2022 Rankings: Top Player (And More) At Every Position

We’ve updated our 2022 prospect rankings with the Top 150 rising seniors in the state of New Mexico. You can check out the complete rankings <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-mexico/rankings/2022-rankings/">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. Right now, we’re taking a look and putting a spotlight on the top players at every position along with the names of the players ranked right behind them. <strong>QUARTERBACK</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26242" first="Daniel" last="Ayala"], West Mesa. Ayala climbed to the top of the QB ladder with a solid spring, leading West Mesa to a 3-0 record, including the Mustangs first win over Sandia since 1988. Colleges are already expressing interest and Ayala has been invited to multiple elite prospect showcases this summer. Next Best: [player_tooltip player_id="26234" first="Dylan" last="Quartieri"] (Raton); [player_tooltip player_id="26232" first="Brandon" last="Furbee"] (Farmington); Luc Jaramillo (Santa Fe); [player_tooltip player_id="134997" first="Lucas" last="Coriz"] (St. Michael’s); [player_tooltip player_id="26254" first="Aiden" last="Rosser"] (Onate). <strong>RUNNING BACK</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26227" first="Zach" last="Vigil"], Rio Rancho. Vigil was the No. 1 RB in our initial 2022 rankings last year and he did everything this spring to maintain his lofty position. Vigil rushed for 411 yards and 8 touchdowns in 4 games. FCS Weber State of the Big Sky Conference has expressed interest. Vigil will play college football at the Div. I level. Next Best: Martel Mora (Santa Fe); [player_tooltip player_id="26240" first="Adrian" last="Rodriguez"] (Santa Teresa); [player_tooltip player_id="26257" first="Marco" last="Ybarra"] (St. Pius X); [player_tooltip player_id="26248" first="Braxton" last="Hall"] (Ruidoso); [player_tooltip player_id="134970" first="Jose" last="Montoya"] (Mayfield). <strong>WIDE RECEIVER</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26233" first="Isaac" last="Hinson"], Lovington. Lovington might have the best wide receiver corps in the entire state in 2021 and Hinson is a major reason why. He’s arguably the top two-way player in Class 4A. This spring, he caught 10 passes for 144 yards and made 54 tackles on defense. He could excel at the next level on offense or defense. Next Best: [player_tooltip player_id="134985" first="Tayten" last="Hilliard"] (Lovington); [player_tooltip player_id="26246" first="Daymari" last="Cox"] (Rio Rancho); [player_tooltip player_id="26249" first="Tim" last="Drennan"] (West Mesa); [player_tooltip player_id="26256" first="Adam" last="Aguilera"] (Lovington); [player_tooltip player_id="135313" first="Matthew" last="Quartieri"] (Raton). <strong>OFFENSIVE LINE</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26228" first="Roger" last="Carreon"], Jal. When we started putting together the updated 2022 rankings, the No. 1 prospect was a no-brainer. Carreon has separated himself from the pack by tirelessly competing – and kicking butt - at camps in Texas. One Power 5 school (Oregon State) has offered along with Boise State, UNLV, New Mexico, Army and Air Force. Carreon’s future is so bright we all have to wear shades. Next Best: [player_tooltip player_id="26229" first="Cayden" last="Romero"] (Rio Rancho); Ramon  Loya (Carlsbad); [player_tooltip player_id="26271" first="Ben" last="White"] (Santa Fe); [player_tooltip player_id="26230" first="Royce" last="Paulk"] (Las Cruces); [player_tooltip player_id="26245" first="Julian" last="Holland"] (Centennial). <strong>DEFENSIVE LINE</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26235" first="Fabiano" last="Valdez"], Rio Rancho. If you’re wondering why we settled on Valdez as the No. 1 defensive lineman in New Mexico, go watch his film. He’s quick, aggressive and powerful off the ball. Many times, opposing offensive linemen simply didn’t have a chance to block him. Next Best: [player_tooltip player_id="134906" first="Mikkel" last="Beltran"] (Los Lunas); [player_tooltip player_id="134991" first="Jaden" last="Nigreville"] (Clovis); [player_tooltip player_id="26239" first="Joaquin" last="Medina"] (St. Pius X); [player_tooltip player_id="134973" first="Braydon" last="Mignard"] (Portales); [player_tooltip player_id="134978" first="Gage" last="Angeles"] (Clovis). <strong>LINEBACKER</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="135135" first="Abraham" last="Lopez"], Highland. Perhaps the most unheralded player in our Top 15, Lopez is a tackling machine for Highland. If he were three or four inches taller, the 5-foot-10 Lopez would have Div. I schools expressing interest. Next Best: [player_tooltip player_id="26237" first="Dominic" last="Vasquez"] (Cleveland); [player_tooltip player_id="134986" first="Maverick" last="Gracio"] (Cibola); [player_tooltip player_id="135321" first="Hunter" last="Haemaker"] (La Cueva); [player_tooltip player_id="134998" first="Manny" last="Bustillos"] (Clovis0; [player_tooltip player_id="26262" first="Seth" last="Chavez"] (Centennial). <strong>DEFENSIVE BACK</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="26231" first="Lucas" last="Lucero"], Rio Rancho. Things are definitely aligning in favor of Rio Rancho for 2021, from a potentially explosive offense with Vigil to a suffocating defense led by Lucero and Valdez. Watch out for the Rams! Next Best: [player_tooltip player_id="134982" first="Hagen" last="Rains"] (Portales); [player_tooltip player_id="26272" first="Zach" last="Martinez"] (Santa Fe); [player_tooltip player_id="134987" first="Richard" last="Madrid"] (Las Cruces);[player_tooltip player_id="135096" first="Bridger" last="Schaap"] (Volcano Vista); [player_tooltip player_id="135302" first="William" last="Archuleta"] (Grants). https://twitter.com/CoachBranTheMan/status/1387162132291096576 https://twitter.com/zacharyvigil21/status/1385060634388090884 https://twitter.com/Roger_52_/status/1387436729704095749 https://twitter.com/Abe58Lopez/status/1378923607078793217 https://twitter.com/fabiano_valdez/status/1386761301192437761