Lobos Lilly, Moran announce they will transfer

University of New Mexico wide receiver Elijah Lilly and running back Kentrail Moran have entered the transfer portal, they announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

They join senior safety Brandon Burton and senior linebacker Jacobi Hearn as Lobos who have entered the transfer portal this month.

Lilly, a 6-foot, 160-pound speedy senior from Cajon High in San Bernardino, California, has been one of the Lobos’ playmakers. He compiled 375 receiving yards for second on the team in 2018 before playing a shortened 2019 season when he opted out for shoulder surgery.

“This wasn’t an easy decision for me to make,” Lilly said on Twitter. “but after some hard thinking and a lot of prayer I’ve come to the realization that it would be best for me to try to finish up my collegiate career somewhere else. The University of New Mexico will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Moran, a 5-foot-9, 198-pound redshirt junior, says he will be graduating at the end of this fall semester.

“These past 4 years have been a great experience and a very eye opening experience, with many trials and tribulations, but I am thankful for it all,” Moran said on Twitter. “I thank Coach (Bob) Davie for giving me an opportunity to come play here at UNM and I thank Coach (Danny) Gonzales for coming in and turning things around within this program.”

The NCAA Board of Governors recently announced that the 2020 season would not count against a

player’s eligibility clock. Studentathletes could potentially play up to two seasons in 2021 if there is a spring season, and another in the fall.

The Lobos have 31 seniors on scholarship, Gonzales said, and made them aware that there would not be enough scholarships available for all of them next year. UNM plans to have 85 players on scholarship in 2021. According to the eligibility announcement, universities can keep 110 players on scholarship, but that might not be the case for all programs financially.

Gonzales isn’t aware of who else will enter the transfer portal, but “there will be a few more along the way,” he said.

Moran came to UNM as a highly touted running back from O’Fallon High School in Illinois. He had scholarship offers from Michigan, Louisville, Iowa, Indiana and Syracuse before deciding to commit to Illinois. He de-committed from Illinois less than two weeks before signing day because he did not have a qualifying ACT or SAT score at the time, Moran’s high school football coach Brandon Joggerst told the Journal in May of 2016.

When Moran gained his qualifying test score, the schools that had offered had filled their needs. Complicating matters was Illinois fired its coach, Tim Beckman.

Moran redshirted his freshman season in 2016. In 2018, he suffered a season-ending knee injury and received a medical redshirt.

Last season, he saw action in six games. He scored his first two touchdowns in a 35-21 loss to Colorado State.