Monthly Recruiting Report: December

<p>Now that the 2023 high school football season is complete, we're back to reporting on the very important topic of recruiting. Over the past two or three months, numerous New Mexico prospects have committed to various schools, secured offers and taken visits. Here's our Monthly Recruiting Report for December, starting with a detailed look at two talented 2025 La Cueva prospects that appear headed to Power 5 schools:</p>   <p>A pair of elite 2025 La Cueva prospects have seen their recruiting fortunes soar in the past few months.</p>   <p>Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa'], our #1 prospect in the 2025 class, and offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='835712' first='Mark' last='Handy'] hold multiple offers from Power 5 programs. Posa, also a state champion wrestler, has been offered by Baylor, USC, Nebraska, Oregon, Duke, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Utah, Arizona State, Cal, Wisconsin and Washington.</p>   <p>Handy, also an elite wrestler (3<sup>rd</sup> place finish in the heavyweight division last winter), is listed at 6-foot-6, 285 pounds. He has been offered by Texas Tech and Baylor and visited both schools this fall. Handy also visited Oklahoma State and USC, and told Prep Redzone New Mexico that several other Power 5 schools have expressed interest.</p>   <p>Posa visited TCU, Oklahoma State, Utah, USC, Wisconsin, Texas Tech and Washington during the season.</p>   <p>All visits taken by Handy and Posa this fall were unofficial since NCAA rules prohibit them from taking official visits until the spring of their junior years. The earliest they can sign a letter of intent with any school is December 2024 during the early signing period. Both players told PRZNM that they're focused on wrestling for the next few months.  </p>   <p>Posa told Prep Redzone New Mexico that he won't begin putting together a list of favorites until he has taken his official visits.</p>   <p>“All of the visits I've been on have  been very impressive and they showed me a lot of love,” Posa said. “As of right now, I'm waiting to take my official visits and then I will have a list of favorites.”</p>   <p>Handy plans future visits to Texas Tech and Baylor, although the latter's O-Line coach left to take a job at Arkansas.</p>   <p>“I plan to visit Baylor and Texas Tech again and I am planning to take my Tech official visit next summer,” Handy said. “My visits to Lubbock and Waco both went well. Unfortunately, Baylor's O-Line coach left to go to Arkansas, so I am still waiting to meet the new O-Line coach there. But I enjoyed my time there and at Lubbock. Both were fun games to watch.”</p>   <p><strong>COMMITMENTS</strong>:</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='592201' first='Cade' last='Figg'], Texico: West Texas A&M</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='274980' first='Jackson' last='Cherry'], La Cueva: Amherst College</p>   <p><strong>OFFERS</strong>:</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='274992' first='Tavon' last='Archibald'], West Mesa: Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='613752' first='JJ' last='Arellano'], Rio Rancho (2025): New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='815946' first='Ricky' last='Armendariz'], Artesia: Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275064' first='Jacob' last='Baca'], Hope Christian: Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='817422' first='Shawn' last='Barela'], La Cueva: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1037108' first='Jesus' last='Barraza'], Centennial: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275488' first='Elijah' last='Brody'], West Mesa: Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103724' first='Tilden' last='Brown'], Valencia: Dakota Wesleyan</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='340285' first='Vences' last='Caraveo'], West Mesa: Knox College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103408' first='Juanito' last='Cruz'], Sandia: Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275478' first='Devin' last='Diaz'], Portales: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275206' first='Mason' last='Espinda-McChriston'], Bernalillo: NMMI, Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590681' first='Nye' last='Estrada'], Artesia: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='837118' first='Hector' last='Jasiah Estrada'], Rio Rancho: Orange Coast College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='815931' first='AJ' last='Flores'], Deming: Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands, Western New Mexico</p>   <p>Grayson Frederich, Sandia: Fitchburg State, University of La Verne, Orange Coast College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales'], Volcano Vista: Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275593' first='Cesar' last='Gonzalez'], Lovington: New Mexico Highlands,  </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='274791' first='Trel' last='Griego'], Farmington: Birmingham Prep</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590222' first='Melaki' last='Gutierrez'], Los Alamos: New Mexico Highlands, NMMI</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='835712' first='Mark' last='Handy'], La Cueva: Baylor, Texas Tech</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590675' first='Bobby' last='Herrera'], Mayfield: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='510673' first='Ezra' last='Hensley'], Deming (2025): Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1107065' first='Deejdrick' last='Holloway-Herndon'], Eldorado: Ottawa University Kansas, Jacksonville Community Christian College, Bethany College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='815932' first='Adan' last='Jacquez'], Silver: Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='592369' first='Jeremiah' last='Jaquez'], Hobbs: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103392' first='Peyton' last='Kennard'], Roswell: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1045154' first='Alex' last='LeFebre'], Eldorado: Judson University, Bethany College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='615455' first='Nate' last='Libby'], Las