saturday evening.

Wide receiver Austin Franklin (St. Louis Rams), offensive lineman Davonte Wallace (Miami Dolphins) and linebacker Trashaun Nixon (New Orleans Saints) said they agreed to free agent contracts with their new teams.

We speculated last week all three had a chance of landing on an NFL roster by the conclusion of Draft weekend.

What does it take to make it as an undrafted free agent in the NFL? One would think players who aren't afraid to do the dirty work, provide toughness, and a possess a knack for overachieving have a chance.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see any of the three above players make their respective teams' practice squads. Franklin has the physical tools, although must continue to mature at his new home; Wallace was a steady, four-year player at NMSU at left offensive tackle, and I think he can develop as a guard on the next level; and Nixon is an underrated player who has the size and speed to get a shot.

Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

State Baseball and Softball Championships preview capsules

The 2014 State Baseball and Softball Championships open this weekend throughout New Mexico, with a number of local teams taking the field on Friday and Saturday.

In the local baseball circuit, all five District 3-5A teams - No. 6 Mayfield, No. 10 Gadsden, No. 12 Oñate, No. 13 Alamogordo and No. 15 Las Cruces - qualified for the State Tournament.

The No. 6-seeded Trojans have had a solid season and will host No. 11-seeded Rio Grande in opening-round play.

Oñate (No. 2 seed in Class 5A) and Centennial (No. 3 seed in Class 4A) are highly ranked on the softball diamond.

The baseball playoffs feature opening-round series (best-of-three games), while the state softball competition is a first-round single-elimination format.

Below, a look at local teams - and their matchups - entering the weekend:

BASEBALL
Class 5A
Who: No. 10 Gadsden at No. 7 Cleveland
Where: Cleveland High School
When: Game 1 is Friday at 4 p.m.; possible Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 10 a.m.
Preview: Typically underestimated, the Panthers finished with a 6-6 record in District 3-5A, which was good enough for a second-place finish in the league standings. Gadsden, which holds a 13-12 overall mark, is going to come at the opposition head on and plays hard for every out of every inning. The team's offense is effective, as is ace pitcher Tony Acevedo. Still, going on the road to face Cleveland High School in Rio Rancho (which holds a 17-9 overall record and a 5-4 mark in District 1-5A) would be a highly difficult task for any of the state's southern-based teams this time of year.

Who: No. 12 Oñate at No. 5 Volcano Vista
Where: Volcano Vista High School
When: Game 1 is Friday at 4 p.m.; possible Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 10 a.m.
Preview: A tough opening series for the Knights, who've dropped four of their last five games and five of their last seven contests. Still, Oñate (13-13 overall, 5-7 in District 3-5A) salvaged a playoff spot and heads north to face a quality Volcano Vista team. Oñate has struggled hitting with runners on base this season, a trend that will need to change if the Knights want to take down the Hawks (17-7 overall, 6-3 in District 1-5A).

Who: No. 15 Las Cruces at No. 2 Eldorado
Where: Eldorado High School
When: Game 1 is Friday at 4 p.m.; possible Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 10 a.m.
Preview: After winning the Las Cruces Baseball Invitational early in the season, it was bumpy beginning for the Bulldawgs in District 3-5A play. The team got its league schedule started by being swept at Gadsden, which led to them dropping their first five games against district competition. Sure enough, however, LCHS has played better, and enter State Tournament play as winners of three of their last four contests to hold a 13-13 overall record and 4-8 mark in league. LCHS has some pitching depth, and could perhaps give Eldorado some trouble, even in the role of underdog. With that being said, the Eagles are a powerhouse program (19-5 overall, 5-4 in District 2-5A), and will be a formidable foe on their homefield in Albuquerque.

Class 4A
Who: No. 10 Centennial at No. 7 Los Alamos
Where: Bomber Field in Los Alamos
When: Game 1 is Friday at 5 p.m.; possible Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 10 a.m.
Preview: No District 3-4A state playoff representatives - that being No. 9 Deming, No. 10 Centennial or No. 15 Santa Teresa - received home games this week. For the Hawks, a second-year program that's continuing to build under head coach Rusty Evans, heading to Los Alamos will be yet another challenge. Centennial finished the regular season with a 17-9 overall record and a 9-3 mark in District 3-A play. Los Alamos, on the other hand, was 20-6 during the regular season, including a 12-0 District 2-4A record.

