Updated 2024 Rankings: 10 Breakout Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We recently released our updated 2024 rankings. Who are some of the prospects we project will have breakout seasons as seniors in 2023?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274977' first='Andres' last='Aguirre'], Cleveland</strong>: Aguirre has our respect as we ranked him No. 6 overall in our updated 2024 rankings. But when you're one star in a galaxy, sometimes you get overlooked. Aguirre was one of the top RBs in Albuquerque when he transferred to Cleveland last summer. But with [player_tooltip player_id='138204' first='Josh' last='Perry'] there, Aguirre switched to the secondary and had a great season in 2022, earning 2^nd team All-State honors. Will he switch back to RB in 2023?       </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275601' first='Shawn' last='Armijo'], Bernalillo</strong>: Armijo and [player_tooltip player_id='275206' first='Mason' last='Espinda-McChriston'] combined for 73 receptions for nearly 1,000 yards in 2022. Both are back in 2023 to give the Spartans a nice pass catching combination. Armijo could double his output from last season (26 receptions for 280 yards). Armijo also had 79 tackles on defense. He'll be an outstanding two-way player in 2023. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josh Calhoon, Estancia</strong>: Calhoon was one of the Top 10 rushers in the state in 2022 as he carried for 1,360 yards on 203 carries. He was one of just six RB with 200+ carries. But because he plays for a 2A school, Calhoon doesn't get a lot of love from the media. We're here to fix that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275599' first='Nicolas' last='Chavez'], Santa Rosa</strong>: Another 2A standout who deserves more attention. Chavez had more tackles than any other junior in the state last season, finishing with 144 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 2 INT in his first season with the Lions varsity. With a year of experience under his belt, Chavez could post some seriously staggering number sin 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590676' first='Eli' last='Darnell'], Manzano</strong>: The Monarchs struggled in 2022 with a 1-9 record, meaning few people noticed Darnell had 105 tackles for the Monarchs. Our guess is more people will pay attention to Darnell in 2023. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='238625' first='Dalton' last='Lee'], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Lee has steadily become one of the top linebackers in the 2024 class. As a sophomore in 2021, he had 66 tackles, 7 TFL and 4 sacks. Last season he boosted those numbers to 79, 12 and 7. He added 10 QB hurries. Next season could see Lee challenge for the title of best 2024 LB in the state behind Cleveland's [player_tooltip player_id='274701' first='Stratton' last='Shufelt'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zaeden McPherson, Hobbs</strong>: The Eagles defense has been led by prolific LB [player_tooltip player_id='138050' first='Kenyon' last='Singleton'] for the past two seasons. Singleton is graduating, handing the leadership reins to McPherson, who had 113 tackles and 3 forced fumbles as a junior in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'], Eldorado</strong>: The Eagles struggled to a 2-8 record in 2022 chiefly because the defense surrendered a boatload of points. Yet Olivas had a good season individually, throwing for 1,647 yards and 20 TD while completing 56 percent of his passes. Olivas and RB [player_tooltip player_id='275431' first='John' last='Paul Ludi'] form a solid offensive backfield duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592093' first='Logan' last='Sandoval'], Ruidoso</strong>: Another Warriors player who had an outstanding year in 2022, Sandoval had 52 receptions for 945 yards and 12 TD on offense and 41 tackles on defense. Ruidoso had so many great players in 2022 that Sandoval was forgotten. He won't be in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='592353' first='Tazhe' last='Wilson'], Valley</strong>: The Vikings were one of the surprise teams in Class 5A last season, relying on a balanced rushing attack. Valley's top two rushers are graduating, making Wilson the likely No. 1 RB in 2023. Wilson had almost 500 rushing yards and 6 TD on 80 carries last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AndresGAguirre6/status/1604196685290172416","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AndresGAguirre6/status/1604196685290172416 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Dalton_le3/status/1599954272787238912","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Dalton_le3/status/1599954272787238912 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Zaeden1313/status/1590523562334781440","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Zaeden1313/status/1590523562334781440 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->