Cruces: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='340188' first='Ben' last='Linfoot'], Cleveland: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='815958' first='Nathaniel' last='Lopez'], Gadsden: New Mexico Highlands, Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590712' first='Charles' last='Lopez-Burton'], Valley: Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='613759' first='Noah' last='Lynn'], Roswell: NMMI</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='340352' first='Anson' last='Marquez'], Lovington: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='591958' first='Zane' last='Mayberry'], Portales: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275436' first='Josiah' last='Mitchell'], Eldorado: Orange Coast College</p>   <p>Julein Montano, Centennial: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103881' first='Andru' last='Ontiveros'], Portales: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>Juan Ortiz, Santa Fe: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa'], La Cueva: Baylor, USC, Nebraska, Oregon, Duke, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Utah, Arizona State, Cal, Wisconsin, Washington   </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590564' first='Anthony' last='Raymer'], Rio Rancho: Bethany College, Naples Knights Football Academy</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='274705' first='Marquise' last='Renfro'], Atrisco Heritage: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590228' first='Andrew' last='Rightley'], Valencia: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='591998' first='Julian' last='Richard'], Silver: Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103196' first='Elijah' last='Rodriguez'], Capital: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='340165' first='Bryce' last='Sanchez'], Roswell: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275041' first='Baylor' last='Seabolt'], Aztec: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='274787' first='Jonathan' last='Silva'], Goddard: Bethel College</p>   <p>Davon Smith, Volcano Vista: Langston University</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275063' first='Aidan' last='Thomas'], St. Pius X: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275595' first='Demarcus' last='Thompson'], Lovington: New Mexico Highlands, Adams State, Eastern New Mexico, Bethel College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='592401' first='Kian' last='Vander Wilt'], Volcano Vista: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>Karter Weddle, Cleveland: New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='590673' first='Diego' last='Wesson'], Artesia: Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='275045' first='Brody' last='Whitaker'], Albuquerque Academy: Culver-Stockton College, Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, Simpson College</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='815911' first='Nehemiah' last='Yorfee'], Portales: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1092396' first='Bryan' last='Zajac'], Volcano Vista: Culver-Stockton College</p>   <p><strong>VISITS</strong>:</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='592401' first='Kian' last='Vander Wilt'], Volcano Vista: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103708' first='Ryan' last='Brown'], Rio Rancho: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa'], La Cueva: TCU, Oklahoma State, Utah, USC, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Washington</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='591998' first='Julian' last='Richard'], Silver: Eastern New Mexico</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='835712' first='Mark' last='Handy'], La Cueva: USC, Northern Arizona, Texas Tech</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='839823' first='Eliseo' last='(Cheeto) Lumbrera III'], La Cueva: Arizona</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='340297' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'], Centennial: Eastern New Mexico</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/figg_cade/status/1730767530846036366?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/jacksoncherry27/status/1695910566928511325?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/vanderwilt_kian/status/1733329274898088338?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/BZajac23/status/1733230474569675191?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/jacob_baca55/status/1732977746253668699?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/BobbyHerrera41/status/1732880245919744284?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/julian_richard2/status/1731385164176199740?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/JuleinMontano21/status/1732921477454766591?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/DeejdrickHH_73/status/1722773268992573649?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/AlexLeFebre53/status/1726747075117986267?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/jonsilva_3/status/1730737287347216576?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/44_atrain/status/1733634643101102403?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/RyanBrown_42/status/1733688422345384392?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/BaylorSeabolt/status/1733630739802136632?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/elijahobrody/status/1724248468997484565?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/MarkHandy75/status/1720280817216483589?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/hot_cheeto_abq/status/1718841511029441001?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/12_DanielH/status/1733873885483765991?s=20 </div></figure>

Now that the 2023 high school football season is complete, we're back to reporting on the very important topic of recruiting. Over the past two or three months, numerous New Mexico prospects have committed to various schools, secured offers and taken visits. Here's our Monthly Recruiting Report for December, starting with a detailed look at two talented 2025 La Cueva prospects that appear headed to Power 5 schools: