Week 1 Preview: Top 25 Players To Watch

Week 1 of the New Mexico High School football season got underway Thursday night with three games. Friday, the long-awaited season starts in earnest with dozens of games throughout the state. We already know guys like Cibola QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"]</strong> and La Cueva QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137862" first="Aidan" last="Armenta"]</strong> are players to watch. In fact, you could say the same thing about them every week. Today, let’s talk about players who don’t get as much attention. Here are our 25 players to watch in Week 1 on Friday and Saturday: <strong>Nathan Taylor, QB Artesia</strong>: He introduced himself to the NM high school football community with an outstanding display at the Eastern New Mexico 7-on-7 tourney in late July. New we’ll see if that will translate to the field in a real game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26259" first="Dominic" last="Pacheco"], LB Artesia</strong>: The pressure is on Pacheco and the Artesia defense to show improvement in 2017, especially against county rival Carlsbad in the Eddy County War. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134796" first="Ramon" last="Loya"] , OL Carlsbad</strong>: The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Loya has emerged as one of the top offensive line prospects in the state. Several prestigious schools have already expressed interest. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138075" first="Jakeem" last="Reed"], RB Farmington</strong>: A quarterback’s best friend is a reliable running game. Farmington’s top two rushers in the spring were both seniors. Meanwhile, Reed averaged 8.8 yards per rushing attempt, finishing with 194 yards on 22 carries. He could be the next great running back in Class 5A. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134906" first="Mikkel" last="Beltran"], DE Los Lunas</strong>: Beltran has the size (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) college coaches crave in a defensive end. He’s big, fast and aggressive. He keyed a Los Lunas defense that allowed just 27 points in three spring games. The Tigers most bring their D to the Four Corners when they face Piedra Vista. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137885" first="Paul" last="Cieremans"], QB Los Lunas</strong>: If there was a player in Class 5A we could genuinely say ‘emerged’ in the spring, it was Cieremans. He directed the Tigers offense with the maturity of a senior, so it was difficult to remember he was just a sophomore. Cieremans is now in the conversation for best 2023 QB in New Mexico. <strong>Jacob Ramsted, RB Piedra Vista</strong>: Ramsted, who had a pair of rushing TDs in the Panthers’ season-ending road win last spring, keys the running game for Piedra Vista. PV must run the football to have success against Los Lunas. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138069" first="Ryan" last="Stovall"], LB Alamogordo</strong>: Stovall had 30 tackles in five games as a sophomore in the spring. With two more seasons of prep football ahead of him, Stovall is definitely one to watch in the 2023 class. Certainly one of the top young defensive talents in Class 5A. The Tigers host Valencia on Friday. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137921" first="Kaden" last="Trevino"], WR Hobbs</strong>: Is Trevino the most dynamic player in the state of New Mexico? He’s definitely in the conversation. The Eagles need him to have a great game in order to beat rival Clovis on the road. <strong>Kash Roberts, RB Clovis</strong>: He won’t be on the same level as New Mexico signee [player_tooltip player_id="26162" first="Jeston" last="Webskowski"] at the beginning of the season, but Roberts could get there eventually. As a freshman, he was listed at 6-foot-0, 180 pounds with plenty of time to grow and develop. With a new QB, the Wildcats need a solid ground game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135097" first="Kaden" last="Valdez"], WR Volcano Vista</strong>:  Valdez leaped into the spotlight as a result of a sensational spring in which he caught 22 passes for 422 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 3 games for the Hawks. Now he’ll get a chance to do it over a full 10-game schedule in the fall beginning Friday at Las Cruces. <strong>Zakye Hawkins, WR Las Cruces</strong>: Hawkins has the potential to be the state ‘s top WR prospect in the 2024 class. He was a star at the freshman and JV levels and now he gets a full-time shot with the varsity as the Bulldawgs host Volcano Vista. