Recruiting: 2024 Gadsden DL commits to WNMU

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's top defensive linemen in the 2024 class has committed to Western New Mexico.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='815958' first='Nathaniel' last='Lopez']</strong>, one of the key figures in helping turn around Gadsden's football fortunes, announced Sunday afternoon on social media that he would be joining the Mustangs football program this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lopez visited WNMU and Silver City on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The atmosphere was nice. I liked how much I can do there,” Lopez told Prep Redzone New Mexico shortly after announcing his decision. “I really liked Silver City too. It's close to home, so my family can go and watch me play. The Western New Mexico coaching staff was great and I could really see myself developing even more there. They really care about athletics and academics.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lopez had time to speak to many current WNMU players and nearly all of them had positive things to say about the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I got to hang out and hear what some of the other players had to say and it felt like a brotherhood in a way,” Lopez said. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Lopez told Prep Redzone New Mexico that he was recruited by WNMU to play defensive tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lopez capped a brilliant career at Gadsden this past season with his second consecutive District Defensive Player of the Year award. He also earned Second Team All-State honors and participated in the NMHSCA All-Star game at Artesia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2023, Lopez had 68 tackles, 9.0 TFL and 4 sacks, all career highs. He started as a freshman for the Panthers during the Covid-shortened season in the spring of 2021 and continued to excel over the next three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lopez was a major reason Gadsden qualified for the Class 5A playoffs in back-to-back-seasons for the first time in decades. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“My coaches believed in me and saw what I could be,” Lopez said. “I'm glad we turned the program around and made the playoffs in both seasons we were in Class 5A. I'm thankful for&nbsp; all my teammates and coaches that pushed me&nbsp; to where I am today.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lopez chose WNMU over offers from Eastern New Mexico, New Mexico Highlands, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Culver-Stockton. He is the third 2024 prospect from New Mexico to commit to WNMU, joining Silver QB [player_tooltip player_id='815932' first='Adan' last='Jacquez'] and Albuquerque High OL T.J. McCarthy.      </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/nathanlo63/status/1751679037271888093?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/nathanlo63/status/1751679037271888093?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/nathanlo63/status/1721222051724198284?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/nathanlo63/status/1721222051724198284?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1735336913261748691?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/GadsdenPanthers/status/1735336913261748691?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GadsdenPanthers/status/1731127058896736504?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/GadsdenPanthers/status/1731127058896736504?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->