Two of a kind: Aoelua, Adolpho lead Aggie linebacking corps
When Boyblue Aoelua scored a touchdown last weekend, he took a low-keyed approach.
The junior middle linebacker's big play got the New Mexico State Aggies back into the football game, cutting Louisiana Tech's 24-10 lead in half.
It also marked the first touchdown in Aoelua's football-playing career.
"A touchdown's a touchdown," Aoelua said. "That's the main celebration. If we ever make a play....First thing, you gotta go back to your teammates and celebrate with them."
Aoelua was covering Louisiana Tech wide receiver Andrew Guillot on the play. Quarterback Ross Jenkins' pass over the middle deflected off Guillot's body and was scooped up by Aoelua, who returned the interception 41 yards for the score.
While Aoelua simply high-fived his teammates, fellow linebacker B.J. Adolpho was up-in-arms following the play.
"That's what's up," Adolpho said. "The linebackers finally scored on defense. I was really excited for that."
The truth is that the forced turnover — and the touchdown — were both a long time coming for the Aggies.
It was just the third interception of the year for NMSU, and the first defensive touchdown of the season for the team.
"I'm used to that," Aggie head coach DeWayne Walker said. "You score touchdowns on defense....Every defense I've been around, two-to-three touchdowns (a season)....It was good to see. At least we've got one so far."
NMSU eventually lost the contest 41-20 to Louisiana Tech, as the Bulldogs score 14 points in the final five minutes of play to break things open.
Still, at times the NMSU defense showed flashes of promise, holding Louisiana Tech to a scoreless third quarter, while getting arguably the most solid all-around performance from the linebacking unit.
While Aoelua had the pick-six, he also made five tackles, two of which went for a loss.
Adolpho led the Aggies with 13 tackles on the evening while Frank Padilla was third on the team with seven takedowns, despite playing essentially three quarters, as NMSU started the game with five defensive backs on the field and just two linebackers — Aoelua and Adolpho.
While Padilla, a senior, will depart the program following this year, Aoelua and Adolpho, who is a sophomore, will return. Both will come back with experience under their belts, after taking virtually every snap in 2010.
"If you look at the linebacker corps, all together, I think they've improved," Walker said.
"I think with defense, you have to have veterans. It's hard to just throw new guys in there. You've got to build with older guys."
With 67 and 66 tackles on the season, Aoelua and Adolpho rank second and third on the Aggies, respectively, in the category.
"Me and Boyblue, we're comfortable playing with each other," Adolpho said. "I know how he thinks, he knows how I think....We know what each other's responsibilities are. If the circumstances come where I'm in his spot and he's in mine, we both know how to play each other's positions."
As the middle linebacker in Walker's defense, Aoelua carries much responsibility. Walker said the 5-foot-10, 227-pounder can lay a solid hit, but needs to improve on his understanding of zone coverage schemes and concepts.
"Be more aggressive, physical....I gotta learn how to....be consistent staying in gaps, knowing my assignment," Aoelua said of areas in his game he would like to get better at.
"I would say I'm still getting there slowly....I still have a lot of room for improvement."
The positive is that he will do it playing alongside Adolpho.
"We both feed off each other," Adolpho said. "If we need help, we tell them "hey, get my back.' I know he'll be there and he knows I'll be there."
