Position Breakdown: Top 2024 Quarterbacks for the 2023 season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The quarterback position will be see plenty of changes in New Mexico in 2023. Most of the top QBs in the state during the 2022 season are graduating this spring, including [player_tooltip player_id='137862' first='Aidan' last='Armenta'] (La Cueva), [player_tooltip player_id='139521' first='Evan' last='Wysong'] (Cleveland), [player_tooltip player_id='137861' first='Aden' last='Chavez'] (Cibola), [player_tooltip player_id='137885' first='Paul' last='Cieremans'] (Los Lunas), [player_tooltip player_id='542545' first='Omar' last='Argott'] (Hobbs), Elliott Pasket-Bell (Volcano Vista), [player_tooltip player_id='208748' first='Ryan' last='Sharpe'] (Bloomfield) and [player_tooltip player_id='269564' first='Ashton' last='Aranda'] (Lovington).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are the new crop of rising senior quarterbacks for 2023? Here are our Top 10 (listed in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'], West Mesa</strong>: Brody is a two-sport star for the Mustangs. After throwing for 2,454 yards and 29 TD while rushing for 765 yards during football season, he has helped led West Mesa into the quarterfinals of the Class 5A boys basketball tourney. Brody has great size (6-3), mobility, quickness and a rocket arm. Expect him to post some eye-opening numbers this coming season. He's a leading contender for the 2023 New Mexico Heisman award.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='590681' first='Nye' last='Estrada'], Artesia</strong>: Estrada might be the only quarterback on this list who didn't start the season opener for his respective team. Estrada was inserted into the opener against Carlsbad and after he brought some much needed energy to the Bulldogs offense, the coaching staff made him the starter. The rest is history. The dynamic Estrada went on to throw for nearly 3,500 yards and 42 TD, leading Artesia to another Class 5A state championship. Estrada isn't the biggest guy at 5-foot-11, 150 pounds but he mocks the measurables by just making plays.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='425194' first='Manny' last='Fuentez'], Roswell</strong>: The Roswell offense was humming all season long, scoring 40+ points seven times, before running into the Piedra Vista buzzsaw in the Class 5A semifinals. Fuentez enjoyed an outstanding season, completing 69 percent of his passes and throwing for 1,600 yards and 32 TD while rushing for 250 yards and 6 TD. He's putting in the work this offseason, winning one of Roswell's weekly awards on March 1. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275459' first='Wyatt' last='Gomez'], Lovington</strong>: At a blueblood program like Lovington, everything is earned, nothing is given for free. As a result, Gomez will compete with several other younger quarterbacks for the Wildcats starting job. But, as the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Gomez showed at the recent College Prospect Showcase camp in Albuquerque, he possesses the tools to excel at a high level. We predict he'll win the Wildcats starting job and then enjoy a solid senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274791' first='Trel' last='Griego'], Farmington</strong>: Griego will be one of the biggest quarterbacks in the state, standing close to 6-foot-4 and weighing over 225 pounds. When he gets going, he's tough to bring down. Even the La Cueva defense struggled a bit tackling him in the teams; two meetings in late October and November. Last season Griego threw for 2,887 yards, falling just 113 yards short of the magical 3,000-yard mark, and 31 TD. He also rushed for 526 yards and 10 TD. Expect the same type of numbers this fall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'], Centennial</strong>: Hernandez might be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the state. He was often overshadowed by RB [player_tooltip player_id='208691' first='Mikah' last='Gutierrez'] and the Hawk's prolific rushing attack last season. He saved one of his best performances for last as he passed for 154 yards and rushed for 110 yards against La Cueva in the 6A semifinals. Centennial lost in a shootout, 42-35, but Hernandez offered a glimpse of what he is capable of doing on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275207' first='Dean' last='Marquez'], Atrisco Heritage</strong>: Marquez quarterbacked one of the most prolific offenses in 6A last season, passing for 2,190 yards and 30 TD with just 8 interceptions in 9 games. With the Jaguars' top two receivers returning in 2023 – [player_tooltip player_id='611116' first='Latavious' last='Morris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='274705' first='Marquise' last='Renfro'] – Atrisco should have no problem piling up the yardage and scoring points again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275430' first='Brandon' last='Olivas'], Eldorado</strong>: Even though Eldorado struggled from a won-loss perspective in 2022 (2-8), Olivas individually had a good season with 1,647 passing yards and 20 TD. Many of Eldorado's problems last season were on the defensive side of the ball. If head coach Charlie Dotson gets the Eagles defense squared away, Eldorado could return to the 6A playoffs. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='274972' first='Noah' last='Nelson'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Nelson started at QB for Rio Rancho during the first half of last season before an injury opened the door for sophomore J.J. Arellano to take over. It should be an interesting offseason at Rio Rancho as Nelson and Arellano battle for the Rams' starting job. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='275462' first='Kaleb' last='Rodriguez'], Loving</strong>: Rodriguez might be the best prep quarterback in New Mexico most people have never heard of. Rodriguez threw for over 1,600 yards last season, sixth most among 2024 QBs in the state, and 19 TD. &nbsp;He led Loving to a 7-4 record and spot in the Class 2A playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='592316' first='Zack' last='Stidham'] (Los Alamos); [player_tooltip player_id='275479' first='Kaidyn' last='Lanham'] (Hot Springs); [player_tooltip player_id='590236' first='Julian' last='Padilla'] (Grants); [player_tooltip player_id='275480' first='Jacob' last='Gomez'] (Hatch Valley); [player_tooltip player_id='1103773' first='Jacob' last='Mattorano'] (Raton); Adan Jaquez (Silver); [player_tooltip player_id='275510' first='Elijah' last='Montoya'] (Alamogordo).   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/elijahobrody/status/1588678434997374976","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/elijahobrody/status/1588678434997374976 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/mannyfuentez0/status/1623092516982603777","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/mannyfuentez0/status/1623092516982603777 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/wyattgomez21/status/1630029953285644288","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/wyattgomez21/status/1630029953285644288 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/artesiafootball/status/1597027074409394176","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/artesiafootball/status/1597027074409394176 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->