It was a whirlwind week of good news and bad news for the Aggies defensive line, as some players were kicked off the team while others were welcomed with open arms.

The Bad News

Head Coach Doug Martin announced this week that senior Kourtland Busby and sophomore Darius Anderson, both defensive lineman, were kicked off the team. According to Las Cruces Sun-News, Busby was released from the program due to academic issues, while no reasons for Anderson’s departure were given.

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This comes as a big blow to the Aggies defensive front, as Busby was considered one of the impact players at the position for the Aggies this season. Darius Anderson’s departure also hurts as this position is already low on depth and experience. With that being said, there was some good news on this side of the ball this week.

The Good News

Coach Martin announced the addition of Calvin Allen, a graduate transfer defensive lineman from the University of Arizona. Allen, a monster at 6’6” and 278 lbs., is a native of Las Cruces and played for the La Cueva High Bears. NMSU had originally offered him a scholarship out of high school but he decided to play for the Wildcats. There, Allen played in 18 games the past two seasons after redshirting his freshman year before deciding to become a graduate transfer. Fortunately for the Aggies, Allen decided to come back home and finish out his career with his hometown school.

Allen was also recruited by the University of New Mexico, and went on a visit there, but decided that NMSU’s 4-3 scheme was a better fit to end his career. Allen commented on why he chose the Aggies over the Lobos to Jason Groves of the Las Cruces Sun-News:

“NMSU was the first school that called me after I got the release. I liked it when I came on my visit. It just gave me the best opportunity to attempt to go to the next level and I thought I could come and help here and make some plays.”

Allen will definitely be making plays all over the field for the Aggies. He will provide some much needed length either from defensive tackle or three technique positions. He will also provide some experience for the Aggies in 2017 too, experience that is needed now more than ever.

The new projected starting defensive line rotation for the Aggies is now Allen, sophomore Roy Lopez, redshirt freshman Myles Vigne and JUCO transfer DeShawnte Lloyd.