Spring Fling: 5 More Prospects Winning The Offseason (Part 2)

It’s Easter Monday, so we’re more than halfway through the month of April. Believe it or not, it’s been 4-1/2 months since the state championship games in late November. We’re about 3 months away from the start of preseason camps for most high school teams. Here are 5 more prospects (Part 2) winning the off-season as we head towards what should be an exciting 2022 campaign. <strong>Alexander Mora, Santa Fe</strong>: The younger brother of former Santa Fe standout [player_tooltip player_id="26265" first="Martell" last="Mora"] (signed with Eastern New Mexico) is quickly becoming a college prospect on his own. He recently ran 100 meters in 11.6 seconds, a nice time for as sophomore in high school. As a 2024 prospect, Mora still has two football seasons left in his high school career, allowing him plenty of time to continue growing and developing. We predict Mora will get his 100 time under 11 seconds and become a big-time prospect. <strong>Manuel Gonzales, Grants</strong>: Little known until now, Gonzales crashed the party like a lightning bolt this past weekend with an impressive performance at the Prep Redzone Showcase in Colorado. As PRZ scout Ryan Wesley said, Gonzales showed “shifty releases &amp; explosive breaks, creates separation and has reliable hands.” His speed was especially impressive. Gonzales is a 2024 prospect, giving him two years to  enhance his craft. Definitely one to watch. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138088" first="Javyn" last="Morales"], Goddard</strong>: Morales deserves to be on this list based simply on what he has been through over the past six or seven months. Morales, one of the state’s fastest players, tore his ACL midway through last season and underwent surgery. But now, incredibly, he’s back running track and getting ready for what could be a breakout 20222 campaign on the gridiron. He’s already qualified for the state track meet in the 100 meters. Several schools have expressed recent interest, including New Mexico State, Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico, FCS Valparaiso and Waldorf University. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="269511" first="Chris" last="Montoya"], Rio Rancho</strong>: After a solid 2021 season in which he was one of Rio Rancho’s leaders defensively and helped the Rams reach the Class 6A championship game, Montoya has sustained the momentum this spring. He was named Rio Rancho’s Lifter of the Day on April 7, an indication he’s making significant progress in the weight room. Montoya will be one of the state’s top linebackers in 2022. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138201" first="Layton" last="Gillis"], Hatch Valley</strong>: If you follow Gillis on Twitter, you know one thing for sure: Gillis is a workout machine. And he’s got the bulging arms to prove it. We’re persuaded to start calling him the Hatch Valley Hercules. From a win-loss perspective, Hatch Valley had a challenging season in 2021, but Gillis emerged as the Bears’ top offensive weapon with 514 rushing yards. He added 22 tackles on defense. Look for Hatch Valley to be an improved football team in 2022 and Gillis, who’s been invited to the Hawaii Tiki Bowl, will be one of the stars. Don’t be surprised if he becomes a 1,000-yard rusher. https://twitter.com/alexander_2mora/status/1512871129689456643 https://twitter.com/AmandaScott2019/status/1515836774437720064 https://twitter.com/JavynMorales/status/1514787820077944854 https://twitter.com/Coach_PMartinez/status/1512067465739526156 https://twitter.com/laytong42/status/1512451847344189453 &nbsp;