Position Breakdown: Top 10 Linebackers in 2022 Rankings

Up to this point, all of our position breakdowns for the 2022 and 2023 rankings have been on the offensive side of the ball. But now it’s time to show the defense some love. After all, you’ve got to stop people if you want to win. Here are the Top 10 2022 linebackers in New Mexico. 1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135135" first="Abraham" last="Lopez"], Highland</strong>: Lopez toils in near obscurity at Highland, but he’s one of the top linebackers in the state. If you follow him on Twitter you know his work ethic is extraordinary. Earned Second-Team All-State honors. Definitely a major contender for Breakout Player of the year in New Mexico. Lopez is also an outstanding wrestler, earning District Wrestler of the Year Award. His wrestling skills definitely help him in football. 2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26237" first="Dominic" last="Vasquez"], Cleveland</strong>: The Cleveland offense garnered most of the attention this spring, and deservedly so as CHS rang up video game numbers in some games. But the Storm defense could turn the tables in the fall. Between Vasquez and rising sophomore Stratton Shufelt, Cleveland might have the best linebacker duo in the state. 3. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134986" first="Maverick" last="Gracio"], Cibola</strong>: The Cibola defense is a lot like Cleveland’s. The Cougars offense is so prolific with QB [player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"] and others that the defense often gets overshadowed. But Gracio brings it every week. If the Cibola plays consistently well in the fall,  the Cougars will shock people. 4. <strong>Hunter Haemker, La Cueva</strong>: Haemker is currently No. 4, but today’s offer from New Mexico shows he could be ready to move up in the rankings. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder made 38 tackles in 3 spring games, so he’s proven he has a nose for the football. UNM is certainly convinced. 5. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134998" first="Manny" last="Bustillos"], Clovis</strong>: Few linebackers posted better numbers than Bustillos in the spring. He collected 55 tackles (6^th most in the state) and 8 tackles for loss. Only one junior had more tackles than Bustillos. Clovis could potentially have a very strong defense with one of the top defensive lines in the state and Bustillos patrolling the second level. 6. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26262" first="Seth" last="Chavez"], Centennial</strong>: Chavez is an outstanding two-way player for the Hawks, and his skills will be needed in the fall when Centennial looks to keep the momentum from the success of recent past years going. 7. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135117" first="Josh" last="Miller"], Hobbs</strong>: Miller had a team-high 52 tackles in four games this spring, an average of 13 tackles per game. That means Miller is making a lot of plays. Hobbs could have a great linebacker corps because lining up next to Miller will be. . . 8. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135118" first="Aldo" last="Argott"], Hobbs</strong>: Who was No. 2 on the Eagles in tackles this spring? Argott. He had 48 tackles, 2 sacks and 6 TFL in 5 games. Could Miller and Argott combine for 200 tackles this coming season? Don’t bet against it. 9. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134989" first="Isaiah" last="Carreon"], Las Cruces</strong>: Another team with an underrated defense is Las Cruces. Carreon had one of the defensive plays of the spring when he recovered a fumble late in the Bulldawgs’ hard-fought win over Centennial. Also an outstanding wrestler. 10. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135336" first="Joseph" last="Perez"], Lovington</strong>: Who had the most tackles of any junior in the spring? Perez. He had 57 tackles, 9 QB hurries and 4 sacks. The Wildcats might have the top WR corps in the state but Perez is proof they have some ballers on defense too. <strong>NEXT BEST</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="135119" first="Blake" last="Hensley"] (Hobbs); [player_tooltip player_id="135579" first="Seth" last="Johnson"] (Onate); [player_tooltip player_id="135598" first="Aaron" last="Hewey"] (Farmington). https://twitter.com/Abe58Lopez/status/1378923607078793217 https://twitter.com/KingDom32_/status/1379643321472143363 https://twitter.com/MaverickGracio/status/1364000107495006210 https://twitter.com/hunter_haemker/status/1379610616600481795