Position Preview: Top Linebackers To Watch In 2024 (Part 2)

<p>New Mexico is blessed with a lot of productive and talented linebackers. In Part 2 of a series heading into the 2024 season, we tell you about 11 more of the top LBs in the state (listed in alphabetical order):</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118366' first='Sebastian' last='Acuna'], Deming</strong>: Acuna, who made a team-leading 91 tackles in 2023, headlines a solid Deming defense returning nine starters  from last season. How athletic is Acuna? He'll also play RB for the Wildcats, who seek to reach the 5A playoffs semifinals for the fourth time in the last five full seasons.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119281' first='Gustavo' last='A Diaz-Castro'], Hobbs</strong>: Diaz-Castro will be part of a very talented Hobbs linebacker corps in 2024 after finishing second on the Eagles in tackles with 112 last season. Only LB [player_tooltip player_id='1119266' first='Tristan' last='Davis'], who is also back, had more tackles than Diaz-Castro. The Hobbs defense could be stout in 2024.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258077' first='Grant' last='Johnson'], Artesia</strong>: The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Johnson showed last season that he has next level talent, He has the size and the speed to play either inside or outside LB in Artesia's defensive scheme. The Artesia defense is usually underrated because the offense is so prolific, but the Bulldogs will be strong against on that side of the ball in 2024.  </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259046' first='Jacob' last='Lesperance'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Lesperance is the lone returning starter for the Rams at LB after making 86 tackles with 6.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks and 11 QB hurries in 2023. He started at ILB. He's one of the top LBs in the Albuquerque Metro Region.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615687' first='Gage' last='Marquez'], Los Lunas</strong>: Marquez has fantastic size at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds and combined that with good speed to make 98 tackles in 2023. The team motto for Los Lunas this season is ‘Prove It' and that goes for the Tigers defense. Marquez will be a key leader for a unit that will feature new players at several spots. </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611069' first='Nick' last='Mertz'], La Cueva</strong>: Mertz might be Ed McMahon to [player_tooltip player_id='611083' first='Mason' last='Posa']'s Johnny Carson but he's a great player in his own right. Mertz made 86 tackles with 20 TFL, so he knows how to wreak havoc behind the line of scrimmage. He also had  4 fumble recoveries, an indication he's usually around the football.</p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137457' first='Taylen' last='Payne'], Goddard</strong>: We first got a look at Payne at the Prep Redzone Combine  in Grants, and he didn't disappoint. Payne has a high motor, great instincts and good speed and mobility. He'll be well coached by new Goddard head coach Arturo Bolano, formerly the DC at cross-town rival Roswell, so look for Payne to take his game to the next level.</p>   <p><strong>Thomas-James Pettus, Volcano Vista</strong>: Pettus has enjoyed a sensational camping season, impressing coaches wherever he went with his size (6-3, 200), speed and quickness. Most recently, he camped at Fort Lewis College and CSU-Pueblo. He impressed the WNMU coaches so much in June that he was offered minutes after the camp concluded.   </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1230420' first='Elijah' last='Richards'], Cleveland</strong>: Is Richards the next great OLB in New Mexico? Don't bet against it. Richards is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and he's just a junior, so he has time to grow and develop over the next two years. Whitworth University in Spokane, WA just offered after presumably seeing Richards at the NW Showcase camp in June. It certainly won't be his last offer. D1 potential.  </p>   <p><strong>Zach Sander, Aztec</strong>: Sander might be the most under-the-radar defensive player in the state. He amassed 126 tackles, 10.0 TFL and 3 fumble recoveries as a junior in 2023.  He'll be the leader of a solid Tigers' defense.     </p>   <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837172' first='Gabriel' last='Trujillo'], Bernalillo</strong>: The Bernalillo defense refers to themselves as the ‘Goon Squad.' Trujillo is one of the returning standouts after making 88 tackles with 13.0 TFL in 2023. Watch out for Bernalillo in Class 4A. Spartans are extremely talented on both sides of the ball.</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/GustavoDC2025/status/1724939759363977408 </div></figure>   <p> </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/Johnson1Grant/status/1751118544958562494 </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/JacobLess007/status/1762336556051038631 </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/Gagem44/status/1732511014451581044 </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/NickMertz34/status/1731891097113342268 </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/PayneTaylen/status/1798784517596909927 </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/ThomasPettus23/status/1814342925691531423 </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/E_Richards22/status/1802030327927582964 </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/gabettrujillo/status/1773944561775296534 </div></figure>

New Mexico is blessed with a lot of productive and talented linebackers. In Part 2 of a series heading into the 2024 season, we tell you about 11 more of the top LBs in the state (listed in alphabetical order):