Monthly Recruiting Report: December
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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…
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Continue ReadingNow 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:
A pair of elite 2025 La Cueva prospects have seen their recruiting fortunes soar in the past few months.
Linebacker Mason Posa Mason Posa 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB La Cueva | 2025 State NM , our #1 prospect in the 2025 class, and offensive lineman Mark 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.
Handy, also an elite wrestler (3rd 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.
Posa visited TCU, Oklahoma State, Utah, USC, Wisconsin, Texas Tech and Washington during the season.
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.
Posa told Prep Redzone New Mexico that he won’t begin putting together a list of favorites until he has taken his official visits.
“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.”
Handy plans future visits to Texas Tech and Baylor, although the latter’s O-Line coach left to take a job at Arkansas.
“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.”
COMMITMENTS:
Cade Figg Cade Figg 5'8" | QB Texico | 2024 State NM , Texico: West Texas A&M
Jackson Cherry Jackson Cherry 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB La Cueva | 2024 State NM , La Cueva: Amherst College
OFFERS:
Tavon Archibald Tavon Archibald 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Western New Mexico
JJ Arellano JJ Arellano 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Rio Rancho | 2025 State NM , Rio Rancho (2025): New Mexico Highlands
Ricky Armendariz Ricky Armendariz 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia: Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico
Jacob Baca Jacob Baca 6'1" | 245 lbs | DL Hope Christian | 2024 State NM , Hope Christian: Western New Mexico
Shawn Barela Shawn Barela 5'11" | 175 lbs | LB La Cueva | 2024 State NM , La Cueva: New Mexico Highlands
Jesus Barraza Jesus Barraza 6'4" | 215 lbs | RB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: New Mexico Highlands
Elijah Brody Elijah Brody 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico
Tilden Brown Tilden Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Valencia | 2024 State NM , Valencia: Dakota Wesleyan
Vences Caraveo Vences Caraveo 6'0" | 170 lbs | LB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Knox College
Juanito Cruz Juanito Cruz 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Sandia | 2024 State NM , Sandia: Western New Mexico
Devin Diaz Devin Diaz 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Portales | 2024 State NM , Portales: New Mexico Highlands
Mason Espinda-McChriston Mason Espinda-McChriston 6'2" | 175 lbs | ATH Bernalillo | 2024 State NM , Bernalillo: NMMI, Western New Mexico
Nye Estrada Nye Estrada 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia: New Mexico Highlands
Hector Jasiah Estrada Hector Jasiah Estrada 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR Rio Rancho | 2025 State NM , Rio Rancho: Orange Coast College
AJ Flores AJ Flores 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Deming | 2024 State NM , Deming: Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands, Western New Mexico
Grayson Frederich, Sandia: Fitchburg State, University of La Verne, Orange Coast College
Alijah Gonzales Alijah Gonzales 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands
Cesar Gonzalez Cesar Gonzalez 5'7" | 150 lbs | WR Lovington | 2024 State NM , Lovington: New Mexico Highlands,
Trel Griego Trel Griego 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Farmington | 2024 State NM , Farmington: Birmingham Prep
Melaki Gutierrez Melaki Gutierrez 6'1" | 150 lbs | WR Los Alamos | 2024 State NM , Los Alamos: New Mexico Highlands, NMMI
Mark Handy, La Cueva: Baylor, Texas Tech
Bobby Herrera Bobby Herrera 5'9" | 170 lbs | LB Mayfield | 2024 State NM , Mayfield: New Mexico Highlands
Ezra Hensley Ezra Hensley 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Deming | 2025 State NM , Deming (2025): Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands
Deejdrick Holloway-Herndon Deejdrick Holloway-Herndon 6'1" | 290 lbs | OL Eldorado | 2024 NM , Eldorado: Ottawa University Kansas, Jacksonville Community Christian College, Bethany College
Adan Jacquez Adan Jacquez 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Silver | 2024 State NM , Silver: Western New Mexico
Jeremiah Jaquez Jeremiah Jaquez 5'8" | 145 lbs | WR Hobbs | 2024 State NM , Hobbs: New Mexico Highlands
