2024 Look Ahead: Texico Wolverines

Only infrequently do we ever see the offensive and defensive lines from a Class 2A school match up physically with Class 6A and 5A schools.   Defending 2A champion Texico, though, is one of the rare exceptions.   The Wolverines opened eyes at both the NMMI and Eastern New Mexico 7x7 and Big Man Challenge events last month. Texico won the latter event in Portales, besting schools with much larger enrollments.   Texico's 2024 roster on MaxPreps lists NINE players who weigh 250 or more pounds.   The best known big man might be senior TE/FB/DL [player_tooltip player_id='613691' first='Taye' last='Smith'], who has started since he was in 8th grade. Eastern New Mexico has already offered.   Four of Texico's five OL starters from a season ago are back, including RT [player_tooltip player_id='1137845' first='Branson' last='Willoughby'] (6-1, 298 pounds), RG [player_tooltip player_id='613690' first='Warren' last='Schooley'] (5-11, 266), LG [player_tooltip player_id='1137844' first='Ryan' last='Timberlake'] (6-0, 290) and LT Ishmael Silva (6-0, 295). Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1595606' first='Daniel' last='Harrison'] 6-0, 300) shared snaps with Silva last season, but could move to center. Barron Ramirez (5-9, 270) is competing with Harrison for the starting center job.   In addition to being big, these guys are also incredibly strong, hence the victory in the Big Man Challenge in Portales. Timberlake finished 2nd in the 308-pound class at the state powerlifting championships in April with a combined weight of 1,225 pounds. Willoughby finished second in the Super Heavy Weight Division while Harrison was third.   Most of the aforementioned linemen also play defense. Smith will be the nose tackle with Timberlake and Schooley alongside him.       “We've got some big, stout guys,” Texico head coach Bob Gilbreath told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Most of them are underclassmen, too.”      Texico also showed in Portales that complacency won't  be an issue following the 2A title last November.   “We've got a lot of good leadership on our team and in our program,” Gilbreath said. “We stress from Day 1 that it's about quality in our character. That's where it all starts for us. Everyday we hold each other accountable for doing the right things and putting in the best effort. Winning is a result of what you prepare for. So, we prepare every day for the outcome we'd like to achieve. We try to focus on the things we can control.”   While Texico is strong in the trenches, they're looking for a new quarterback to replace West Texas A&M signee Cade Figg, who brought great size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) and skill to the position. Six-foot-3 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1343408' first='Bennett' last='Wahlen'] is expected to be the new signal caller after playing JV last season. He showed in Portales that he has an outstanding arm with good accuracy.   “Bennett really grew a lot during the offseason,” Gilbreath said. “He got bigger, faster and stronger. He's a great leader. He never misses a workout, even when he's injured. He's usually the first one to show up and the last one to leave. I expect him  to be the guy.”   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1119205' first='Alex' last='Fuentes'], who was a camp warrior this summer, should begin the season as the No. 1 running back. Fuentes brings plenty of varsity experience to the position as he enters his third season as a starter. Six-foot-1 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1604779' first='Jett' last='Curtis'] will likely be the backup RB as well as one of the Wolverines' top receivers.   “Alex should have an outstanding senior year,” Gilbreath said. “He is very motivated.”   Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1137119' first='Luke' last='Thompson'], last season's leading receiver for Texico, is back. He'll be supported by several younger receivers, including promising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1791448' first='Jaheim' last='Moses'], 6-foot-3 lanky junior [player_tooltip player_id='1600127' first='Maverick' last='Hawkins'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1595708' first='Keaton' last='Dumas'], all of whom were JV players in 2023 and are now expected to contribute to the varsity. Senior Edgar Mendoza will get some touches.   Defensively, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1595692' first='Denny' last='Turner'] and Fuentes will be the inside linebackers. Curtis and Hawkins are the safeties with Mendoza getting snaps as well. Moses will be one of the cornerbacks. Hawkins and Curtis could shift between CB and safety.   Texico's non-district schedule includes three games against Texas schools following the season opener at home against Santa Rosa.          2024 TEXICO FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:   Aug. 23 SANTA ROSA (7 p.m.)   Aug. 30 at Bovina (TX) (6 p.m.)   Sept. 6 FARWELL (TX) (7 p.m.)   Sept. 13 at Olton (TX) (6 p.m.)   Sept. 20 Bye   Sept. 27 at West Las Vegas (7 p.m.)   Oct. 4 at Loving (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 11 EUNICE (7 p.m.)*   Oct. 18 Bye   Oct. 25 at Tularosa (7 p.m.)*   Nov. 1 JAL (7 p.m.)*   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AlexFue84971611/status/1730091740286107977 </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/AlexFue84971611/status/1814518801972498596 </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/TayeSmith58/status/1801836888442982525 </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/Coach_Herrera3/status/1807493667734569036 </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/AlexFue84971611/status/1802676576309461298 </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/_NMAA/status/1789032838060536108 </div></figure>

Only infrequently do we ever see the offensive and defensive lines from a Class 2A school match up physically with Class 6A and 5A schools.