West Texas: Far West Offensive Players To Watch In 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 high school football season ended in West Texas a couple of weeks ago. But we're already looking forward to the 2024 campaign. Less than 8 months to kickoff! Here are 12 Offensive Players to Watch in Far West Texas for 2024:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zereian Charles, Pebble Hills</strong>: With Spartans QB Gael Ochoa graduating and moving on to play for UNLV, Charles should get plenty of opportunities to carry the football in 2024 after rushing for 1,128 yards and 13 TD on 148 carries in 2023. He'll definitely be one of the top RBs in West Texas in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Atreyu De La Riva, Franklin</strong>: The Cougars just missed earning a playoff spot but De La Riva enjoyed a solid sophomore season with 565 rushing yards and 7 TD in 9 games. He was Franklin's most productive running back. With prolific QB Shay Smith signing with UTEP, De La Riva will be counted on heavily in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1305508' first='Jake' last='Fette'], Del Valle</strong>: The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Fette is a sophomore with a very bright future. This past season he threw for 2,465 yards and 27 TD while completing 62 percent of his passes. Most impressively, he threw just 5 INT. Del Valle qualified for the Class 5A, D1 playoffs but lost to Tascosa in the 1^st round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212439' first='Ryan' last='Estrada'], El Dorado</strong>: The Aztecs had a very disappointing season with a 1-9 record but Estrada, when he was healthy, showed why he holds multiple FBS offers. In just 6 games, he rushed for 800+ yards and 10 TD. Estrada must have a big season in 2024 for El Dorado to bounce back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brent Hallman, Jr., Chapin</strong>: Hallman has improved from 13 receptions as a freshman in 2021 to 20 as a sophomore in 2022 to 32 as a junior in 2023. He should continue his upward trend with a solid senior season. Should be a 40+ catch WR in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rene Huerta, Canutillo</strong>: Huerta is one of the most versatile running backs in El Paso. He rushed for 1,038 yards and 8 TD on 159 carries plus caught 24 passes for 207 yards. Huerta helped lead Canutillo to the 2^nd round of the Class 5A, D2 playoffs and a #4 final ranking in the MaxPreps El Paso Region poll. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cam'ron Johnson, Americas</strong>: The Trail Blazers rode the dual threat skills of senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='618282' first='Mark' last='Moore III'] and a balanced rushing attack to a berth in the Class 6A, D2 playoffs. Johnson, just a sophomore, rushed for 612 yards on 71 carries in just 6 games. Extend that out over a full season and he's a 1,000-yard rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Luke Lomeli, Eastlake</strong>: The Falcons junior is a talented dual threat QB and he showcased his skills in 2023 by throwing for 1,600+ yards and rushing nearly 100 times to lead the team. Eastlake missed the playoffs and they'll need Lomeli to continue playing well if they want to make the post-season in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Oliver, Hanks</strong>: Hanks surprised some folks by finishing in the Top 4 of their district and earning a spot in the Class 5A, D1 playoffs. Oliver had a lot to do with that by rushing for over 1,100 yards. He also caught 10+ passes, so he contributes in multiple ways. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fabian Penaloza, Eastwood</strong>: The Troopers lose most of their major offensive contributors to graduation but Penaloza is back after making 27 receptions for 462 yards and 5 TD as a junior in 2023. Who will throw him the ball is the big question Eastwood must answer as QB Evan Minjarez, who committed to Army, moves on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carlos D Rojas, Riverside</strong>: One of the top freshmen (2027) in Far West Texas. Rojas helped lead Riverside to the second round of the Class 4A, D1 playoffs with 43 receptions for 930 yards and 15 TD. He averaged 21.6 yards per catch. Rojas has the look of a 60+ receptions and 1,000+ yards receiver. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben Wilson, EP Coronado</strong>: Sharing quarterback snaps with senior [player_tooltip player_id='628089' first='Owen' last='Levesque'], Wilson had a promising sophomore season for the Thunderbirds with 610 passing yards (60.8 completion pct.) and 488 rushing yards on 99 carries, second most on the team. Wilson should be a major weapon in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ZereianQuarles1/status/1724594367640273166?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/ZereianQuarles1/status/1724594367640273166?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/lukelomeli12/status/1709691197772468488?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/lukelomeli12/status/1709691197772468488?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CamronOJohnson/status/1732242718280012268?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/CamronOJohnson/status/1732242718280012268?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->