City Series: Top 5 Running Backs in Southern New Mexico
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Phase 2 of our ‘City Series’ has begun. We’re talking a look at the top running backs in the state entering the 2022 season. Today we give you the top five running backs in Southern New Mexico: Mikah Gutierrez Mikah…
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Continue ReadingPhase 2 of our ‘City Series’ has begun. We’re talking a look at the top running backs in the state entering the 2022 season. Today we give you the top five running backs in Southern New Mexico:
Mikah Gutierrez Mikah Gutierrez 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2023 State NM , Centennial: With QB Ian Lopez Ian Lopez QB Centennial | 2022 State NM graduating, Gutierrez could become the centerpiece of the Centennial offense in 2022. How loaded was the running back position in New Mexico last season? Gutierrez rushed 200 times (workhorse!) for 1,579 yards and 17 TDs, and averaged almost 8 yards per carry yet had to settle for Honorable Mention All-State honors. He was properly named First-Team All-District.
Javyn Morales Javyn Morales 5'10" | 155 lbs | RB Goddard | 2023 State NM , Goddard: Morales stormed onto the scene last spring when he won the Class 4A 100 meters title at the state track & field meet. In the fall, he converted that blazing speed into production on the football field for Goddard before sidelined by an injury. As one of the fastest players in the state, Morales is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. Texas Tech and New Mexico State have expressed interest.
Aidan Granado Aidan Granado 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Silver | 2023 State NM , Silver: 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 last season. If Granado matches that production in 2022, Silver will be a threat for the district title and a contender for the 4A title.
Ondalis Cardenas, Lovington: Not only did the Wildcats have the best receiving corps in Class 4A (if not the state) in 2021, Cardenas (2025) proved himself as the top young running back in the classification. He rushed for 771 yards and 11 TD in 10 games. He should be a 1,000 yards rusher in 2022.
Diego Baeza Diego Baeza 5'5" | 160 lbs | RB Hobbs | 2023 State NM , Hobbs: The Eagles had such a high-powered passing attack in 2021 with QB Colton Graham Colton Graham 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Hobbs | 2022 State NM and WR Kaden Trevino Kaden Trevino 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM that some people forgot they had a respectable ground game as well led by Baeza. He rushed for 671 yards and 7 TD on 118 carries. Between Trevino and Baeza, Hobbs is positioned nicely for a playoff run.
Honorable Mention: Devyn Fierro Devyn Fierro RB Artesia | 2023 State NM (Artesia); Uriel Mendoza Uriel Mendoza RB Carlsbad | 2023 State NM (Carlsbad); Amarius Wedlow Amarius Wedlow 6'2" | 195 lbs | RB Alamogordo | 2023 State NM (Alamogordo); Jacob Lujan Jacob Lujan 5'8" | RB Jal | 2023 State NM (Jal); Drew Welletto (Loving); Jonathan Silva Jonathan Silva RB Goddard | 2024 State NM (Goddard); Landon Sandoval Landon Sandoval 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Silver | 2024 State NM (Silver); Alec Holguin (Lovington).
Junior Season!
200 Carries
1579 Rushing Yds
7.9 YPC
17 Rushing TDs
4 Rec
120 Yds
3 Receiving TDs
Check out my highlight – https://t.co/8tu5Kg8zEE
@Angrybirdfb @PrepRedzoneNM @nmpreps @NMrecruits @DavidHowes5— Mikah Gutierrez (@MikahG_) November 28, 2021
Thank you @Coach_MacNMSU for meeting with me this morning! Go Aggies @PrepRedzoneNM @TrustMyEyesO @BrandonCSmith6 @nmpreps pic.twitter.com/oFWAeHN7sh
— Javyn Morales (@JavynMorales) January 19, 2022
@Ondalis_33 The future is very bright for Wildcat Football and this young man. Class of 2025 Running Back. Direct reflection of your work ethic and your position coach @coachfaith45 pic.twitter.com/d9o5f01DEK
— Wildcat Football (@lvtwildcatsfb) December 2, 2021
junior season 🦅 https://t.co/G7xb0VzNU2
— Diego Baeza (@Diego_Baeza21) November 29, 2021