Next Man Up: Class 6A Teams Looking for New QBs in 2022
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Many New Mexico high school football teams return quarterbacks for the 2022 season that enjoyed solid campaigns last fall. However, many other teams are looking a new quarterback. We still have five months to go before the 2022 season kicks…
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Continue ReadingMany New Mexico high school football teams return quarterbacks for the 2022 season that enjoyed solid campaigns last fall. However, many other teams are looking a new quarterback. We still have five months to go before the 2022 season kicks off in mid-August, but some coaches have a good idea who their QB will be. But other teams will have a competition before determining their starter. Here are some of the Class 6A teams in the process of deciding on a new QB for 2022:
Centennial: The new quarterback for the Hawks succeeds Ian Lopez Ian Lopez QB Centennial | 2022 State NM , who led Centennial to the district championship. Centennial coach Aaron Ocampo told Prep Redzone New Mexico that rising junior Daniel Hernandez will likely see most of the practice reps in the fall after leading the Hawks’ JV team to a successful season in 2021.
Clovis: Even though Clovis went just 3-7 last season, Milo Acosta Milo Acosta 6'0" | QB Clovis | 2022 State NM threw for 1,457 yards and rushed for a team-high 333 yards, accounting for 1,790 yards and 14 TD. Wildcats head coach Cal Fullerton plans a FIVE-way competition when preseason camp begins in July: Junior Manny Gutierrez (started on defense last year), junior Jett Stone Jett Stone 5'8" | DB Clovis | 2024 State NM (started on defense last year), junior Kash Roberts Kash Roberts 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Clovis | 2024 State NM (team high 35 receptions as a sophomore), junior Will Jordan (started both ways last year; 11 receptions) and sophomore Rylan Hromas (QB for freshman last year).
Farmington: 2021 QB Brandon Furbee Brandon Furbee 6'3" | QB Farmington | 2022 State NM is off to Victor Valley College after leading Farmington to an undefeated regular season and the No. 1 seed in the Class 5A playoffs. Who will be the Scorpions QB in their first season in Class 6A? Most likely, 6-foot-3, 225-pound rising junior Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM (2024) will be promoted from backup to starter. He attempted 32 passes in 2021, completing 21 for 332 yards and 3 TD. He also rushed for a TD. Griego’s tremendous size should serve him well in the Class 6A wars.
Hobbs: Who replaces two-sport star Colton Graham Colton Graham 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Hobbs | 2022 State NM , who threw for over 2,200 yards and 22 TDs in 2021? Six-foor-2, 175-pound Omar Argott (2023), a rising senior, served as the backup in 2021 and attempted 13 passes. The good news for whoever wins the job? The Eagles returned a talented group of wide receivers led by Kaden Trevino Kaden Trevino 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM (59 receptions in 2021), Ethan Vanlandingham Ethan Vanlandingham 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2023 State NM (32) and Diego Baeza Diego Baeza 5'5" | 160 lbs | RB Hobbs | 2023 State NM (22).
Las Cruces: Las Cruces has enjoyed solid quarterback play for the last several seasons. Last year’s QB, Dallas Boyd Dallas Boyd 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Las Cruces | 2022 State NM , has signed with an Arizona JUCO program to play at the next level. Rising junior Matthew Lashley appears to have the edge but Bulldawgs coach Mark Lopez told Prep Redzone New Mexico that multiple young quarterbacks that have played well at the freshman and youth levels will get an opportunity in preseason camp as well.
Rio Rancho: The Rams will have an entirely new offensive backfield as QB Dominick Priddy, who will play baseball in college, and 2021 New Mexico Heisman winner RB Zach Vigil Zach Vigil 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM (signed with New Mexico) are graduating. Expect a spirited preseason camp competition between rising juniors Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM (2024; 25 attempted passes in 2021) and Dominic Valencia Dominic Valencia 6'2" | 170 lbs | LB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM . Both are competing as quarterbacks for the New Mexico Legacy 7-on-7 travel team, so we ’re getting an early preview of the summer battle.
Santa Fe: QB Luc Jaramillo Luc Jaramillo 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Santa Fe | 2022 State NM was a dynamic dual threat QB and combined with RB Martell Mora Martell Mora 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Santa Fe High | 2022 State NM to form one of the top offensive backfields in northern New Mexico. Six-foot-1, 210 pound rising senior Andrew Allen (2023) could finally get his opportunity as the starter after serving as Jaramillo’s backup the past two seasons. Expected competition will come from 5-foot-11, 190-pound rising junior Michael Abeyta (2024), who was the Demons JV QB last season. Both Allen and Abeyta are mobile quarterbacks with strong throwing arms.
West Mesa: Whoever succeeds Daniel Ayala Daniel Ayala 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2022 State NM at quarterback has extremely large shoes to fill. Ayala was not only a talented QB but extremely intelligent and a great leader. New coach Landrick Brody has a major decision to make. Of course, his decision would be made a lot easier if his talented son, Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , transfers from Cleveland to West Mesa. But that remains to be seen. West Mesa had one other quarterback listed on its 2021 roster – rising junior Mark Montano.
Finally, our last #elite @NewMexicoLegacy 5’11 170 #quarterback is @noah_nelson__ from @rioramsfootball . @UTRScouting @Elite11 @rivals #class2024 pic.twitter.com/SFV6wS1TRH
— New Mexico Legacy 7v7 Team (@NewMexicoLegacy) January 23, 2022
Another #elite @NewMexicoLegacy #quarterback is 6’2 175 @____D0M____ from @rioramsfootball …. @Elite11 @UTRScouting @D1boundfactory @Rivals pic.twitter.com/FVM3tY9Dad
— New Mexico Legacy 7v7 Team (@NewMexicoLegacy) January 23, 2022