Position Preview: Top Defensive Backs To Watch In 2024 (Part 1)

<p>New Mexico has numerous quality defensive backs heading into the 2024 season. In Part 1 of a series, here are 10 that you definitely need to know for the new campaign:</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118273' first='Xai' last='Carrasco'], Roswell</strong>: The incredibly athletic Carrasco has great size (6-foot-3), good speed and a solid work ethic. He won the district title in the long jump and qualified in five events for the state track meet. He also set the school record for the triple jump. He impressed during camping season. Roswell opens the 2024 season with an intriguing non-district road game at Los Lunas.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837118' first='Hector' last='Jasiah Estrada'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Another tall, rangy DB destined for the next level. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Estrada has great size and nice speed. He got his first taste of varsity football for the Rams last season. This season, he should take off. Definitely a breakout candidate. NMHU offered in February and JUCO Minnesota West offered in May.       </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266523' first='Isaac' last='Gomez'], Las Cruces</strong>: Gomez was a pleasant surprise for the Bulldawgs last season as a sophomore when he was thrown into the fire. He played well and by the end of the season was regarded as a lock down cornerback. He'll help spark the Las Cruces defense this season.  </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613703' first='Aiden' last='Gonzales'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Gonzales earned the right to start at DB for the Hawks last season as 8<sup>th</sup>-grader and wrote one of the most fascinating stories of the 2023 season, finishing with 41 tackles and 1 INT. He was fearless. As a freshman, he should become one of the best DBs in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Serious contender to be our #1 prospect when we reveal our first 2028 rankings in January.  </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615689' first='Trenton' last='Hall'], Ruidoso</strong>: It's been a tough last couple of months for the folks in Ruidoso but the football team is pushing forward. Hall enters his third season as a starter for the Warriors varsity. He had 104 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 4 passes defended as a junior in 2023. Look for Ruidoso to bounce back strong from last season's disappointment.    </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615512' first='Noah' last='Lundstrom'], Grants</strong>: Lundstrom is going into his third season as a major contributor for the Grants defense. He's grown up with the program just like many of the other Pirates players. He has 86 tackles and 7 interceptions in his first two years. Impressed the coaches at the Prep Redzone Combine in April.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118057' first='AJ' last='Manning'], Cleveland</strong>: Arguably the No. 1 DB in the state for 2024. After collecting 36 tackles and 4 INT in 2023, Manning has been a camp warrior this spring and summer. Eastern New Mexico has offered while multiple D1 schools have expressed interest. Cleveland's defense should be solid again in 2024 with Manning leading the third level.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259063' first='Antonio' last='Salcido'], Cibola</strong>: Because Cibola was winless in 2023, Salcido's solid season didn't attract a lot of attention. But he made 71 tackles with 5 INT for the Cougars and he'll headline the secondary again this season. If Cibola is able to bounce back in 2024, Salcido will likely have a prominent role.  </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259081' first='Omar' last='Sanchez'], Centennial</strong>: The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Sanchez impressed the ENMU coaches so much that they offered him immediately after a camp in Las Cruces. Sanchez is one of the headliners for an underrated Centennial secondary. The Hawks defense could be nasty. That opener at Cleveland is a monster early season game.     </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1257343' first='Sajon' last='Thompson'], West Mesa</strong>: Thompson brings excellent size (6-2), speed and playmaking ability to the West Mesa secondary. He had a solid junior campaign for the Mustangs, earning First-Team All-District honors. Thompson has the size and skills college coaches love on the third level, which is why he was invited to numerous Junior Days (NM Highlands, ENMU, West Texas A&M and more) and camps. College coaches are paying attention.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CarrascoXai/status/1789466117896880518 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JasiahEstrada07/status/1779597044572954953 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/aidengonzales0/status/1728921235537690773 </div></figure>   <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/1726412947113816107 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Antonio50430501/status/1722054116145311796 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/omarsfb9/status/1724124976704364788 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/wmhs_mustangFB/status/1727346476370784634 </div></figure>

New Mexico has numerous quality defensive backs heading into the 2024 season. In Part 1 of a series, here are 10 that you definitely need to know for the new campaign: