New Mexico State has its presumptive starting quarterback: Trey Hedden.
Aggies coach Tony Sanchez said during the Conference USA Kickoff Show on Monday, July 20, in Arlington, TX, that the Furman transfer “has the nod” going into fall camp. While it’s not set in stone yet, the job appears to be Hedden’s to lose.
“Right now, he’s gotta fight to keep it,” Sanchez said during the kickoff event, which aired on ESPN+. “But we’re excited about him.”
Sanchez went into detail on why Hedden is the frontrunner during CUSA Media Day on Tuesday, July 21, in Arlington, lauding his size, previous starting experience, football IQ and leadership skills.
“He’s a big six-three, 230-pound kid. He had a really good spring for us,” Sanchez said. “You bring guys in based on what you see, but then when you sit down in the film room with them, and you talk ball, you talk X’s and O’s, and you listen to his explanations. You see his decision-making on the field, see his leadership capabilities, and obviously his physical size, his stature, he’s exactly what you’re looking for.”
Hedden made the All-Southern Conference Freshman Team in 2024 after starting eight games and throwing for 1,767 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was Furman’s full-time starter last season and notched 2,967 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions, earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors after completing 26 of his 35 passes for 314 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions during the Paladins’ third game against Campbell.
Hedden’s primary challenger for the Aggies’ starting job is returning redshirt junior Adam Damante. He was NM State’s backup quarterback last season and started the final two games against UTEP and Middle Tennessee after regular starter Logan Fife suffered an injury, passing for 564 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in those starts.
Damante also earned starting experience at Northern Arizona in 2023, where he started six contests. He ended that season with 1,151 passing yards, six passing touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Sanchez has attached clarifications to his statements on Hedden as a reminder that he still has work to do to win the job. But if the 2026 season started today, it’s evident who would be the Aggies’ guy.
“He’s got some other guys in the room with him that’ll push him, so he’s got to continue to work,” Sanchez said. “But I just think his experience of being a starter, having all that game experience, his ability, him coming in, being with us throughout the entire spring and the summer, I think he’s done a really good job in developing.”
Hedden and Damante were among the players chosen to model NM State’s new black uniform from Adidas. Hedden has also tried to establish himself within the community by participating in the Bataan Memorial Death March in March.
ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ᴇʀᴀ ☰#AggieUp x #YouGotThispic.twitter.com/MhyVei7jEI
— New Mexico State Football (@NMStateFootball) July 1, 2026
𝘿𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛.@treyhedden3 had the incredible experience of participating in the 37th Annual Bataan Memorial Death March last month🫡#AggieUp x #RideForTheBrandpic.twitter.com/BwTGr4U5l1
— New Mexico State Football (@NMStateFootball) April 1, 2026
NM State opens its 2026 season in Week 0 against Florida State on Aug. 29 on the road.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: NMSU’s Trey Hedden has ‘the nod’ as QB1 heading for now, Tony Sanchez says
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