Casey Kelly

Casey Kelly

Player Profile

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Portland, Ore.
High School:
Westview HS
Height / Weight:
6-3 / 193
Position:
Quarterback
Birthdate:
01/13/1980
Experience:
3L

NEW MEXICO: Returning starter at quarterback and the heart and soul of the Lobo offense...possesses a strong, accurate arm and an excellent command of the offense...a real field general who excels at adjusting at the line of scrimmage and checking the offense into productive plays...also has deceptive speed and agility in the open field...is working to improve his deep passing...secured his starting job during the spring despite a strong push by Tali Ena and Kole McKamey, and an emergency appendectomy...began practicing again less than a week after surgery...a team captain for the second straight year...brings toughness and leadership to the team...named UNM’s Most Improved Player in 2001 and Reese Hill Offensive MVP in 2002 by his teammates…replaced Rudy Caamano in the fourth game of the 2001 season and made his first collegiate start the following week against Wyoming...has started 19 of UNM’s past 21 games and has a record of 11-8 in that role...his 11 wins as a starter equal the seventh-most in UNM history…former walk-on who was rewarded with a scholarship in August 2001...has never lost his walk-on mentality though...still keeps locker No. 106 in the corner of the UNM lockerroom where the non-scholarship, unnumbered players dress...came to UNM in the fall of 1999...two-time academic all-conference honoree who earned his Bachelors degree in Marketing last spring.

2002 (JUNIOR): Was projected to miss a minimum of 4 weeks after fracturing the ulna bone in his non-throwing left forearm late in the first quarter vs. Texas Tech...underwent surgery to have a six-inch metal rod inserted to stabilize the bone...made remarkable progress in his rehabilitation...was dressed and listed as the backup QB for the UNLV game, just 2 weeks after suffering the injury, and made his return the following week at Utah State...played with a soft cast on his left arm...181-314 passing for 1,904 yards, with 14 TDs and 7 INTs...averaged 146.5 yards per game...completion percentage of 57.6 was third among MWC starting QBs and over 10 points higher than his 2001 percentage...had a pass efficiency rating of 118.83 along with 6 touchdown runs...spread the ball well, completing passes to at least 6 different receivers 9 times on the year...cut his interceptions nearly in half with just 7 in 14 games after throwing 12 in 9 games in 2001...play actually improved in 7 games after breaking his arm...averaged 180.9 yards of total offense and was responsible for 14 touchdowns in that span...154.7 passing yards/game (1,083 yards) with a 58.9% (93-158) completion rate along with 11 TDs and just 3 INTs...also 183 yards (26.1/game) and 3 TDs on the ground since the injury...UCLA (Las Vegas Bowl)…did a courageous job keeping the Lobos in the game after losing DonTrell Moore to an injury early in the first half…competed 18-32 passes (56.3%) for a season-high 237 yards…had a touchdown and an INT…completed passes to seven different receivers…Wyoming...had career-best performances on the ground and in the air...executed UNM’s option attack brilliantly, rushing for a career-high 84 yards on 12 carries (7.0 avg.)...had a long gain of 15 yards and was not dropped for a loss...also connected on 7-11 passes for 164 yards, including a long play of 43 yards to Joe Manning on the first play of the game...4 of his 7 completions went for touchdowns, which was also a career-high...Colorado State...matched a season-high with 19 completions in 30 attempts...was 12-19 (63.2%) passing for 82 yards in the first half...finished with 121 yards in the air to become the 9th QB at UNM to surpass 3,000 yards in his career...completed passes to 7 different receivers...made several outstanding throws under pressure, including a 10-yard bullet to Dwight Counter on a 4th-and-6 play from the CSU 34-yard line to set up the Lobos’ first score...was not sacked...BYU...11-22 passing for 155 yards and a touchdown...threw a pair of INTs, his first in 5 games...however, made perhaps the play of the game in the fourth quarter when he audibled to a speed-option play on 2nd-and-11 from the BYU 34-yard line...his last second pitch, before being buried by two Cougar defenders, hit DonTrell Moore in stride...Moore picked up 32 yards on the play to set up a UNM TD and put the Lobos up for good, 20-16...also converted a pair of fourth down plays on the Lobos’ longest scoring drive of the season...hard count pulled BYU offsides on 4th-and-1 from the UNM 47-yard line and 3-yard draw play converted another 4th-and-1 5 plays later...San Diego State...9-15 passing for just 70 yards, but chipped in 28 yards rushing on a season-high 16 carries...was responsible for 6 of the Lobos’ season-high 9 3rd down conversions, including a 13-yard TD run on 3rd-and-3 in the 1st quarter...Utah...responsible for 4 of UNM’s 6 TDs on the day...11-23 passing for 134 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions...also tallied 55 yards rushing on 12 carries (4.6 avg.) and scored 2 TDs...scored from 2 yards out to tie the game at 28 with 46 seconds left in regulation and picked up 34 yards rushing on 3 carries with another TD in overtime...rushed or threw for 5 of the Lobos’ 7 3rd-down conversions...80-yard strike to Dwight Counter late in the 2nd quarter was the longest pass play this season and second-longest of his career...play gave UNM critical momentum after Utah had taken a 28-14 lead and appeared ready to take control of the game...Utah State...effective game in his return to the lineup after missing the previous 3 weeks with the arm injury...was wearing a soft cast over the broken ulna bone in his non-throwing, left forearm...completed 18-25 passes (72%) for 202 yards...matched his season total with 3 touchdowns...also orchestrated a highly-effective UNM option attack...carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards with a long run of 11...never flinched despite being hit several times directly on the injured arm...rolled right and delivered a clutch 9-yard strike in traffic to tight end Bryan Penley on third-and-goal to knot the game at 31 with 1:18 left in regulation...Texas Tech...6-14 passing for 53 yards in the first half before the broken left forearm sidelined him after 32 plays...New Mexico State...solid performance in hostile territory...18-32 for 207 yards...sixth-straight game completing at least 50% of his passes...was hit as he threw, resulting in his lone interception...had several potential big pass plays negated by drops or penalties, including a 42-yard strike to Dwight Counter called back on a holding penalty...1-yard touchdown sneak gave UNM a 7-6 lead in the 2nd quarter...Air Force...213 yards on 19 of 31 passing...threw 2 TD passes...48-yard screen pass to Quincy Wright, and a 12-yard toss to Joe Manning...also 2 touchdown runs, one from 1-yard and one from 4 yards out...Weber State...hit 12 of 16 pass attempts for 93 yards as UNM did most of its damage on the ground...75% completion percentage was a career-best...N.C. State...completed 19 of 35 passes for 135 yards and 1 TD...threw two INTs...also rushed for 24 yards on 9 carries.

