Photo by Steven St. JohnTribune

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Cibola's Jon Mader (at right) celebrates after signing his national letter of intent. Mader committed to play football at UNM on Wednesday afternoon in the Cibola weight room. Though he may change positions, Mader has his eye on the Lobos' quarterback job. "Hopefully, I'll take over when (Donovan) Porterie leaves," Mader said.

Photo by Steven St. JohnTribune

Tribune

KOB-TV sports director J.P. Murrieta tells Cibola student athletes Jon Mader (right) and Jason Schuetz (center), along with their friends and family, how to act once the TV cameras start recording. Murrieta had each player sign the letters twice on Wednesday afternoon at Cibola so he could record enough footage and make sure the attendees knew when to cheer. Mader will attend UNM next season; Schuetz will be at Air Force.

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Jonathan Mader might become the next Barry Garrison or the next Brian Urlacher.

Either way, it's a win-win situation for the University of New Mexico football team.

For now, Mader sees himself as the next Lobos starting quarterback - after Donovan Porterie's career is finished in two more seasons.

"That's my goal," said Mader, a Cibola High senior who signed a national letter of intent with UNM on Wednesday.

Mader, decked out in a red UNM hoodie and supported by friends and family on hand for Wednesday's signing ceremony at Cibola, was one of 22 players in the Lobos' 2008 recruiting class. He was the lone recruit from Albuquerque and one of two high school quarterbacks in the group.

"They're going to keep me at quarterback and give me the chance to show what I can do there," Mader said. "I plan to redshirt my first year and by my sophomore year . . . hopefully, I'll take over when Porterie leaves."

For now, Rocky Long plans to allow the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Mader to start his UNM career at quarterback.

But when Long sees Mader, he sees Brian Urlacher.

Sort of.

"He's an outstanding athlete who can play a number of positions on offense or defense," Long said of Mader. "He played basketball, too, so he's got great hands and leaping ability."

Urlacher arrived at UNM as a lanky tight end/receiver out of Lovington High. Urlacher also starred in basketball for the Wildcats.

Urlacher eventually bulked up and matured into an All-America linebacker/safety at UNM and later an Pro-Bowl linebacker for the Chicago Bears. Urlacher also played some tight end in goal-line situations and ran back punts for the Lobos, knocking down would-be tacklers like harmless bowling pins.

Mader's situation isn't unique. Long said about half of the signees in this year's recruiting class could wind up playing different positions than they did in high school.

Mader said his first option remains developing himself at QB, but if he can't win the starting job, he said he's not opposed to moving to another position to help the team.

Mader said he played fullback and linebacker throughout most of his Young America Football League days, mostly because he was usually the biggest kid on the team.

If Mader does become the Lobos' starting QB someday, he'll be the first Albuquerque-area athlete to assume that role since Garrison of Eldorado High in 1987.

"I'm real excited being the hometown kid," Mader said. "I grew up watching the Lobos. I would love to be the guy someday."

Mader says his strengths are his size and running ability. He passed for 1,654 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading Cibola to a 10-2 record and state semifinal appearance. He also rushed for 501 yards and four TDs.

"I think UNM likes that I can run the ball, too," Mader said.

Said Long: "Nowadays, everybody would like to have a mobile quarterback who can escape the rush and run a bit."

Mader said his leadership qualities and his football smarts - "I'm a big X's and O's guy," he said - should help his transition to college. He said he needs to improve his arm strength because of the faster pace of the college game, something that should happen with increased weight training and natural maturing.

But this week, Mader's merely happy he's still getting the chance to play football.

"I'm a Lobo," he said. "It's a great day."