Updated 2024 Rankings: Fastest Stock Risers (Part 2)
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We’ve released our updated 2024 rankings with the start of the 2023 New Mexico high school football season less than three months away. Here are the Fastest Stock Risers, Part 2: Tavon Archibald Tavon Archibald 6'0" | 170 lbs |…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve released our updated 2024 rankings with the start of the 2023 New Mexico high school football season less than three months away. Here are the Fastest Stock Risers, Part 2:
Tavon Archibald Tavon Archibald 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Archibald has developed into a solid defensive back for West Mesa. He sandwiched a good junior season for the Mustangs with consecutive springs with the New Mexico Legacy 7×7 team. He recently visited Eastern New Mexico for Junior Day, and should follow in the footsteps of several WMHS teammates who signed with colleges earlier this year. Archibald had 18 tackles and, more impressively, 3 QB hurries in 2022, a good indication of his speed and keen ability to wreak havoc in the opposing offensive backfield.
Jacob Baca Jacob Baca 6'3" | 160 lbs | LB St. Pius X | 2023 State NM , Hope Christian: Baca has become one of the top trench standouts in the Albuquerque Metro Region. In 11 games for the Huskies last season, he totaled 92 tackles, 13 sacks and 21 TFL on defense and 33 pancake blocks on offense. College coaches are taking notice. He’s been invited to the Blue-Grey All-American Combine in Dallas and to camp by Georgetown, visited Arizona Christian and Washington University of St. Louis and offered by Ottawa University Arizona.
Melaki Gutierrez Melaki Gutierrez 6'1" | 150 lbs | WR Los Alamos | 2024 State NM , Los Alamos: We already know Gutierrez is one of the fastest players in the state. He just swept the 100 and 200 meters at the Class 4A state track and field championships, finished second in the long jump and recorded one of the top 100 fastest times nationally in the 200 (21.31 seconds). He also has a 37-inch vertical leap. He’s a freakish athlete. Gutierrez had 29 receptions for 502 yards and 5 TD during the regular season last fall. I’m sure the Los Alamos coaches are figuring out different ways to get the ball into Gutierrez’s hands as much as possible in 2023.
Bobby Herrera Bobby Herrera 5'9" | 170 lbs | LB Mayfield | 2024 State NM , Mayfield: Herrera has become one of the top linebackers in southern New Mexico. Last season he finished with over 100 tackles and earned All-District and All-State honors. He has good speed and a great nose for the football as he is able to track ball carriers well through a maze of bodies. His tackling fundamentals are superb. He visited Eastern New Mexico for Junior Day. He has been invited to camps at New Mexico State, Western New Mexico, North Texas and Knox College.
Dalton Lee Dalton Lee 6'1" | 180 lbs | LB Albuquerque Academy | 2024 State NM , Albuquerque Academy: A 6-foot-1, 180 pound LB for the Chargers, Lee has been rewarded for a sensational junior campaign in 2022 (79 tackles, 12 TFL, 7 sacks, 10 QBH) with multiple offers (New Mexico Highlands, Carleton College) and an ambitious summer camp schedule highlighted by trips to NM State, Arizona, North Dakota State, North Texas and Notre Dame. If Lee performs well at these highly visible camps and then backs it up with another solid season for Academy, his offer list will increase dramatically.
Kian Vander Wilt Kian Vander Wilt 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: A 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive end for Volcano Vista, Vander Wilt emerged last season as a stellar OLB/DE for the Hawks, totaling 100 tackles and 9.5 TFL in 13 games as Volcano Vista reached the 6A semifinals. He’s been a weight room warrior during the offseason. He’s been invited to camp at New Mexico State, Northern Colorado (mega-camp) and Montana Tech.