Position Preview: Top Linebackers To Watch In 2024 (Part 3)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Mexico is blessed with a lot of productive and talented linebackers. In Part 3 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> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259042' first='Jeremiah' last='Bustillos'], Sandia</strong>: Though largely unheralded, Bustillos is one of the top LBs in the Albuquerque Metro Region. He finished the 2023 season with a team-high 87 tackles with 8.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks as Sandia earned the No. 4 seed for the 6A playoffs. Good speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='837117' first='Brendan' last='Cochrane'], Cleveland</strong>: The post Stratton Shufelt/Isaac Merano Era begins at linebacker for Cleveland, and Cochrane is one of the guys the Storm will be counting on to fill the void. Cochrane will look to build upon a solid junior campaign in 2023 and could develop into one of the best LBs in the Albuquerque Metro Region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615690' first='McKell' last='Colbert'], Bloomfield</strong>: The Bobcats will have one of the best LB units in Class 4A this season with Colbert, [player_tooltip player_id='1118395' first='Logan' last='Gosnell'] and others. Colbert had 75+ tackles in 2023 and there's a good chance he'll surpass that number in 2024. He and Gosnell will make a ton of tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jared Meechan, Farmington</strong>: Meechan becomes the new leader of the Farmington defense after several major contributors graduated. Meechan has very good speed and is renowned for wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage. Last season almost 25 percent of his tackles resulted in lost yardage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615568' first='Lee' last='Miller'], Bernalillo</strong>: The LB corps for Bernalillo's Goon Squad defense is going to be scary good this season. Miller was overshadowed last season by a couple of teammates but he had a very good year in his own right with 72 tackles and 4.0 TFL. The Spartans are rightfully eying a district title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137887' first='Mathew' last='Romero'], Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Romero emerged last season as one of the top young LBs in northern New Mexico when he had close to 70 tackles. He'll be a junior on 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zachary Waghorn, Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Waghorn showed at the Prep Redzone Combine that his sensational sophomore campaign in 2023 in which he totaled 120 tackles, 9.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks was no fluke. Waghorn has good size (close to 210 pounds) and speed. Waghorn has the potential to put up some impressive career numbers before he's done at AA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118237' first='Dalin' last='Walter'], Las Cruces</strong>: Walter goes into the new season as one of the top LBs in southern New Mexico. He has good size (6-1) and speed (4.7 range in the 40). He'll likely end up playing MIKE LB for the Bulldawgs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137835' first='Krew' last='Ward'], Hope Christian</strong>: Ward averaged almost 10 tackles per game for the Huskies in 2023. Hope Christian defense looks to be improved and Ward is a key reason for that statement. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137886' first='Brandon' last='Wheeler'], Grants</strong>: Wheeler is the top returning tackler for the Pirates with NMHU signee Larry Meadors moving&nbsp; to the next level. Wheeler demonstrated his solid physical skills at the Prep Redzone Combine in April. After reaching the Class 4A playoffs in 2023, Grants eyes a deeper run in the playoffs. Wheeler will be key to those hopes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BrenCochrane07/status/1721268952649875636","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/BrenCochrane07/status/1721268952649875636 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->