Top 2023 New Mexico Heisman Contenders
In this article:
A couple of weeks ago, we named La Cueva quarterback Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM as the recipient of the 2022 New Mexico Heisman Award. Who will win it…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA couple of weeks ago, we named La Cueva quarterback Aidan Armenta Aidan Armenta 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2023 State NM as the recipient of the 2022 New Mexico Heisman Award. Who will win it in 2023? Based on their impressive performances this past season, here are 10 top contenders (listed in alphabetical order):
J.J. Arellano, Rio Rancho: Arellano wasn’t Rio Rancho’s starting QB when the 2022 season started but took the reins when Noah Nelson Noah Nelson 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM was injured. Arellano didn’t take long to showcase his superb dual threat skills. Give him an offseason as the #1 QB and the rising junior should be even better in 2023.
Diego Avila Diego Avila 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB Belen | 2024 State NM , Belen: Avila combines outstanding speed with toughness as a ball carrier. He should be one of the top running backs in the Albuquerque metro region in 2023. He’ll likely be the centerpiece of the Eagles’ offense next season. In just 7 games in 2022 he rushed for 740 yards. If he stays healthy in 2023, he should be a 1,000-yard rusher.
Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: West Mesa fell just short of earning a berth in the 6A playoffs but Brody enjoyed a solid first season as the Mustangs’ starting QB. He threw for 2,454 yards and 29 TD as a junior in 2022 after transferring from Cleveland. West Mesa’s top 3 receivers will graduate but the 204 prospects behind them are talented.
Nye Estrada, Artesia: Arguably the state’s top breakout player in 2022. After taking over as the Bulldogs’ starting QB in Week 2, Estrada proceeded to throw for 3,425 yards and 42 TD as a junior. His top weapons all return in 2023, including. . .
Peyton Greathouse Peyton Greathouse 5'9" | 175 lbs | WR Artesia | 2024 TN , Artesia: The Bulldogs offense is going to be scary good in 2023 with Estrada, Greathouse and RB Jesse Leroch. Greathouse finished 2nd in the state in receptions (79) and receiving yards (1,309) in 2022, makinghim the top returning receiver in NM next season.
Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM , Farmington: Opponents found out this season that the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Griego is a load to bring down when he has the ball in his hands and tough to stop when he’s throwing. He threw for 2,887 yards and 31 TD to lead the Scorpions to the quarterfinals of the 6A playoffs.
Jackson Hix Jackson Hix 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2024 State NM , La Cueva: Ian Sanchez Ian Sanchez 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR La Cueva | 2023 State NM enjoyed a monster 2022 season as La Cueva’s No. 1 WR, leading the state in receptions and receiving yards. Next season it could be Hix, who had 66 receptions for 1,040 yards and 14 TD as a junior. Next season it will be QB Cameron Dyer throwing him passes.
Dean Marquez Dean Marquez 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM , Atrisco Heritage: The Jaguars had one of the most prolific offenses in 6A last season and Marquez engineered most of it. He threw for nearly 2,200 yards and 30 TD. Three of his top four receivers are back in 2023, so look for Atrisco Heritage to fire on all cylinders offensively.
Kash Roberts Kash Roberts 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Clovis | 2024 State NM , Clovis: The 2022 Wildcats transitioned to the run-dominated flexbone offense under first-year HC Andrew McCraw. Roberts led Clovis with over 700 yards rushing and with a year under his belt could do even better in 2023. In fact, you can count on it.
Jesse Seitzinger, Bloomfield: With QB Ryan Sharpe Ryan Sharpe QB Bloomfield | 2023 State NM and RB Andreas Gordo Andreas Gordo LB Bloomfield | 2023 State NM graduating after leading the Bobcats to the 4A title, Seitzinger will be the centerpiece of Bloomfield’s offense in 2023 along with WR Drew Perez Drew Perez 5'9" | 140 lbs | DB BLoomfield | 2024 State NM . Seitzinger rushed for over 700 yards and caught 24 passes for 600 yards in 2023 and finished with about 1,300 all-purpose yards.
Special Mention: Stratton Shufelt Stratton Shufelt 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Cleveland | 2024 State NM . Could a defensive player win the New Mexico Heisman? Just as with the College Heisman, it’s extremely difficult. But if there’s one defensive player who could pull it off, Shufelt is the guy. He’s widely regarded as the state’s top 2024 prospect. He’s already been offered by several FBS programs.