Position Breakdown: Top 2024 Defensive Backs for the 2023 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue with our look at some of the top players in New Mexico heading into the 2023 season by telling you the top rising senior defensive backs in the 2024 class:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274992' first='Tavon' last='Archibald'], West Mesa</strong>: Archibald has emerged over the last year as one of the top defensive backs in Albuquerque. He had 18 tackles, 3 QB hurries and 3 passes defended in 2022. Good speed. He's now excelling for the New Mexico Legacy 7x7 team. Invited to Junior Day by New Mexico Highlands. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590700' first='Jesse' last='Armendariz'], Artesia</strong>: A free safety for the Class 5A champion Bulldogs, Armendariz was a standout for Artesia's underrated defense with 60 tackles and 6 interceptions. Definitely one of the defensive breakout stars of 2022. Earned First-Team All-State honors. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340299' first='David' last='Beasley'], Centennial</strong>: Beasley was perhaps overshadowed by others on Centennial's outstanding defense in 2022 but he proved to be an excellent defensive back with 30 tackles and 5 pass breakups. Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico have expressed interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274980' first='Jackson' last='Cherry'], La Cueva</strong>: Our #1 DB for the 2024 class possesses good size (5-11, 175) and speed. Per MaxPreps, he finished with 30 tackles in 2022 to help spark the Bears to the 6A state championship game. He's been offered by Grinnell College in Iowa. He traveled the camp circuit last summer with visits to multiple Ivy League schools, the Colorado School of Mines and others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590710' first='Wesley' last='Gallegos'], Roswell</strong>: Roswell reached the Class 5A semifinals in part by playing strong defense. Gallegos earned Second-Team All-State honors.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590702' first='David' last='Hammond'], Artesia</strong>: Between Armendariz and Hammond, Artesia had one of the top secondaries in the state last season. Hammond earned Second-Team All-State honors. Credited with 48 tackles, 3TFL, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 INT in 12 games. Those numbers show Hammond was around the ball a lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275465' first='W.D.' last='Hyer'], Raton</strong>: A hybrid OLB/DB, Hyer is one of the leading candidates to replace [player_tooltip player_id='138053' first='Cayden' last='Walton'], the state's all-time leading rusher, as the leader of the Tigers in 2023. Last season he had 98 tackles and 3 forced fumbles. Ball hawk. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275595' first='DeMarcus' last='Thompson'], Lovington</strong>: Thompson is extraordinarily versatile. His Hudl profile lists SEVEN different positions he plays, including cornerback, free safety and strong safety. In 9 games last season, Thompson compiled 46 tackles, 13 TFL, 7.5 sacks and 6 QB hurries. Certainly one of the top defensive players in Class 4A. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274795' first='Dominic' last='Trujillo'], Los Lunas</strong>: Like the rest of his Los Lunas teammates, Trujillo did a good job adjusting to life in Class 6A last season. Credited with 28 tackles, 2 INT and 6 passes defended in 6 games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274991' first='Jason' last='Ussery'], Los Lunas</strong>: Besides Trujillo, Ussery will anchor the Los Lunas secondary in 2023. The first thing that stands out is his impressive size: 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. In his first varsity season, Ussery amassed 45 tackles, 3 INT, 11 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. Ivy League institution Columbia has expressed interest. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='275030' first='Walter' last='Woodward'] (Silver); [player_tooltip player_id='590746' first='Hunter' last='Maldonado'] (Sandia); [player_tooltip player_id='275042' first='Drew' last='Perez'] (Bloomfield); [player_tooltip player_id='590659' first='Coen' last='Morales'] (Las Cruces); [player_tooltip player_id='592021' first='Lionel' last='Salazar'] (Taos); [player_tooltip player_id='590562' first='George' last='Rascon'] (Bloomfield) ; [player_tooltip player_id='590582' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana'] (Moriarty); [player_tooltip player_id='592022' first='Diego' last='Lucero'] (Silver); [player_tooltip player_id='275469' first='Mario' last='Saenz'] (Raton); [player_tooltip player_id='275621' first='Diego' last='Molinar'] (Bernalillo).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TavonArchibald/status/1590051463547715584?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/TavonArchibald/status/1590051463547715584?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jacksoncherry27/status/1601641009099599872?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/jacksoncherry27/status/1601641009099599872?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/davembeasley15/status/1599817919025754114?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/davembeasley15/status/1599817919025754114?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JasonDime10/status/1593266602782269442?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/JasonDime10/status/1593266602782269442?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->