Just as in Class 6A, there is no shortage of quality wide receivers in Class 5A. In fact, there is an abundance of talent at the position. Here are our five top wide receivers in Class 5A:
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26164" first="Braxton" last="McDonald"], Artesia</strong>: Not only is McDonald the top receiver in Class 5A, he’s one of the best in the state. Last season he caught 78 passes for 1,435 yards and 22 touchdowns, an astounding number for a receiver. His stock rose on the summer camp circuit when he frequently outdueled talented defensive backs from Texas and beyond. Another monster season could be in the cards for McDonald, although Artesia must find a new QB. McDonald and rising senior [player_tooltip player_id="26187" first="Johntae" last="Rodriguez"] form the top 1-2 wide receiving combo in Class 5A.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26169" first="Nathaniel" last="Stone"], Goddard</strong>: Also a free safety, the 6-foot-2 Stone is one of the of the best two-way players in Class 5A. He’s the headliner for Goddard along with OL [player_tooltip player_id="26159" first="Larry" last="Luna"] (committed to New Mexico) and DL [player_tooltip player_id="26170" first="Fernando" last="Rubio"]. Stone’s 4.5 speed in the 40 is a key reason the Lobos are interested and Eastern New Mexico has offered.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26252" first="Chance" last="Carrillo"], Farmington</strong>: A year younger than his brother, Farmington quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="26172" first="Caleb" last="Carrillo"], Chance is coming off a sensational sophomore campaign in which he had 51 receptions for 810 yards and 10 touchdowns. And with two more years left to play, he’ll only get bigger and better.
<strong>Gavin Chavez, Belen</strong>: Belen struggled last season with a 2-9 record but Chavez individually had for an excellent season with 41 receptions for 464 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’ll again be the primary pass catcher for Belen.
<strong>Lorenzo Sosa, Los Lunas</strong>: Los Lunas has the state’s top defensive player in DE [player_tooltip player_id="26153" first="Tyler" last="Kiehne"] (UCLA commit) and will be seeking a third straight appearance in the Class 5A state championship game. Sosa will certainly help them get there as he’s coming off a season with 28 receptions for 569 yards, an impressive average of over 20 yards per catch.
<strong>Honorable Mention</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26187" first="Johntae" last="Rodriguez"], Artesia; Ricky Rodriguez, Chaparral; Alonzo Acosta (Roswell); Noah Keune, Piedra Vista; Jack Dowling, Miyamura.