Peyton Kennard Peyton Kennard K Roswell | 2024 State NM , Roswell: New Mexico Highlands
Alex LeFebre Alex LeFebre 6'0" | 215 lbs | OL Eldorado | 2024 State NM , Eldorado: Judson University, Bethany College
Nate Libby Nate Libby 6'3" | 175 lbs | WR Las Cruces | 2025 State NM , Las Cruces: New Mexico Highlands
Ben Linfoot Ben Linfoot 5'9" | 220 lbs | OL Cleveland | 2024 State NM , Cleveland: New Mexico Highlands
Nathaniel Lopez Nathaniel Lopez 6'1" | 260 lbs | DL Gadsden | 2024 State NM , Gadsden: New Mexico Highlands, Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico
Charles Lopez-Burton Charles Lopez-Burton 6'0" | 205 lbs | RB Valley | 2024 State NM , Valley: Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands
Noah Lynn Noah Lynn 6'3" | 255 lbs | DL Roswell | 2025 State NM , Roswell: NMMI
Anson Marquez Anson Marquez 5'10" | 160 lbs | LB Lovington | 2024 State NM , Lovington: New Mexico Highlands
Zane Mayberry Zane Mayberry 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Portales | 2024 State NM , Portales: New Mexico Highlands
Josiah Mitchell Josiah Mitchell 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Eldorado | 2024 State NM , Eldorado: Orange Coast College
Julein Montano, Centennial: New Mexico Highlands
Andru Ontiveros Andru Ontiveros 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Portales | 2024 State NM , Portales: New Mexico Highlands
Juan Ortiz, Santa Fe: New Mexico Highlands
Mason Posa Mason Posa 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB La Cueva | 2025 State NM , La Cueva: Baylor, USC, Nebraska, Oregon, Duke, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Utah, Arizona State, Cal, Wisconsin, Washington
Anthony Raymer Anthony Raymer 5'9" | 155 lbs | WR Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM , Rio Rancho: Bethany College, Naples Knights Football Academy
Marquise Renfro Marquise Renfro 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Atrisco Heritage | 2024 State NM , Atrisco Heritage: Eastern New Mexico
Andrew Ray Rightley Andrew Ray Rightley 6'0" | 280 lbs | OL Valencia | 2024 State NM , Valencia: New Mexico Highlands
Julian Richard Julian Richard 6'2" | 150 lbs | WR Silver | 2024 State NM , Silver: Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico
Elijah Rodriguez Elijah Rodriguez 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Capital | 2024 State NM , Capital: New Mexico Highlands
Bryce Sanchez Bryce Sanchez 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Roswell | 2024 State NM , Roswell: New Mexico Highlands
Baylor Seabolt Baylor Seabolt 5'11" | 165 lbs | RB Aztec | 2024 State NM , Aztec: Eastern New Mexico
Jonathan Silva Jonathan Silva RB Goddard | 2024 State NM , Goddard: Bethel College
Davon Smith, Volcano Vista: Langston University
Aidan Thomas Aidan Thomas 6'5" | 260 lbs | OL St. Pius X | 2024 State NM , St. Pius X: Eastern New Mexico
Demarcus Thompson Demarcus Thompson 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Lovington | 2024 State NM , Lovington: New Mexico Highlands, Adams State, Eastern New Mexico, Bethel College
Kian Vander Wilt Kian Vander Wilt 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: New Mexico Highlands
Karter Weddle, Cleveland: New Mexico Highlands
Diego Wesson Diego Wesson 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia: Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands
Brody Whitaker Brody Whitaker 5'11" | 235 lbs | LB Albuquerque Academy | 2024 State NM , Albuquerque Academy: Culver-Stockton College, Western New Mexico, Eastern New Mexico, Simpson College
Nehemiah Yorfee Nehemiah Yorfee 6'1" | 180 lbs | DL Portales | 2024 State NM , Portales: Eastern New Mexico
Bryan Zajac Bryan Zajac 5'7" | 135 lbs | DB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: Culver-Stockton College
VISITS:
Kian Vander Wilt Kian Vander Wilt 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: Eastern New Mexico
Ryan Brown Ryan Brown 5'11" | 210 lbs | LB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM , Rio Rancho: Eastern New Mexico
Mason Posa Mason Posa 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB La Cueva | 2025 State NM , La Cueva: TCU, Oklahoma State, Utah, USC, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Washington
Julian Richard Julian Richard 6'2" | 150 lbs | WR Silver | 2024 State NM , Silver: Eastern New Mexico
Mark Handy, La Cueva: USC, Northern Arizona, Texas Tech
Cheeto Lumbrera III Cheeto Lumbrera III 5'6" | 160 lbs | RB La Cueva | 2025 State NM , La Cueva: Arizona
Daniel Hernandez Daniel Hernandez QB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: Eastern New Mexico