Early Look: Top Contenders for 2024 New Mexico Heisman

<p>Last week we announced the winner of the 2023 New Mexico Heisman award. Now we take a look at 10 contenders for the 2024 award, which will be announced around this time next December.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613752' first='JJ' last='Arellano'], Rio Rancho</strong>: After watching Arellano as a sophomore and junior, you get the sense he could be on the verge of a major breakthrough season. He's already thrown for nearly 3,000 career yards and rushed for almost 1,000 yards, so his dual threat credentials are well established.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615632' first='Uriel' last='Castro'], Bernalillo</strong>: In his second season as Bernalillo's starting QB, Castro threw for 2,078 yards and 25 TD vs. just 6 interceptions. Every head coach will take a 4-to-1 TD-INT ratio from their QB. The Castro-to-Castro (Rising So. WR [player_tooltip player_id='853757' first='Ulisses' last='Castro']) connection could be lethal in 2024.  </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615523' first='Paxton' last='Culpepper'], Portales</strong>: Culpepper has been sensational in his first two years as the Rams' starting QB. He led Portales to the 4A state championship game three weekends ago by throwing for close to 3,000 yards and 40 TD. Another good season in 2024 and he'll finish with over 7,000 yards in his career.   </p>   <p><strong>Zaiden Davis, Centennial</strong>: Davis took over as Centennial's QB midway through the regular season when [player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'] suffered a broken collarbone. So, his data sample is small. But it's impressive. He rushed for 183+ yards in 3 of the 4 games he served as the starter, introducing himself as a promising dual threat QB.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611098' first='Cameron' last='Dyer'], La Cueva</strong>: After leading La Cueva to the 6A state title, Dyer was one of our finalists for the 2023 New Mexico Heisman, and he enters the offseason as arguably the frontrunner for the 2024 award. Dyer has been offered by New Mexico State and showed why in the playoffs with his elite passing and running skills.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853029' first='Gunnar' last='Guardiola'], Las Cruces</strong>: In his first full season as Las Cruces' starting quarterback, Guardiola led the Bulldawgs to the 6A semifinals. And he's just a sophomore. This past season he threw for 2,783 yards and 22 TD while completing 66.0 percent of his passes. Look for him to go to the next level as a junior.     </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851873' first='Jordan' last='Hatch'], Cleveland</strong>: Another young promising quarterback seeking to take his game to the next level in 2024. His two best passing games of the season came against rival Rio Rancho. Now he must learn to play at that level every week. If he does, his ceiling is very high.  </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615555' first='CJ' last='Perea'], West Las Vegas</strong>: Already a three-year starter for WLV, Perea has thrown for 6,165 yards and 62 TD in his career and goes into his senior season with an opportunity to finish among the state's all-time Top 10 passers in total yardage. The Dons are a serious contender for the 3A crown with Perea at QB.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa'], La Cueva</strong>: Can a defensive player win the New Mexico Heisman? Sure. But it will take a special player to make it happen. Posa has become a national recruit with offers from numerous Power 5 programs. His speed, strength and quickness are elite. He had well over 100 tackles in 2023.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615635' first='Blake' last='Spencer'], Bloomfield</strong>: Taking over from Ryan Sharpe, who led Bloomfield to the 2022 Class 4A title, Spencer thrived in his first year as the Bobcats' starting QB with 2,748 yards and 35 TD with just 4 INT. Bloomfield saw its 17-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Portales in the 4A semifinals but Spencer and the Bobcats should return as a title contender in 2024.    </p>   <p><strong>Watch List</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='853013' first='Tanner' last='Montano'] (La Cueva); Franke Galindo (Artesia); [player_tooltip player_id='613184' first='Isaiah' last='Ocampo'] (Socorro); Jesse James Gonzales (Robertson); [player_tooltip player_id='611116' first='Latavious' last='Morris'] (Atrisco Heritage); [player_tooltip player_id='615626' first='Julian' last='Butkivich'] (Valley); [player_tooltip player_id='615425' first='Amiri' last='Mumba'] (Highland); [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'] (Eunice); [player_tooltip player_id='853710' first='Evan' last='Salazar'] (Taos); [player_tooltip player_id='1119328' first='Jett' last='Galles'] (Albuq. Academy); [player_tooltip player_id='613065' first='Camon' last='Ochoa'] (Lovington).</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/j1arellano/status/1727883557983723589?s=20 </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/DavisZaiden/status/1728877596887462015?s=20 </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/camdyer7/status/1729544079048839549?s=20 </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/GunnarGuardiola/status/1730685373003813005?s=20 </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/Jordan_k1Hatch/status/1731103374270251181?s=20 </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/CoachCarlos62/status/1730040583274877114?s=20 </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/MasonPosa/status/1729524226929946803?s=20 </div></figure>

Last week we announced the winner of the 2023 New Mexico Heisman award. Now we take a look at 10 contenders for the 2024 award, which will be announced around this time next December.