Position Breakdown: Top 2024 D-Line Prospects For The 2023 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we continue to prepare for the 2023 New Mexico high school football season, here are the top 2024 defensive lineman going into the new campaign (listed in alphabetical order)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340292' first='Kash' last='Alley'], Las Cruces</strong>: Alley has been a significant presence on the Las Cruces defensive line for a couple of years, and he enjoyed another good season in 2022. 6A Second-Team All-State selection.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590666' first='Jackson' last='Blair'], Los Alamos</strong>: Hidden in the northern New Mexico mountains, Blair posted impressive statistics for the 2022 season with 54 tackles, 9 TFL and 7 sacks to help the Hilltoppers earn a 5A playoff berth. Honorable Mention All-State at defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275066' first='Matthias' last='Duran'], St. Michael's</strong>: The Horsemen are well known for their strong, physical defense and Duran could be the next great standout on that side of the ball for St. Michel's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591920' first='J' last='Gutierrez'], Bloomfield</strong>: The Bobcats have two outstanding rising senior defensive linemen, offering sincere hope they can repeat a 4A champions. Gutierrez was named a First-Team All-State defensive end after finishing 2022 with 61 tackles, 14 QB hurries, 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275238' first='Koa' last='Hoshijo'], Las Cruces</strong>: Hoshijo is one of the state's top 2024 prospects and has started for the Bulldawgs at defensive end since 2021. Las Cruces coach Mark Lopez loves his versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275427' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'], Clovis</strong>: The Wildcats struggled early last season but did well enough in district play to force a winner-take-all district championship game with Los Lunas. Johnson, who plays both ways, will be expected to anchor the Clovis defense in 2023. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590651' first='Hunter' last='Martinez'], Volcano Vista</strong>: The Hawks annually have one of the most wide-open, high-scoring offenses in the state but they've produced plenty of good defensive players as well. Martinez is a hybrid DL/OLB player that finished with 83 tackles and 6.0 TFL as a junior in 2022. Martine id also a talented baseball player. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590312' first='Nathaniel' last='Perry'], Cleveland</strong>: Because the Storm's offense has been so prolific during their three-peat championship run, the defense sometimes gets overlooked. Especially any Cleveland defensive player not named [player_tooltip player_id='274701' first='Stratton' last='Shufelt']. Perry was a stalwart on the D-Line last season with 31 tackles, 4 TFL and 2 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590594' first='Xavier' last='Provencio'], Rio Rancho</strong>: His 2022 First-Team All-State selection was well deserved after posting 37 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15 QB hurries and 5 TFL for the Rams in 2022. Very strong lower body. Tough to move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274797' first='Robert' last='Williams'], Bloomfield</strong>: Our #1 defensive lineman for the 2024 class, Williams is a three-sport standout. In 2022, he had 52 tackles, 13 QB hurries and 2 sacks, and played a major role in Bloomfield's run to the Class 4A championship. First-Team All-State selection. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='590745' first='Kristopher' last='Trujillo'] (Capital); [player_tooltip player_id='275603' first='Jesus' last='Carreon'] (Jal); [player_tooltip player_id='592150' first='Ryan' last='Tenorio'] (Santa Rosa); [player_tooltip player_id='592400' first='Ian' last='Fishburn'] (Farmington); [player_tooltip player_id='275408' first='Will' last='Jordan'] (Clovis); [player_tooltip player_id='275425' first='Josh' last='Mondragon'] (Clovis); [player_tooltip player_id='544211' first='Jacob' last='Baca'] (Hope Christian). &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/XavierProvenci0/status/1598366487139520514?s=20","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/XavierProvenci0/status/1598366487139520514?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MatthiasDuran/status/1631467818528145410?s=20","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/MatthiasDuran/status/1631467818528145410?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Nperry2525/status/1576666660936683520?s=20","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/Nperry2525/status/1576666660936683520?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->