City Series: Top Quarterbacks in Albuquerque Metro for 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We begin our ‘City Series' by taking a look at the top quarterbacks in the Albuquerque Metro Region, including those on the rise (listed in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TOP FIVE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613752' first='JJ' last='Arellano'], Rio Rancho</strong>: We've written extensively about Arellano and the Rio Rancho offense in the last week or so. If he stays healthy - and bolstered by an experienced offensive line - Arellano has the potential to be a very dynamic dual threat quarterback and to lead the Rams back to the Class 6A championship game, a place they haven't been since 2021.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615626' first='Julian' last='Butkivich'], Valley</strong>: After displaying his potential in 2022 when he was a sophomore, Butkivich took a back seat last season to stud running backs [player_tooltip player_id='590712' first='Charles' last='Lopez-Burton'] (ENMU signee) and [player_tooltip player_id='592353' first='Tazhe' last='Wilson'] as Velley reached the Class 5A playoff quarterfinals for the second straight year. But Butkivich is still a very good QB and he'll take on a larger role for the Vikings this coming season with Lopez-Burton and Wilson graduating.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615632' first='Uriel' last='Castro'], Bernalillo</strong>: Castro helped spark Bernalillo's turnaround season in 2023 by throwing for over 2,000 yards and 25 TD. The Spartans will probably rely on him more next season with [player_tooltip player_id='275206' first='Mason' last='Espinda-McChriston'] graduating. His favorite target will likely be 6-foot-2 younger brother <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853757' first='Ulisses' last='Castro']</strong>, our No. 1 2027 prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611098' first='Cameron' last='Dyer'], La Cueva</strong>: Dyer is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound keg of athletic dynamite. Not only is he the front-runner for the 2024 New Mexico Heisman, he's a heckuva hoops player as well. Since leading the Bears to the 6A title, Dyer has been offered by Arizona State, Texas Tech, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Utah State, UTEP, Louisiana-Monroe and Dartmouth. More on the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordan Kekoa Hatch, Cleveland</strong>: Hatch, just a sophomore last season, did a fantastic job handling the pressure of being the starting quarterback for Cleveland, especially since he was replacing MaxPreps Gatorade Player of the Year Evan Wysong. He threw for nearly 1,700 yards and 18 TD, an encouraging start to his varsity career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ON THE RISE</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851864' first='Noah' last='Carroll'], Cibola</strong>: Replacing Aden Chavez was never going to be easy for anybody. Carroll won the Cougars job as a sophomore and encountered the expected bumps in the road. His junior season will likely be a lot smoother. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'], St. Pius X</strong>: Carpenter's stats from his freshman campaign for the Sartans don't jump out at you but his size certainly will. He's 6-foot-5, 185 pounds. Breakout Player of the Year candidate.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851898' first='Gage' last='Conway'], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Another young, tall QB on the way up. Conway enters his junior campaign for the Chargers after throwing for close to 1,000 yards as a sophomore in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1021201' first='Landon' last='Griego'], Atrisco Heritage</strong>: Filling in for the injured [player_tooltip player_id='275207' first='Dean' last='Marquez'], Griego made the most of his opportunity to lead the Atrisco offense, throwing for over 1,600 yards and 17 TD as a junior in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119623' first='Ilijah' last='Hansen'], Volcano Vista</strong>: With RB [player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales'] (ENMU signee) graduating in May, Hansen will have more responsibility in the Volcano Vista offense in 2024. He threw for over 1,300 yards and 16 TD last season. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595752' first='Aidan' last='Harrington'], Valencia</strong>: In his first year leading the Valencia offense, Harrington demonstrated he could be an effective dual threat QB. He was the Jaguars' second leading rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615426' first='Alex' last='Lopez'], Highland</strong>: The rise of the Highland football program over the past two years coincides with Lopez's ascension to the QB job (and the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='615425' first='Amiri' last='Mumba'] at RB). Lopez is a solid dual threat QB and also one of the Hornets' best defenders. He made 98 tackles in 2023. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137124' first='RJ' last='Montoya'], Hope Christian</strong>: Montoya is a promising young dual threat QB who led the Huskies into the Class 3A playoffs before a close loss to Socorro in the first round. He threw for over 1,300 yards in 2023 and is Hope Christina's top returning rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137088' first='Kaiden' last='Reese'], Los Lunas</strong>: Reese was the Tigers' backup QB in 2023 but now it looks like the job is his. While waiting his turn at QB, he carried the ball 44 times for 465 yards and 8 TD, averaging 10.6 yards per attempt. Four of his 14 completions as QB resulted in touchdowns. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258970' first='James' last='Vautier'], Manzano</strong>: The last few years haven't been kind to the Manzano football program but Vautier's QB skills offer hope for the Monarchs' first season in Class 4A following the NMAA realignment. He threw for over 1,200 yards and 14 TD in 8 games last season. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>TEAMS LOOKING FOR NEW QB</strong>: Albuquerque High, Belen, Del Norte, Eldorado, Rio Grande, Sandia, West Mesa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1762638782539375035?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/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1762638782539375035?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/j1arellano/status/1761938674613391450?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/j1arellano/status/1761938674613391450?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/UrielCastro01/status/1698209333601804346?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/UrielCastro01/status/1698209333601804346?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/camdyer7/status/1742589821090979968?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/camdyer7/status/1742589821090979968?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jordan_k1Hatch/status/1731103374270251181?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/Jordan_k1Hatch/status/1731103374270251181?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->