City Series: Top Running Backs In Southern NM for 2024
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We continue our ‘City Series’ by taking a look at the top running backs in southern New Mexico, including those on the rise: TOP SEVEN: Daniel Amaro Daniel Amaro 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Las Cruces | 2026 State…
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Continue ReadingWe continue our ‘City Series’ by taking a look at the top running backs in southern New Mexico, including those on the rise:
TOP SEVEN:
Daniel Amaro Daniel Amaro 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Las Cruces | 2026 State NM , Las Cruces: Amaro is a fearless ball carrier with good speed as he showed in the 6A semifinals against a very good La Cueva defense. He’ll have large role on what should be a prolific Las Crices offense in 2024.
Alfredo Andrade Alfredo Andrade 5'6" | RB Gadsden | 2025 State NM , Gadsden: Andrade rushed for nearly 900 yards in 2023. Don’t be surprised if he breaks the 1,000-yard plateau in 2024.
Frankie Galindo Frankie Galindo 5'10" | 160 lbs | RB Artesia | 2025 State NM , Artesia: Galindo switched from WR to RB early last season and turned into a 1,000-yard rusher and a TD machine for the Class 5A champion Bulldogs.
Julian Manzanares Julian Manzanares 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Dexter | 2025 State NM , Dexter: Averaged over 10 yards per carry on his way to becoming a 1,000-yard rusher. It will be fun watching him carry the ball against the likes of new district rivals Eunice, Jal and Texico in 2024.
Camon Ochoa Camon Ochoa 5'8" | 155 lbs | RB Lovington | 2025 State NM , Lovington: Lovington has produced many good running backs and Ochoa looks to be the latest in the long line. He rushed for over 700 yards in 2023 and could approach or surpass 1,000 yards in 2024.
Isaiah Pizarro Isaiah Pizarro 5'10" | 160 lbs | LB Deming | 2025 State NM , Deming: An outstanding two-way player, Pizarro produced 657 yards on the ground in 2023. Deming will be in the thick of the District 5A-2 fight all season long.
Eljan Woods Eljan Woods 5'7" | 145 lbs | RB Eunice | 2025 State NM , Eunice: Woods can certainly make the claim of being the top Class 2A running back in the state. He rushed for 1,216 yards and 14 TD in 2023 for the Cardinals.
ON THE RISE:
Tru Camejo, Ruidoso: Averaged 6.4 yards per carry as a sophomore in 2023.
Caden Chatfield, Hot Springs: Chatfield is a promising young back on an improving Tigers team.
Kaidyn Cordova Kaidyn Cordova RB Portales | 2025 State NM , Portales: He had the third most carries on the Rams in 2023 and he’ll get plenty of opportunities in the fall.
Alex Fuentes Alex Fuentes 5'11" | 145 lbs | RB Texico | 2025 State NM , Texico: He helped fuel Texico’s run to the Class 2A championship and he’ll be a central figure again for the Wolverines.
Omar Gonzales, Hatch Valley: Hatch Valley has multiple stellar running backs and Gonzales is one of them.
David Gutierrez David Gutierrez 5'11" | 160 lbs | RB Santa Teresa | 2026 State NM , Santa Teresa: Gutierrez was the top running back for a very young Desert Warriors team in 2023.
Isaac Herrera, Chaparral: Herrera is a promising young RB for the rebuilding Lobos.
Alec Holguin Alec Holguin 5'8" | 155 lbs | WR Lovington | 2025 State NM , Lovington: He will combine with Ochoa (see above) to give Lovington an elite rushing attack in 2024.
Seth Kazhe, Tularosa: Top RB for the Wildcats in 2023.
Omarrion Kennedy, Hobbs: Kennedy aims to become the Eagles’ successor to 1,200-yard rusher Saul Armendariz Saul Armendariz 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hobbs | 2024 State NM .
Anthony Nevarez, Mayfield: Nevarez should flourish in Mayfield’s offensive attack in 2024.
Bobby Parraz Bobby Parraz 5'8" | 150 lbs | RB Loving | 2026 State NM , Loving: As we mentioned recently, Parraz is one of the most underrated RBs in southern New Mexico.
Rudy Rios Rudy Rios 5'10" | 160 lbs | RB Centennial | 2025 State NM , Centennial: Rios was injured early last season, but there is no doubting his ability. He should pile up some yards for the Hawks.
John Royal John Royal LB Clovis | 2026 State NM , Clovis: The Wildcats’ flexbone offense is a running back’s best friend.
Orrin Russell Orrin Russell 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Hatch Valley | 2025 State NM , Hatch Valley: Another solid RB for Hatch Valley.
Cenyon Scarborough Cenyon Scarborough 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB Socorro | 2025 State NM , Socorro: Scarborough and QB Isaiah Ocampo Isaiah Ocampo 5'10" | 150 lbs | QB Socorro | 2025 State NM will form a dynamic duo for the Warriors.
Cohen Tomasits Cohen Tomasits 6'0" | 160 lbs | RB NMMI | 2025 State NM , NMMI: NMMI rode a powerful option attack to the 3A semifinals last fall and Tomasits is ready to be one of the Colts’ featured backs again.