Top Contenders for the 2022 New Mexico Heisman

We awarded the 2021 New Mexico Heisman on Monday night. Now we’ll take a look at who are the top contenders for the 2022 award (listed in alphabetical order): <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137862" first="Aidan" last="Armenta"], La Cueva</strong>: Armenta led the Bears to the semifinals of the Class 6A playoffs by throwing for 2,696 yards and 28 TD in his first full season as the starting WB. We’re expecting bigger and better things from Armenta in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208744" first="Exodus" last="Ayers"], La Cueva</strong>: Ayers proved this season to be one of the most athletic and exciting players in Metro Albuquerque. In 8 games, Ayers finished with 41 receptions for 901 yards and 15 TD. If he stays healthy, Ayers could be one of the most dynamic players in the state. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"], Cibola</strong>: If we had to name one player as the ‘Way Too Early’ favorite to win the 2022 New Mexico Heisman, Chavez would be the guy. He threw for over 3,000 yards and 32 TD against one of the toughest schedules in the slate.  He loses his top receiver ([player_tooltip player_id="134963" first="Nathan" last="Lopez"]) but others should fill the void. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137885" first="Paul" last="Cieremans"], Los Lunas</strong>: Cieremans was sensational this past season in leading Los Lunas to an unbeaten record and the Class 5A title. He passed and ran for over 1,000 yards. An intriguing storyline for 2022 is watching Cieremans compete against 6A defenses. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="208819" first="Aidan" last="Granado"], Silver</strong>: Due to Silver City’s geographic isolation from the major metropolitan areas in New Mexico, Granado doesn’t normally get the attention he deserves. But he rushed for 1,632 yards and averaged over 11 yards per carry this season. <strong>Zakye Hawkins, Las Cruces</strong>: Hawkins is one of the top 2024 prospects in the state and he proved it this season with numerous acrobatic catches for the Bulldawgs. Las Cruces must settle on a quarterback but look for great things from Hawkins in 2022. <strong>C.J. Perea, West Las Vegas</strong>: Possessing a stocky frame and a fullback mentality, Perea doesn’t look like a prototypical quarterback. But he amassed some impressive numbers this season, throwing for 2,229 yards and 24 TD while rushing for 337 yards, many of them coming after bowling over defenders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138204" first="Josh" last="Perry"], Cleveland</strong>: Perry missed the second half of the regular season and Cleveland’s first two playoff games with an injury, but he returned for the 6A championship game and offered a preview of coming attractions by rushing for 166 yards and 4 TD. Perry and QB [player_tooltip player_id="139521" first="Evan" last="Wysong"] could help make the Storm’s offense virtually unstoppable in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137884" first="A.J." last="Rivera"], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Rivera is a tall, strong-armed QB with the ability to play at the next level. He threw for 2,531 yards and 23 TD as a junior.  Watch out for the Chargers. Not only does Rivera return, but the top WR ([player_tooltip player_id="137928" first="Kellan" last="Gehres"]) and RB ([player_tooltip player_id="138056" first="Cole" last="Conway"]) are back as well. Academy’s offense could be scary good in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137921" first="Kaden" last="Trevino"], Hobbs</strong>: One of the most dynamic players in southeastern New Mexico, Trevino caught 59 passes for 974 yards and 13 TD while rushing for close to 200 yards. He also returns kickoffs for the Eagles. Understandably, Hobbs likes to put the ball in Trevino’s hands. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138053" first="Cayden" last="Walton"], Raton</strong>: Just like [player_tooltip player_id="208819" first="Aidan" last="Granado"] (see above), Walton doesn’t get a lot of media attention in the major markets because the town of Raton is isolated along the Colorado-New Mexico border in the northeastern quadrant of the state. But Walton was the state’s top rusher this season with 1,905 yards on 188 carries. Will he eclipse 2,000 yards in 2022? <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139521" first="Evan" last="Wysong"], Cleveland</strong>: If Cibola QB  [player_tooltip player_id="137861" first="Aden" last="Chavez"] (see above) is 1A on our list for way-too-early favorites for the 2022 New Mexico Heisman, Wysong is 1B. MaxPreps named him the 2021 NM Player of the Year after he led the Storm to an unbeaten record and the 6A title. He threw for 1,787 yards and 19 TD and rushed for 987 yards. Both numbers should increase in 2022 as Wysong gets even more comfortable playing the QB position. https://twitter.com/AidanArmenta/status/1466538780911812611 https://twitter.com/ExodusAyers_/status/1467957152853729282 https://twitter.com/AdenChavez08/status/1468654576404369409 https://twitter.com/CieremansPaul/status/1466513962141315073 https://twitter.com/HawkinsZakye/status/1466254537132584970 https://twitter.com/Josh23Perry/status/1440136989630603273 https://twitter.com/AndresAJRivera1/status/1466459661171773444 https://twitter.com/WysongEvan/status/1465473018327552001