Las Cruces, New Mexico (KTSM) – Eli was one of the most influential players on the New Mexico State football team last season, a historic season in which the Aggies went 10-5, went to the Conference USA Championship and qualified for the New Mexico Bowl.・It was Stowers.
Stowers was the ultimate athlete for the 2023 Aggies with the ability to play any position on offense that NMSU needs.
Prior to the 2023 season, Stowers transferred from Texas A&M to New Mexico State and joined the team as quarterback. At that point, Stowers had never really played any position other than quarterback in his entire football career.
However, New Mexico State already has Diego Pavia as its starting quarterback for the 2023 season, and Stowers didn't get much playing time as quarterback. So Stowers made the sacrifice of giving up QB duties and began playing wide receiver and primarily tight end for the Aggies.
This was a mid-season move that earned him a lot of respect from then-head coach Jerry Kill and other members of the NMSU football team.
“He's one of my pride and joy. He's a great Christian kid, he does everything right, he gives some things up, and he's a great human being,” said New Mexico State football head coach Jerry. Kill said. “If I had a son, I'd want him to be like Eli Stowers. If I had this lunch bucket, he'd be in my lunch bucket. Put him in my trench. I want to go.”
Former NMSU head football coach Jerry Kill talks about Stowers moving to tight end (quoted from October 2023)
In 2023, Stowers caught 35 passes, totaled 366 receiving yards, and had two touchdown catches, making him one of Pavia's top targets. He also gained 113 yards on 29 attempts and found the end zone twice.
Stowers will return to New Mexico State in 2024, but things look much different for the program.
Key Changes: Tony Sanchez was named the team's new head coach following Kill's departure last December. Pavia transferred to Vanderbilt. And NMSU has a brand new quarterback room, with Deuce Hogan, Brandon Nunez, Parker Awad, Jeff Davison and Paul Sielemans competing for the starting spot in 2024.
With Pavia gone and the starting quarterback spot on the line, Stowers will want to immediately return to the position he has played most of his life and compete for the starting quarterback spot at NMSU.
I finally checked in on the final week of NMSU's spring football season, and it wasn't.
Stowers primarily plays the tight end position, with the goal of continuing to play wherever NMSU needs him.
“I think I kind of made the decision to switch to the tight end role. Praise and thank God [former NMSU head coach] with jerry kill [former NMSU offensive coordinator] Tim Beck gave me that opportunity,” Stowers said. “Obviously, if there's anything they want me to do, whether it's at quarterback or anywhere, I'll do it. I love football, I love playing, but it's where I feel most comfortable, which is I think it’s the tight end position.”
Stowers wants to stay at tight end, and NMSU is willing to keep him there.
NMSU head coach Tony Sanchez said, “He didn't play the quarterback role the entire spring training.” “Last year, he had a huge impact on our offense playing tight end. Maybe we should have practiced him there more. Maybe we should have used him there sooner. , I think he'll go through this spring ball and then pass. [fall] He's going to bring a lot of value to this team and be a special guy during camp and as a full-time tight end. ”
Stowers has put a lot of effort into improving all aspects of his game at the tight end position this spring football season.
Stowers' first chance to show it off will be Saturday at New Mexico State's spring football game at Aggie Memorial Stadium. NMSU announced that kickoff for the spring game will be at 10:30 a.m. at Montana State.
