Happy Together: Top Position Units For 2024 (Part 2)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Part 2 of a series, here are 11 more of the top position units in New Mexico High School football:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Artesia – Linebacker</strong>: Artesia's defensive front seven is solid, especially at the second level as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1258077' first='Grant' last='Johnson']</strong> returns at inside linebacker but has the speed to play on the outside as well. He has next level talent.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1258081' first='Ayden' last='Huffman']</strong> is back after starting every game at inside LB for the Bulldogs last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Atrisco Heritage – Wide Receiver</strong>: Atrisco Heritage has one of the top wide receiver corps in the Albuquerque Metro Region with seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611116' first='Latavious' last='Morris']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615453' first='Chauncey' last='Lane']</strong>, 6-foot-3 sophomore <strong>Deon Sessions</strong>, senior <strong>Gabe Franco</strong> and several promising sophomores, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1272752' first='J'ven' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>Jose Sanchez</strong>. The Jaguars are incredibly deep at WR. Their opener against Rio Rancho will be riveting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bloomfield – Linebacker</strong>: With his 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame and next level skill set, Bobcats MLB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118395' first='Logan' last='Gosnell']</strong>, nicknamed ‘Thor' for his flowing blonde hair, is one of the most intriguing players in NM. Seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615690' first='McKell' last='Colbert'] Jr.</strong> (75+ tackles in 2023) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615619' first='Eli' last='Snell-Martinez']</strong> join Gosnell at LB for a formidable trio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Centennial – Defensive Line</strong>: Few schools will have a better DL duo than the Hawks as senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613749' first='Abel' last='Gonzalez']</strong>, a First-Team All-State honoree in 2023, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853023' first='Luke' last='Matherly']</strong> join forces. Gonzalez has been a Hawks starter since he was a freshman in 2021, and enters the 2024 campaign as one of Centennial's most experienced players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>La Cueva – Offensive Line</strong>: Six-foot-6, 305-pound Minnesota commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118241' first='Mark' last='Handy']</strong> headlines an experienced unit that returns four starters from last season's 6A championship team. Handy will be joined by returning starters <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851889' first='Skyler' last='Sargent']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672518' first='Maurice' last='Williams']</strong> and <strong>Eddy Xu</strong>. Their job, just like last season, is to protect QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611098' first='Cameron' last='Dyer']</strong> in the passing game and open holes for exciting RB <strong>Cheeto Lumbrera</strong>. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Las Cruces – Offensive Line</strong>: The Bulldawgs offensive line was arguably the most improved unit on the team last season and they were a key reason Las Cruces advanced to the Class 6A semifinals. The top two OL are 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118249' first='Joaquin' last='Wofford']</strong> (2^nd team All-State in 2023) and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615393' first='Riley' last='Mendez']</strong>. Center <strong>Josh Quintero</strong> and OG <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672411' first='Julian' last='Chavez-Lopez']</strong> &nbsp;join them as four of starters are back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Michael's – Running Back</strong>: Few teams in the state will have a deeper RB corps than the Horsemen, the defending 3A champions. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119160' first='Soren' last='Annon']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='853063' first='Isaiah' last='Dominguez']</strong> return after combining for over 1,000 yards rushing in 2023. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613193' first='Cole' last='Sandoval']</strong>, who missed the second half of last season with an injury, could enter the season as the No. 1 RB. St. Michael's has a legit three-heading monster at running back. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267011' first='Brayden' last='Hollis']</strong> only adds more depth.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Pius X – Wide Receiver</strong>: St. Pius X is one of the most intriguing teams in the Albuquerque Metro Region because of their large number of talented young players. The WR position features 6-foot-2 senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1119300' first='Bryan' last='Thomas']</strong>, 6-foot-3 sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154956' first='Cayl' last='Cox-Liggins']</strong>, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155012' first='Curtis' last='Flakes III']</strong> and promising freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613476' first='Christian' last='Morales']</strong>. Sophomore QB [player_tooltip player_id='1154948' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'] has plenty of talented targets to throw to this season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sandia – Linebacker</strong>: The Matadors LB duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259042' first='Jeremiah' last='Bustillos']</strong> (team-high 87 tackles in 2023) and First-Team All-Metro selection <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259059' first='Thomas' last='Adams']</strong> is one of the best in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Both Bustillos and Adams are entering their third seasons as starters. Adams is very athletic and an outstanding basketball player with at least two college offers in that sport.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Texico – Offensive Line</strong>: Texico may be just a Class 2A school but their big and talented OL would make some Class 5A and 6A schools envious. Four of the five OL starters from 2023 when the Wolverines won the state title are back: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137845' first='Branson' last='Willoughby']</strong> (298 pounds), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613690' first='Warren' last='Schooley']</strong> (266), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137844' first='Ryan' last='Timberlake'] </strong>(290) and <strong>Ishmael Silva</strong> (295). Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595606' first='Daniel' last='Harrison']</strong> (300) could move to center. <strong>Barron Ramirez</strong> (5-9, 270) is competing for the starting center job. BIG boys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Mesa - Defensive Line</strong>: The Mustangs expect to be solid in the trenches with a good and much improved O-Line and seniors <strong>Victor Sutherland</strong> (45 tackles) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615431' first='Tristan' last='Caraveo']</strong> (46 tackles) anchoring the D-Line. Being competitive along the line of scrimmage should allow West Mesa to stay in most games, especially since they're losing QB Elijah Brody, who signed with New Mexico.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ArtesiaF32/status/1810698546150277501","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/ArtesiaF32/status/1810698546150277501 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/logangosnell3/status/1822676532130976052","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/logangosnell3/status/1822676532130976052 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/luke_matherly/status/1802504200129028333","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/luke_matherly/status/1802504200129028333 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SSarge2026/status/1824123169319330174","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/SSarge2026/status/1824123169319330174 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Cole_sandov/status/1807241366503592325","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/Cole_sandov/status/1807241366503592325 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->