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26242" first="Daniel" last="Ayala"], QB West Mesa</strong>: Chavez and Armenta get a lot of attention but Ayala is great too. He’s our #1 QB in the 2022 class. Expectations are high for the Mustangs and Ayala is a major reason why. Saturday’s game against Eldorado should be entertaining. <strong>A.J. Otero, LB Eldorado</strong>: The Eagles must figure out a way to contain the West Mesa offense. Otero holds the key for the Eldorado defense if they want to get pressure eon Ayala. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135313" first="Matthew" last="Quartieri"], WR Raton</strong>: The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Quartieri has been a weapon for the Raton offense since he was a freshman in 2018. For his career, he has 65 receptions for 750 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Raton offense should do big things this fall in Class 3A. <strong>Stratton, Shufelt, LB Cleveland</strong>: Who did MaxPreps designate as the No. 1 overall player in New Mexico? Shufelt. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was a monster at outside linebacker for the Storm this spring, earning NMHSCA First-Team honors. New Mexico has already offered. He needs to have a big game at Centennial. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139523" first="Nic" last="Trujillo"], WR Cleveland</strong>: When you have a young quarterback as the Storm do in [player_tooltip player_id="139521" first="Evan" last="Wysong"], what’s the best way to help him out? Make plays when you have the opportunity. Trujillo showed this summer in 7-on-7 that he is a dynamic receiver. Road game? Make plays. <strong>Richard Arreola, QB Roswell</strong>: Coyotes coach Jeff Lynn likes to employ senior quarterbacks, and it’s Arreola’s turn to lead the Roswell offense. He is best known for his accurate throwing arm than anything else. But he’s fast and can run also. Look for the Coyotes to play to Arreola’s strengths with more power runs, zone read and gun option plays on offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26260" first="Calvin" last="Cox"], RB Mayfield</strong>: Mayfield has one of the best rushing attacks in Class 5A and Cox is a major reason why. The Trojans love to play physical football – it’s been their bread and butter for years – and their size and strength will challenge Manzano’s defense Friday night in Albuquerque. When you go on the road, pack your running game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26233" first="Isaac" last="Hinson"], WR/DB Lovington</strong>: Arguably the best two-way player in Class 4A, Hinson is one of four talented wide receivers for the Wildcats. In addition to catching a bunch of balls on offense, Hinson made 54 tackles and 4 interceptions in five games on defense in the spring. Lovington is a 4A title contender. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26265" first="Martell" last="Mora"], RB Santa Fe</strong>: Mora is a key figure in sparking the revival at Santa Fe, which lost 30+ games in a row a few years back. He rushed for 851 yards and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2019. The Demons have a dynamic offensive backfield with Mora and QB [player_tooltip player_id="26241" first="Luc" last="Jaramillo"]. Robertson must find a way to stop him Friday night. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="26257" first="Marco" last="Ybarra"], RB St. Pius X</strong>: The senior isn’t just one of the top running backs in Metro Albuquerque, he’s also one of the strongest. His spring season was cut short by injury, but there’s no mistaking Ybarra’s ability. He’ll lead the Sartans into Bloomfield. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138076" first="Tomas" last="Herrera"], QB Gadsden</strong>: Lost in all the hoopla surrounding Gadsden’s decision to go independent in 2021 is the fact Herrera is an outstanding dual threat QB. He led the Panthers in rushing during the spring by a wide margin, averaging 13.1 yards per carry (353 yards and 5 TD on 27 attempts). Gadsden has a tough road test at Deming. <strong>Landon Williams, DE Albuquerque</strong>: Perhaps the most under-the-radar prospect in Albuquerque. Williams already has college offers in his hand. The Bulldogs host Organ Mountain Friday and Williams will be the best player on the field. <strong>Aidan Granado, WR/RB Silver</strong>: With dual threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="26201" first="Walker" last="Wenzel"] moving on to Western New Mexico University, Granado should be one of Silver’s top offensive weapons this fall as a sophomore. He had 19 carries and nine receptions on offense in three games this spring. Silver makes the log journey to Kirtland Central. https://twitter.com/Croker65/status/1428745788465680385 https://twitter.com/cavemenstrong/status/1428690690805010437 https://twitter.com/LCHSFOOTBALL/status/1428690202009108480 https://twitter.com/EldoEaglesFB/status/1428395277912842241