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<p>The calendar has turned to April and we're about 4-1/2 months from kickoff of the 2024 season. We continue our ‘City Series' by taking a look at the top wide receivers in the Albuquerque Metro Area including those on the rise:</p>
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<p><strong>TOP FIVE</strong>:</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1257321' first='Angel' last='Gallegos Azpeitia'], Cleveland</strong>: Gallegos Azpeitia was Cleveland's #2 receiver last season in terms of receptions and he'll likely take over the #1 role in 2024. His impressive performance at the College Football Prospect ID Showcase in February earned him an invitation to Eastern New Mexico's Junior Day last Friday along with invites to other camps.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119683' first='Joey' last='Harris'], Sandia</strong>: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Harris was an unsung hero for the Matadors last season with 36 receptions for 552 yards and 7 TD, earning him First-Team All-District honors. He's caught the eye of college coaches as seen by his invitations to ENMU and UT Permian Basin Junior Days. </p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615453' first='Chauncey' last='Lane'], Atrisco Heritage</strong>: As a junior in 2023, Lane was Atrisco's No. 2 receiver with over 30 receptions. Lane and Jaguars QB [player_tooltip player_id='1021201' first='Landon' last='Griego'] should be a prolific combination in 2024. </p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853013' first='Tanner' last='Montano'], La Cueva</strong>: Montano isn't just a fast guy who plays football. Instead, he's a football player who's very fast. Montano is also a great athlete as seen by his track and field exploits (he's the reigning Gatorade Boys Track Athlete of the Year in NM). He recently ran 60 yards in 6.88 seconds at an indoor track meet. He parlayed that impressive speed into a superb sophomore campaign. Montano will be a major college recruit by this time next year.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259000' first='Jace' last='Pitt'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Pitt has nice size at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. He was Rio Rancho's No. 2 WR last season and should ascend to No. 1 in 2024. He'll be a legitimate weapon for QB [player_tooltip player_id='613752' first='JJ' last='Arellano'] in the Rams' passing game.</p>
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<p><strong>ON THE RISE</strong>:</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853757' first='Ulisses' last='Castro'], Bernalillo</strong>: Our #1 prospect in the 2027 rankings</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154956' first='Cayl' last='Cox-Liggins'], St. Pius X</strong>: One of the top freshman receivers in Albuquerque last season.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137881' first='Aiden' last='Erickson'], Manzano</strong>: Should be the Monarchs' top WR in 2024.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266538' first='Gabriel' last='Fernandez'], Albuquerque High</strong>: Excellent young WR for the Bulldogs.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155012' first='Curtis' last='Flakes III'], St. Pius X</strong>: Another outstanding young WR for the Sartans.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119224' first='Luis' last='Gomez'], Valley</strong>: Should emerge this season for the Vikings </p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137426' first='Logan' last='Gonzalez'], Belen</strong>: Averaged 16.6 yards per reception and scored 5 TD in 2023. </p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851863' first='Jordan' last='Gould'], Cibola</strong>: Gould will help power Cibola's passing attack in 2024.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1245683' first='Ismael' last='Mendez'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Should be one of the Hawks' top receivers in 2024.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266408' first='Parker' last='Miller'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Should complement [player_tooltip player_id='1259000' first='Jace' last='Pitt'] at WR for the Rams.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead'], Eldorado</strong>: The next generation of excellent wide receivers at Eldorado. </p>
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<p><strong>Marcos Ochoa, West Mesa</strong>: Ochia is productive running or catching the football for the Mustangs.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137423' first='Jose' last='Tapia'], Highland</strong>: The Hornets' top WR last season as a sophomore.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119300' first='Bryan' last='Thomas'], St. Pius X</strong>: The Sartans have an enormous amount of talent on offense.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258848' first='Matthew' last='Van Why'], Del Norte</strong>: Because of Del Norte's struggles, he's flying under the radar.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613163' first='Breylon' last='Williams'], Hope Christian</strong>: One of the Huskies' top receivers in 2023.</p>
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The calendar has turned to April and we're about 4-1/2 months from kickoff of the 2024 season. We continue our ‘City Series' by taking a look at the top wide receivers in the Albuquerque Metro Area including those on the rise:
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