Hidden Gems: Under the Radar 2021 Prospects, Part 1

New Mexico has always been an underutilized source of football talent. For some reason, the players in this state generally don’t receive the recognition they deserve (being geographically located next to the football-obsessed state of Texas is possibly a major factor) and continue to fly under the radar from a recruiting perspective. In  Part 1 of a multi-part series, we highlight five 2021 prospects who are all poised for breakout seasons and deserve the opportunity to play at the next level: <strong>Karsten Rueckner, 5-10, 175, Centennial (Las Cruces)</strong>: One of the most dynamic two-way players in the state, Rueckner will likely become the new starting quarterback for Centennial and the headliner for a small Hawks senior class this upcoming season. Defensively, he had six interceptions as an all-state DB in 2019. Because of his increased offensive role, Rueckner may see fewer snaps on defense. Centennial is counting on him to make a lot of plays on offense, and he should be able to meet the demand. <strong>Marcos Lopez, 6-1, 195 pounds, Las Cruces</strong>: The multi-faceted 6-foot-1, 195-pounder is arguably the top prep player in Las Cruces in unquestionably the most visible position: quarterback for the Bulldawgs. Last season he threw for 1,874 yards and accounted for 23 total touchdowns to lead the Bulldawgs to an undefeated District 6A-3 record and a spot in the Class 6A playoff quarterfinals. Unbelievably, Lopez has no college offers but that should change with another big season. <strong>Jaxon Powell, 6-3, 240 pounds, Manzano (Albuquerque)</strong>: Powell plays tight and and offensive tackle for the Monarchs, and his 2019 highlight tape is a cornucopia of tough, physical blocks that should impress any college coach looking to seal the edge. Next task for Powell? Prove he can do what tight ends do at the next level - catch the ball over the middle in traffic and keep defenses honest by preventing double coverage on the outside wide receivers. If he does that, college recruiters will know his phone number very quickly. <strong>Jasper Pennington, 5-9, 170, Rio Rancho</strong>: If Pennington was four or five inches taller, college recruiters would be knocking day and night on his door. Once he takes the ACT later this month, and they know his score, watch out. Pennington isn’t the biggest linebacker out there, but all he does is make plays. He finished second on Rio Rancho last season with 88 tackles, 6 TFL. He was an all-district first-team performer, which says something considering the difficult district the Rams play in. <strong>Alex Tramell, 5-10, 265 pounds, Lovington</strong>: Show us a tougher, more physically dominant player in the state. You probably won’t find one. Tramell is a bulldog times three. His strength is uncanny. Tramell set a new school record in the sumo dead lift in February at 565 pounds. He squats well over 500 pounds and his bench press is approaching 400 pounds. That’s a level of strength college coaches covet. Clearly, he’s a weight room warrior and keeps grinding every day. By this time next year, Tramell’s strength should reach regions rarely reached by incoming college freshmen.