DonTrell Moore has become a household name in New Mexico.
Last season was the first time a UNM rookie was ever named to the first team All-Mountain West - and he was one of only two players who were unanimous picks of conference coaches and media.
Moore took the MWC by storm when he stepped up to fill the accomplished shoes of starting tailback Quincy Wright, against Baylor, in the fourth game of the 2002 season.
That night, Moore picked up 93 yards on 22 carries and scored his first touchdown as a Lobo. He never looked back.
Moore went on to collect 1,134 yards and score 13 touchdowns that season. The tailback rushed for 176 yards and caught two passes for 21 yards against the University of Wyoming Cowboys, matching a UNM record with the five touchdowns in one game.
He was one touchdown short of matching a season scoring record. Moore's 13 touchdowns were good enough to tie the second-best scoring record, set by head coach Rocky Long in 1971.
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Long said experience has made Moore a smarter competitor than he was last season.
"He's matured a lot more mentally than he has physically," Long said. "He was a physically gifted running back last year, too. But he prepares for games much better now than he did his freshman year."
Moore's improvement is evident on the field. The UNM tailback is leading the MWC in scoring with 11 touchdowns so far. With five games left in the regular season, Moore could easily surpass the school record by a large margin. He is leading the Lobos in rushing, and is third in the MWC, averaging 86.6 yards per game.
As one of the Lobos' more consistent players, Moore's teammates depend on him to produce each time he carries the ball. He has earned the trust of UNM fans and of his teammates.
"I always have confidence in him," senior fullback Adrian Byrd said. "Especially when I'm in front of him."
Long said Moore is one of the most powerful offensive weapons UNM has, and is the key to winning games.
"He's of utmost importance to us being successful on offense," Long said. "He's our best running back, so him having a good day, and the offensive line giving him a chance to have a good day, are essential for us to be successful on offense."
Success is not new to Moore, though.
As a 2001 graduate, he led his Roswell High School team to a 4A state championship in 2000. He rushed for more than 6,000 yards in his high school career as a Coyote and led the state in rushing two years in a row. On four occasions, Moore rushed more than 300 yards in a game.
"He has a great feel for where the holes in the defense are going to be," Long said. "And a good feel for getting in those holes quickly and making people miss. Plus, he's strong enough and quick enough to break tackles. All good running backs have those qualities."
