2024 Look Ahead: Cleveland Aims To Reload Again

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Part 2 - City of Vision Week</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The same thing happens every year around this time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Folks glance at the long list of highly accomplished players – many of whom have already signed letters of intent to play at the next level – that Cleveland is losing to graduation and ponder if the Storm are rebuilding or reloading.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most years, it's the latter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This upcoming season looks to be more of the same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, many players who helped the Storm win Class 6A state championships in 2021 and 2022, and reach the title game last November, are moving on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Behind them, though, is a promising crop of newcomers, all of whom are eager to keep Cleveland's impressive streak going. In fact, that's the expectation. The last time the Storm didn't reach the 6A title game? 2017, when a dynamic and lightning fast quarterback named Jordan Byrd led Manzano to the state championship over La Cueva.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are three key positions Cleveland must fill with new players in 2024:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RUNNING BACK</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='590512' first='Harris' last='Mbueha'] signed with Eastern New Mexico earlier this month after rushing for 1,631 yards and 25 TD on a workhorse 263 carries last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611120' first='Juan' last='Munoz']</strong>, who transferred from Capital last summer, moves from DB to RB. He rushed for over 600 yards and 7 TD for Capital in 2022. Competing with Munoz for the starting job will be rising junior <strong>Sam Bustillos</strong>, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595801' first='Isaiah' last='Yannis']</strong> (53 carries in 2023).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Juan is definitely a great candidate to step in,” Cleveland head coach Robert Garza told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Juan is putting on weight and he's running track. So, he's getting geared up. Juan is a guy we'll be able to hand the ball off to a lot next season. Isaiah is working his butt off too. He might see some time on defense but he's another guy we could put in the backfield.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WIDE RECEIVER</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1103860' first='Jaden' last='Davis'] (New Mexico State baseball signee) and Karter Weddle (Western New Mexico signee) depart. Returning is last season's No. 2 receiver, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1257321' first='Angel' last='Gallegos Azpeitia']</strong>, who had 27 receptions and 3 TD in 2023. Rising senior <strong>Josh Lyles</strong> had double digit receptions in 2023. La Cueva transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado']</strong>, a promising 2026 prospect with next level aspirations, should make an impact after playing the 2023 season for the Cleveland JV team due to transfer rules. Basketball point guard <strong>Ajay Vigil</strong>, a rising sophomore, is expected to join the football program as a WR. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We have some guys at receiver who offer some ability to make plays and help our quarterback,” Garza said. “We're expecting our completion percentage to go up. Angel made some fantastic plays last year. We're looking for him to have a very good senior season. Josh Lyles saw quite a few reps at receiver last year. We have a bunch of guys with skill. [player_tooltip player_id='851903' first='Jacob' last='Maldonado'] has been working hard and he looks ready to step up and be one of our main guys.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LINEBACKER</strong>: Cleveland had arguably the top two linebackers in the state last season with [player_tooltip player_id='274701' first='Stratton' last='Shufelt'] (signed with UTEP) and [player_tooltip player_id='275565' first='Isaac' last='Medrano'] (signed with ENMU). Obviously, their successors have large shoes to fill. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837117' first='Brendan' last='Cochrane']</strong> looks ready to take over at inside linebacker after making 27 tackles in 8 games last season. He started a couple of games due to injuries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Brendan stepped up and did a great job when we needed him last year,” Garza said. “Most years, Brendan would have started as a junior, but he had Start and Isaac ahead of him. Those guys were special. So, there wasn't a lot he could do. But we're expecting Brendan to step up and take over the leadership role on the defense.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside LB Marcus La Cuesta (Second Team All-State) graduates as well, so the Storm will have an entirely new group of starting linebackers in 2024. One to watch: rising junior <strong>Elijah (Richards) Jackson</strong>, an intriguing 6-foot-4, 220-pound prospect who should compete for a starting job in 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHO'S BACK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland returns promising quarterback <strong>Jordan Kekoa Hatch</strong>, whom we profiled yesterday (Click <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/2024-look-ahead-city-of-vision-schools-led-by-dynamic-qbs/">HERE</a>), and three of five starters along the offensive line – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837139' first='Gabriel' last='Marquez']</strong> (First Team All-State), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118250' first='Robert' last='Sabado']</strong> and rising junior left tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851862' first='Moses' last='Sparks']</strong> (6-5, 275; offered by New Mexico last April). [player_tooltip player_id='340188' first='Ben' last='Linfoot'] and Mason Jones graduate in May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sparks, who combines size, speed and mobility, promises to generate plenty of recruiting interest when he hits the camp circuit this spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Moses has looked good in the off-season,” Garza said. “He's lean and strong. When you see his frame and the way he moves, he's going to start turning heads. We're happy with who we have coming back on the offensive line and some of the guys coming up.” &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look for the tight end position to be more involved in the Storm passing game next season with 6-foot-2, 210-pound rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='836902' first='Jon' last='Baca']</strong> (offered by New Mexico Highlands) and 6-foot-3, 225-pound rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142637' first='Noah' last='Escudero']</strong> both returning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Jon has been one of our leaders in the off-season workouts,” Garza said. “Jon will be our go-to tight end. Jon has experience playing defense too. His role will definitely be increased next season. We're expecting Jon to have a big senior year.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line loses hybrid [player_tooltip player_id='1103199' first='Chuka' last='Tutman'] (signed with ENMU) and [player_tooltip player_id='590312' first='Nathaniel' last='Perry'], but returns rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611047' first='Psalmon' last='Kegler']</strong> (team-high 11.5 sacks). The secondary returns rising seniors <strong>A.J. Manning</strong>, our #1 DB in the updated 2025 rankings, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1193983' first='Michael' last='Haynes']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our junior class for next season has good size,” Garza said. “Elijah Jackson is going to start popping up on people pretty quick. We have some holes to fill but we have guys who are working pretty hard to get ready.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 CLEVELAND FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 23 CENTENNIAL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 30 LOS LUNAS</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 6 at Clovis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 13 at Las Cruces</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 20 at El Paso (TX) Pebble Hills</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 27 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 4 FARMINGTON*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 11 at Cibola*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 18 at Piedra Vista*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 25 VOLCANO VISTA*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nov. 1 RIO RANCHO*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/aj_manning31/status/1736939606292181214?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/aj_manning31/status/1736939606292181214?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Mikehaynes07/status/1726655401720967629?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/Mikehaynes07/status/1726655401720967629?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MarquezSharky/status/1735115055073485106?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/MarquezSharky/status/1735115055073485106?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Juan_munoz34/status/1762664568948666505?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/Juan_munoz34/status/1762664568948666505?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jakemaldonado08/status/1762558174899400968?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/jakemaldonado08/status/1762558174899400968?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jbaca2025/status/1724952476221346215?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/jbaca2025/status/1724952476221346215?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->