Who: No. 15 Santa Teresa at No. 2 Goddard
Where: Goddard High School
When: Game 1 is Friday at 5 p.m.; possible Saturday doubleheader scheduled for 10 a.m.
Preview: The Desert Warriors, who were a state semifinals team last year, finished 2014 regular-season play with a 13-13 overall record, while going 6-6 in District 3-4A play. They'll visit a Goddard team ranked No. 2 overall in Class 4A, after a 22-4 showing in 2014 along with an 8-0 District 4-4A record.

SOFTBALL
Class 5A
Who: No. 15 Clovis at No. 2 Oñate
Where: Field of Dreams
When: Friday, 6 p.m.
Preview: The Knights are legitimate and had no trouble rolling through their District 3-5A schedule. The team holds a 24-2 record on the season and 11-1 mark against its league counterparts. Now they'll face Clovis in the State Tournament's opening round, leading up to double-elimination play in Albuquerque next week. The Knights have some heavy artillery on offense and their pitching has gotten the job done to this point. Defensively, the team has been sound. No doubt Oñate is a top team in state - the No. 2 seed just behind No. 1 Rio Rancho - but are they a state championship club? That's what will be determined in the coming weeks.

Who: No. 9 Las Cruces at No. 8 Albuquerque High
Where: Albuquerque High
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Preview: Make no mistake, the Bulldawgs are a talented team capable of making some noise come state tournament time. LCHS returned pieces from last year's state championship team and knocked off Oñate last week in the final doubleheader of District 3-5A regular-season play (LCHS finished the regular season with a 17-9 overall record, along with a 7-5 record in District 3-5A). Repeating as state champions will be a tall order for the Bulldawgs. Then again, a first-round road win in the state playoffs isn't out of the question either.

Class 4A
Who: No. 14 Kirtland Central at No. 3 Centennial
Where: Field of Dreams
When: Saturday, 11 a.m.
Preview: Centennial, in just its second year of existence, is seeded No. 3 and gets a first-round state playoff game to show for it. The Hawks (21-5 overall record, 12-0 mark in District 3-4A) are young and have some talent, so expect them to hold serve on their home turf this weekend. The double-elimination rounds in Albuquerque will provide a different set of challenges, however. Waiting in the wings could be No. 6 Los Lunas - which beat Centennial earlier this season - as well as traditionally strong programs in No. 2-seed Aztec and No. 1-seed Piedra Vista.

Another darkhorse Aggie as a possible pro prospect: Cayle Chapman-Brown

Wrote a Sunday story on Aggie football prospects for the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft. And make no mistake, Austin Franklin, Davonte Wallace and Trashaun Nixon are three that should at least get a look on the next level.

Another who I think could get into a training camp? That would be punter Cayle Chapman-Brown, who I believe is a darkhorse player as a possible pro prospect.

From my understanding, the punter position in the NFL is highly competitive, with many punters holding prolonged careers and, therefore, not a lot of turnover or opportunity presents itself at the position on a year-to-year basis.

With that being said, I think Chapman-Brown should at least be worthy of a look. For starters, he was a very productive punter during his two years at NMSU, sporting a strong leg and good hang time on his punts.

He's also a big player - listed at 6-foot-5, 231 pounds last year on the Aggie roster, he's got the height and wingspan to get to poor snaps that come his way. He's also a left-footed punter, which is seen as a plus as well.

Certainly, the potential is there for Chapman-Brown to get a look from a professional team. The question becomes, will the opportunity follow?

Follow me on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

VIDEO: Teddy and Brook Show (5/1)

Solo this week, I take a look at NMSU prospects in the upcoming NFL and NBA drafts. We also break down the NMSU baseball and softball seasons and discuss the high school baseball and softball scene:

PODCAST: Recapping Aggie spring football, and Sim Bhullar's decision to turn pro

We sit down with Bleedcrimson.net to rehash Aggie spring football as well as New Mexico State sophomore center Sim Bhullar's decision to pursue a professional career. Click here to listen in.