Recruiting New Mexico: NMHU busy handing out offers

With new recruiting coordinator Garrett Myers leading the charge, Las Vegas-based New Mexico Highlands is displaying a new boldness in recruiting prospects from the Land of Enchantment.   Myers and NMHU head coach Ron Hudson have traveled the state this spring talking with dozens of coaches to gather information on prospects.   Result? Monday, per social media, the Cowboys offered four 2024 prospects from New Mexico: WR [player_tooltip player_id='590743' first='Jacob' last='Adcox'] (Sandia), LB [player_tooltip player_id='238625' first='Dalton' last='Lee'] (Albuquerque Academy), WR/TE [player_tooltip player_id='274718' first='Cruz' last='Markham'] (La Cueva) and OL T.J. McCarthy (Albuquerque High).   Tuesday, NMHU offered Manzano LB [player_tooltip player_id='590676' first='Eli' last='Darnell'].   Earlier this month, they offered several other deserving 2024 prospects from New Mexico: Hobbs QB [player_tooltip player_id='817391' first='Owen' last='Callaway'], St. Pius X OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='275063' first='Aidan' last='Thomas'] and Centennial DB [player_tooltip player_id='340299' first='David' last='Beasley'].      Roswell RB [player_tooltip player_id='340165' first='Bryce' last='Sanchez'] and teammates [player_tooltip player_id='1103392' first='Peyton' last='Kennard'] (ATH) and [player_tooltip player_id='817405' first='Dylan' last='King'] (OL) were invited to come to the NMHU campus for one of two newly scheduled Junior Days on May 17 and May 26.   The Cowboys will later host a 7-on-7 Tourney and Big Man Camp on July 22.   At one time, NMHU limited their recruiting in New Mexico to mostly the northern half of the state. But Hudson has aggressively extended the Cowboys' recruiting efforts to the southern half, particularly Las Cruces and the talent-rich southeastern region where most of the Friday Night Lights towns are located.        “Our name is getting out there,” Hudson told Prep redzone New Mexico. “When I got this job last year, just about everybody I talked to commented they hadn't seen a Highlands coach in years. Throughout the state, specifically in the southeast with schools like Artesia and Hobbs and those folks, we're trying to make our presence known and showing people we want to recruit their kids. Now we're getting more kids reaching out to us wanting to come see us.”   NMHU's 2023 signing class reflects Hudson's early attempt to expand the Cowboys' recruiting boundaries beyond the traditional region. NMHU signed two players from Hobbs (DL [player_tooltip player_id='335460' first='Andre' last='Alvarado'], DB Isaiah Jackson), three from Socorro (WR [player_tooltip player_id='138084' first='Brian' last='Armijo'], WR [player_tooltip player_id='138083' first='Marcus' last='Armijo'], LS/LB Warren Kurtnaker), one from Artesia (OLB [player_tooltip player_id='270051' first='Rylee' last='Jarratt']) and one from Centennial (OL [player_tooltip player_id='546630' first='Izaiah' last='Hilliard']).   “One of the first things we did was get into southern New Mexico more,” Hudson said. “Trying to get down there and show guys we have a sincere interest in them and get them to come up here. Our coaches are going to be at a bunch of satellite camps, including New Mexico and New Mexico State. This is our state. We're a good university. We're a great option for kids.”       In all, NMHU signed 28 prospects from New Mexico as part of the 2023 class.   “The fact we're back this spring to the schools we visited last year made a huge impact,” Hudson said. "They know we're serious about recruiting their schools. I shook a bunch of hands. I want coaches to know we want to talk ball with them and we want to recruit their guys. They know now we're not a one-hit wonder. Highlands has had a lot of turnover (with coaches). They were concerned about that. We're in Year 2. We're committed to recruiting the entire state.”   Hudson's secret weapon could be Myers, who spent the last three seasons at FBS Northern Illinois as a graduate assistant and assistant offensive line coach. In addition to serving as recruiting coordinator for the Cowboys, Myers will also be the offensive line coach.   “He's doing a great job,” Hudson said. “He's a hustler. We're going to give Coach Myers the southeastern part of the state to recruit.”   2023 NEW MEXICO SIGNEES – NM HIGHLANDS   [player_tooltip player_id='542471' first='Aaron' last='Loya'], Highlands – OL   [player_tooltip player_id='335460' first='Andre' last='Alvarado'], Hobbs – DL   [player_tooltip player_id='270010' first='Andrew' last='Aguirre'], Atrisco Heritage – OL   Andrew Roybal, Albuquerque High – WR   Anthony Anaya, Capital – DB (PWO)   [player_tooltip player_id='138084' first='Brian' last='Armijo'], Socorro – WR   Caeden Jojola, Valley – RB   Cole Hopper, Raton – P/K   [player_tooltip player_id='542892' first='Creed' last='Chavez'], St. Michael's – DB   Eric Sanchez, Capital – OLB (PWO)   Isaiah Jackson, Hobbs – DB (PWO)   [player_tooltip player_id='270052' first='Isaiah' last='Valdez'], Capital – DL (PWO)   [player_tooltip player_id='546630' first='Izaiah' last='Hilliard'], Centennial – OL (PWO)   Jahvon Maes McChriston, Bernalillo – OLB   [player_tooltip player_id='270051' first='Rylee' last='Jarratt'], Artesia – OLB   Jayden Daize, Bernalillo – OL (PWO)   Joey Cave, Rio Rancho – QB   Kendrik Brown, Laguna-Acoma – OL/DL (PWO)   Lazarus Griego, Capital – OL (PWO)   Luc Jaramillo, Santa Fe – QB (PWO)   [player_tooltip player_id='138083' first='Marcus' last='Armijo'], Socorro – WR   [player_tooltip player_id='138072' first='Michael' last='Ash'], Bernalillo – DL (PWO)   Robert Marquez, Atrisco Heritage – LB   [player_tooltip player_id='208748' first='Ryan' last='Sharpe'], Bloomfield – QB (PWO)   Santos Salazar, Capital – WR (PWO)   Tyler Finley, West Mesa – DT (PWO)   Victor Aguilar, Capital – OL (PWO)   Warren Kurtnaker, Socorro – LS/LB            <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NMHUFootball/status/1657156961589403648 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CoachMyers80/status/1655958115005911040 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/eli_darnell/status/1658303714069987335 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jacobadcox06/status/1658167151747026945 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/5tjay6/status/1658184777491701760 </div></figure>   <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/1658134029118623744 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Aidanthomas70/status/1654958981264322561 </div></figure>

With new recruiting coordinator Garrett Myers leading the charge, Las Vegas-based New Mexico Highlands is displaying a new boldness in recruiting prospects from the Land of Enchantment.