City Series: Top 5 Wide Receivers In Albuquerque Metro Region
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We begin Phase 3 of our ‘City Series’ by taking a look at the top wide receivers in the Albuquerque Metro Area (includes Rio Rancho, Los Lunas and Belen) entering the 2022 season: Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | 175…
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Continue ReadingWe begin Phase 3 of our ‘City Series’ by taking a look at the top wide receivers in the Albuquerque Metro Area (includes Rio Rancho, Los Lunas and Belen) entering the 2022 season:
Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Proctor Academy | 2024 State NewE , La Cueva: How talented is Ayers on the gridiron? His high school football career consists of exactly 8 games – he missed four games last season because of an injury – but he already holds offers from the University of New Mexico and Western New Mexico. Also renowned for his basketball skills, Ayers displayed outrageous athleticism last fall for the Bears, routinely running past defenders or outleaping them for passes. The main thing Ayers needs right now is more film. By December, he could have several more Division I schools pursuing him. Amassed 41 receptions for 901 yards and 15 TD in 2021.
Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM , Albuquerque Academy: Gehres has been playing varsity since he was a freshman in 2019 and has already collected 111 receptions for 1,856 yards and 19 TD in his career. His 67 receptions in 2021 were second most in the state behind only Cibola WR Nathan Lopez Nathan Lopez 5'5" | 135 lbs | WR Cibola | 2022 State NM , while his 1,111 receiving yards were third highest. He’ll join Chargers QB A.J. Rivera A.J. Rivera 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM and RB Cole Conway Cole Conway 6'3" | 230 lbs | RB Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM to form one of the most dynamic offensive trios in the state in 2022. Albuquerque Academy is a legitimate Class 4A title contender.
Nic Trujillo Nic Trujillo 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR Cleveland | 2023 State NM , Cleveland: Perhaps underrated, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Trujillo was a key cog in Cleveland’s undefeated Class 6A championship run in 2021, catching 51 passes for 906 yards and 10 TD. With QBs Evan Wysong Evan Wysong 5'10" | 165 lbs | QB Cleveland | 2023 State NM and Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM returning and two talented running backs in Josh Perry Josh Perry 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Cleveland | 2023 State NM and Andres Aguirre Andres Aguirre 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Cleveland | 2024 State NM , the Cleveland offense promises to be just as prolific in 2022 as they were last fall. Trujillo was the Storm’s leading receiver by a wide margin in 2021 and could be again.
Chris Johnson Chris Johnson 5'9" | 135 lbs | WR West Mesa | 2023 State NM , West Mesa: Even though West Mesa had a disappointing season in 2021 (3-6 record), Johnson showed he possesses some of the softest hands in Albuquerque. He did the same when we watched him practice with the New Mexico Legacy 7-on-7 team in January and February. One of the top priorities for new West Mesa coach Landrick Brody in 2022 is figuring out different ways to get Johnson the ball in his hands. Johnson had 39 receptions for 732 yards and 5 TD last season.
Branden Castillo Branden Castillo 5'9" | 145 lbs | WR Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: Castillo was overshadowed last season by Nathan Lopez Nathan Lopez 5'5" | 135 lbs | WR Cibola | 2022 State NM , who led the state in receptions. But he accumulated some impressive numbers of his own with 57 receptions for 868 yards and 6 TD. This year, he should ascend to the No. 1 WR role for the Cougars and he gets to catch passes from the state’s top quarterback – Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM . Castillo, Marcus Wilson (three D1 hoop offers) and 6-foot-5 tight end Brayden Mummert Brayden Mummert 6'3" | 220 lbs | TE Cibola | 2023 State NM will form as good of a pass catching trio as you will find anywhere in New Mexico. With Chavez calling signals and throwing from the pocket, Cibola’s passing attack will be scary good.
Honorable Mention: Mikey Wood Mikey Wood 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR Rio Rancho | 2023 State NM (Rio Rancho);; NICHOLAS TORRES NICHOLAS TORRES WR Los Lunas | 2023 State NM (Los Lunas); Jahvon McChriston Jahvon McChriston 6'1" | 175 lbs | LB Bernalillo | 2023 State NM (Bernallilo); Chris Coash Chris Coash 6'1" | WR St. Pius X | 2023 State NM (St. Pius X); Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM (La Cueva); Bishop Ortega (Cleveland); Jackson Hix Jackson Hix 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2024 State NM (La Cueva); Marquise Renfro Marquise Renfro 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM (Atrisco Heritage); Cruz Markham Cruz Markham 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE La Cueva | 2024 State NM (La Cueva); Josiah Mitchell Josiah Mitchell 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Eldorado | 2024 State NM (Eldorado); Fabian Trujillo Fabian Trujillo WR Los Lunas | 2024 State NM (Los Lunas); Juelz Hartzog (Volcano Vista); Marcus Wilson (Cibola).
https://twitter.com/ExodusAyers_/status/1508140961502801922
So proud of @KellanGehres23 for accomplishing a tough feat. He sets goals, puts in work. Everyday is a blessing with this kid. @IsaacKKParker @JoeBushman5 @CoachGezella @DanSwanstrom @CoachChapin @CoachJCraft @ursua05 pic.twitter.com/TNROYDyQDO
— Shaun Gehres (@CoachGehres) March 28, 2022
Beyond Blessed to be named 6A First Team All State Slot Receiver! Wouldn’t be possible without my teammates and coaches!‼️ @Coach_Ridenour @CHSStormFB https://t.co/cSASOVg1hk
— Nic (@trujillo_nic) December 14, 2021
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/D8FdIsLm2M
— Chris “Bobby” Johnson II (@chris_2_shifty) November 8, 2021
Branden Castillo: 1st team All-District Slot Receiver and DB. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/jIizZf0o0D
— Cibola Football (@cibolafootball) November 3, 2021