10 Players To Know for 2024 In The New Look Class 2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 2A will have a different look and feel in 2024 with six teams moving from Class 3A (Cuba, Dexter, Navajo Prep, Newcomb, Raton, Tucumcari), two additional teams from the independent ranks (Hozho Academy, Cloudcroft) and one school moving up from 8-man football (Legacy Academy). They join traditional Class 2A powers such as Eunice, Jal, Texico and Santa Rosa. It should be fun.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 10 players you need to know for 2024 in the new look Class 2A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137856' first='Jayden' last='Dailey'], Laguna Acoma</strong>: As a sophomore, Dailey proved his versatility on the ground and in the passing game for the Hawks, including 20 receptions for 334 yards and 4 TD this past season. Dailey will team with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595769' first='Derek' last='Victorino Jr.']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137884' first='Kahi' last='Tiller']</strong> to give Laguna Acoma a potentially prolific backfield trio in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados'], Dexter</strong>: Granados emerged as one of the top 2027 prospects in the state in 2023 as he threw for nearly 1,400 yards and rushed for almost 300 yards, signaling his potential as an elite dual threat QB for the Demons. Granados should be near the top of the list when we reveal our first 2027 rankings in January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'], Estancia</strong>: With Josh Calhoon, the state's leading rusher, graduating, Estancia might rely more on its defense in 2024. If so, expect Hernandez, another promising 2027 prospect, to be one of the Bears' defensive leaders. He had 44 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 2 INT as a freshman in 2023. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854274' first='Richard' last='Lovato'], Cuba</strong>: Cuba was one of the pleasant surprises in Class 3A this past season and Lovato was one of the leaders. He possesses god size at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. He used that size to throw for over 1,100 yards and make 37 tackles on defense in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119136' first='Julian' last='Manzanares'], Dexter</strong>: Dexter's offensive success in 2023 wasn't all freshman QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155032' first='CJ' last='Granados']</strong>. As a 1,000-yard rusher, the shifty and extremely quick Manzanares played a key role as well along with leading receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119120' first='Kaesn' last='George']</strong> (35 receptions for 623 yards). All three players are back in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259065' first='Kinjii' last='Natonabah'], Newcomb</strong>: Natonabah was one of the top defensive players in 3A last season with 69 tackles and 8 QB hurries, and there's every reason to believe he'll be even better in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119659' first='Xavier' last='Nez'], Navajo Prep</strong>: Nez is one of the better quarterbacks in the state that you've never heard of. He helped lead Navajo Prep to a 3A playoff berth this past season and with Nez back in 2024, the Eagles could be one of the favorites to claim the District 3A-1 title in 2024. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258981' first='Jermiah' last='Roybal'], McCurdy</strong>: McCurdy has been playing 11-man football for only a couple of years but they served notice in 2023 that they could be a competitive program at the 2A level. Roybal was one of McCurdy's key figures on offense and with [player_tooltip player_id='1103814' first='Lucas' last='Martinez'] graduating, he'll have the ball in his hands a lot in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137084' first='Daymion' last='Urioste'], Tucumcari</strong>: Tucumcari is rebuilding and Urioste, a sophomore, is one of the key pieces the Rattlers will rely on over the next two years. He had close to 50 receptions last season. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613159' first='Cannon' last='Walton'], Raton</strong>: Yes, another Walton from Raton is on the verge of becoming a big-time player. Cannon led Raton in rushing in 2023 with 780 yards and 13 TD, and will combine with junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119146' first='Joseph' last='Saenz']</strong> (725 rushing yards + 7 TD) to give the Tigers a dynamic 1-2 RB combination in their debut season in 2A. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Here is how the districts break down in Class 2A for the 2024-2025 cycle</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 1</strong>: Cuba, Hozho Academy, Laguna Acoma, McCurdy, Navajo Prep, Newcomb;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 2</strong>: Capitan, Cloudcroft, Estancia, Legacy Academy, Raton, Santa Rosa, Tucumcari;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>District 3</strong>: Dexter, Eunice, Jal, Loving, Texico, Tularosa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/cj_granados10/status/1725201844174274971?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/cj_granados10/status/1725201844174274971?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/juicemanzanares/status/1726635843325182267?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/juicemanzanares/status/1726635843325182267?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->