ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Lobos have had an amazing array of kickoff returners, and for the #BestOfThe2000s, it came down to a pair, with Elijah Lilly edging out Carlos Wiggins for the 19th slot on the team, as Lilly was voted onto the squad as a kickoff returner. He is the second active player to make the team, joining tight end Marcus Williams.
Lilly and Wiggins dominated the voting with Lilly getting 53% and Wiggins 33.5%. They outdistanced Marcus Smith and Frankie Solomon in the voting, which has been going on all month on UNM’s Football Twitter account. UNM’s next vote is for punt returner.
Congratuations to the 19th member of the #BestOfThe2000s team, and the second active player on the list, Elijah Lilly (@rarelij) for getting voted top kick returner! Punt returner voting will start this afternoon! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/TqqyE6ygF1
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) April 23, 2020
The series is a way to engage Lobo fans with the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lilly has been UNM’s top kickoff returner for the past three seasons that he played,, from 2016-18, as he redshirted after playing just three games in 2019. Lilly’s numbers suffer a bit due to the massive changes in the kickoff rules, but he still owns a pair of touchdowns and his career return average is a robust 23.4 yards per return. He made his mark in the first game he ever played, as he was pulled off of his redshirt to provide a special teams spark against Air Force. He did just that, earning Mountain West Player of the Week honors for his return efforts, which constantly put UNM in great starting field position in a 45-40 win.
Lilly has a pair of touchdowns, one against ULM for 93 yards and then an electrifying 100-yard return against Texas A&M at Kyle Field. That was actually his second 100-yard return of the game, although a curious replay review wiped out the first touchdown. While he owns a pair of touchdowns, he had that one vs. Texas A&M and touchdowns against both New Mexico State and Air Force called back on questionable penalties. An all-MW sprinter, Lilly started as a defensvie back before switching to receiver. He succeeded Carlos Wiggins as a kickoff returner, combining to provide UNM with plenty of offense for a six-year stretch.
Numbers and nominations crunched! Let’s get a punt returner on the #BestOfThe2000s team! Poll closes at noon tomorrow! This will be the 20th member of the squad, with just 3 receivers, 4 DBs, a long snapper and one all-purpose player left! #GoLobos
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) April 23, 2020
Lilly, who didn’t return kicks in his three games in 2019 due to an injury, will be a senior in 2020.
#BestOfThe2000s Team (Selected by the Fans)
| Offense | Defense | ||
| QB | Lamar Jordan | DL | Michael Tuohy |
| RB | DonTrell Moore | DL | Evroy Thompson |
| RB | Jhurell Pressley | DL | D. J. Renteria |
| WR | LB | Dallas Bollema | |
| WR | LB | Dakota Cox | |
| WR | LB | Carmen Messina | |
| TE | Marcus Williams | LB | Nick Speegle |
| OL | Byron Bell | DB | |
| OL | Erik Cook | DB | |
| OL | Ryan Cook | DB | |
| OL | Aaron Jenkins | DB | |
| OL | Jason Lenzmeier | DB | |
| PK | Jason Sanders | ||
| P | Corey Bojorquez | ||
| KR | Elijah Lilly | ||
| PR | |||
| LS | |||
| AP | |||