Sometimes Lobo quarterbacks end up inexplicably linked. Such is the case with Lamar Jordan, Casey Kelly, and Donovan Porterie. Casey Kelly last roamed the sidelines for The University of New Mexico Lobos back in 2003. That was a pretty seminal year for Lobo football, as the team made it to a second straight bowl game with Kelly as the starting quarterback, playing in the Las Vegas Bowl where UNM lost 55-14 to Oregon State.
That’s one of the many similarities between Kelly and current starting quarterback Lamar Jordan, who became the starting quarterback late in his freshman season and, just like Kelly, led UNM to a second straight bowl game in his junior season. Jordan has accounted for 32 touchdowns in his career, and Kelly 38. Of course Jordan has one more season.
There are some dissimilarities too. Jordan is listed at 5-10, 183 and Kelly was 6-3, 193. Kelly was never described as overly fast … Jordan deceptively so.
However, of all the stats you can have as quarterback, whether it’s rushing because you mastermind the triple option, or passing yards and touchdowns because you throw the ball all over the yard, there is one that is more important than any other.
Wins.
It’s Casey Kelly that tops the UNM wins list, but it’s Lamar Jordan that is hot on his heels, and as UNM hits the Summer with an eye on the 2017 season, the big question is: can Lamar Jordan become the winningest quarterback in Lobo history?
As President Snow might say in The Hunger Games, the odds are ever in his favor.
Jordan picked up four wins his freshman year, three in relief, getting credited for wins over UNLV, New Mexico State and UTSA (all on the road) and Wyoming.
In 2015, he earned wins over Mississippi Valley State, Wyoming, New Mexico State, Utah State and Air Force to get him to nine. Last year he was credited with wins over San José State, Air Force, ULM, Wyoming and UTSA to move him to 14 overall, just five behind Kelly. He is currently tied with David Osborne (1979-82) and Donovan Porterie (2006-09) with 14 wins.
Should Jordan get five more, he would tie Kelly for first on the list, and should he surpass Kelly with six wins, that would not only move him onto the top of the UNM career wins chart, but six wins would also mean a third straight bowl game. The only other quarterback to lead UNM to three straight bowl games?
Casey Kelly.
After the 2003 Las Vegas Bowl, UNM made it to the 2004 Emerald Bowl, losing to Navy 34-19. Jordan does already have one up on Kelly with his bowl win last year. In fact, the only other quarterback to lead UNM to a bowl win in the last 56 years is Donovan Porterie, who Jordan is currently tied with on the wins list.
It might not even matter if Jordan is the starter for him to win games. His wins in 2014 over New Mexico State and UNLV were both off the bench, and both featured drives to win the game in the fourth quarter. In fact, in both games, he led fourth quarter touchdown drives, and UNM allowed the opponent to retake the lead. Jordan in both games against led final second touchdown drives, both featuring fourth down conversions.
Those games featured the first final-minute game-winning touchdowns drives by a freshman quarterback since Porterie in 2007.
Jordan is easily the most experienced quarterback on the roster. He’s a guy who has the respect of his teammates, having been voted captain as a sophomore and as a junior. Should he earn the nod, he would become just the second three-time captain in the 119-year history of the program, and the first offensive player to do so.
Jordan is 11th in career rushing and if he hits his general average of 700 yards or so, he should finish his career just short of 3,000 yards. His 2,158 yards are already the most ever by a Lobo quarterback. He owns the second-longest pass in the history of the program (a 92-yard touchdown in the 2015 Gildan New Mexico Bowl to Delane Hart-Johnson).
In Jordan you have a student-athlete that was originally committed to Arkansas, but came to UNM to be a quarterback. He’s one of the most popular players on the team among fans, teammates and the staff. He’s five wins from topping the all-time wins list at UNM. Does anyone really doubt he can get it done?
MOST WINS – STARTING QUARTERBACK – CAREER
| QB | Wins | Years | |
| 1. | Casey Kelly | 19 | 2000-03 |
| 2. | Jim Cromartie | 18 | 1960-62 |
| 3. | Rocky Long | 16 | 1969-71 |
| Stan Quintana | 16 | 1963-65 | |
| 5. | Stoney Case | 15 | 1991-94 |
| 6. | Lamar Jordan | 14 | 2014-present |
| David Osborn | 14 | 1979-82 | |
| Donovan Porterie | 14 | 2006-09 | |
| 9. | Kole McKamey | 13 | 2003-06 |
| 10. | Graham Leigh | 12 | 1996-98 |
With season ticket packages starting at just $86, fans can ensure they will see each home game of the 2017 Lobo Football schedule. To purchase new season tickets, call 505-925-LOBO, log on unmtickets.com or visit the Dreamstyle Arena Ticket Office Monday through Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Mountain Time.