2001 (SOPHOMORE): Development was limited in the spring of 2001 due to an unfortunate off-field altercation that resulted in an eight-inch laceration on the right side of his face...couldn’t wear a helmet so he had just 7 pass attempts in scrimmages...9 games played and he started the final 7 contests of the season...107-228 for 1,559 yards on the season...had 8 TD throws and 12 INTs...was 100-204 (49%) for 1,435 yards and 7 TDs in his 7 starts...averaged 205 yards passing in those games...also rushed for 143 yards and 2 scores...had 5 TD throws of 35 yards or more, including an 85-yarder to Dwight Counter...the 85-yard strike was the fifth longest in UNM history and the second longest in the history of the MWC...averaged 37.7 yards per touchdown toss...tied a dubious school-record with five interceptions against Colorado State...New Mexico State...only threw 9 passes in the blowout, completing 5 for 113 yards...Colorado State...15 of 33 for 255 yards...passed for 1 TD, an 85-yarder to Dwight Counter, but threw five interceptions...the last pick came on a “Hail Mary” pass on the game’s last play...UNLV...140 yards on 11 of 26 passing...no touchdowns, but also did not throw an interception...22 yards rushing on 9 carries, including a 1-yard TD run, his first of the season...San Diego State...12 of 33 for 231 yards...two TD throws...a 36-yarder to Counter and a 61-yard hookup with Joel Baker...had 36 yards of positive rushing, but 6 sacks gave him a net gain of -9 on the evening...Air Force...best career outing, throwing for 324 yards on 20 of 40 passing...3 TDs and 2 interceptions...also ran for 46 yards on 8 carries...370 yards of total offense...BYU...threw for 161 yards on 17 of 33 passing...did not have a TD pass and threw three interceptions...led the team in rushing with 51 yards on 13 carries...Wyoming...solid game in his first start, completing 20 of 30 passes for 211 yards...threw for one touchdown and one interception...also gained 24 yards on 5 carries...Utah...7 of 24 passing for 124 yards and a touchdown...first career completion was a 40-yard bomb to Counter...also hooked up with Counter for a 47-yard scoring strike, his first career touchdown throw...started 13 drives and ran up 241 yards of total offense...started the game 3 of 6 passing for 94 yards and a touchdown...ran for 8 yards on 6 carries...long run went for 12 yards.

2000 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Second-string quarterback behind Rudy Caamano...had been 3rd until Jeremy Denson’s injury vs. Wyoming...a redshirt freshman who had never played prior to getting in for the final series against Wyoming...BYU...played the final series, failing to complete both pass attempts...UNLV...threw the first pass of his career, which was picked off on the last play of the game.

PERSONAL: Born Jan. 13, 1980, in Portland...age is 23...full name is Patrick Casey Kelly...son of Rick and Sandy Kelly...earned his degree in Marketing last spring and will begin the MBA program, with an emphasis in Finance, this fall.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 1999 graduate of Portland Westview...conference offensive player of the year and a third team all-state QB his senior year, tossing for 2,000 yards...played for coach Ron Linehan...also third team all-state performer as a pitcher and first baseman...was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 32nd round of the 1999 amatuer draft.

CAREER HIGHS: Passing Yards: 324, vs. Air Force (10/27/01). Completions: 20, vs. Air Force (10/27/01). Pass Attempts: 40, vs. Air Force (10/27/01). TDs: 4, vs. Wyoming (11/30/02). Longest Pass: 85 yards, vs. Colorado State (11/17/01). Interceptions: 5, vs. Colorado State (11/17/01). Rushing Yards: 84, vs. Wyoming (11/30/02). Rushing Attempts: 17, at San Diego State (11/10/01). Rushing TDs: 2 (twice).

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