Recruiting: 2025 Centennial QB/LB commits to NM State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dynamic 2025 Centennial QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='613746' first='Zaiden' last='Davis'] </strong>has decided to play his college football for his hometown school.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Davis announced his commitment to New Mexico State Friday afternoon. He is being recruited by the Aggies as a linebacker, a position Davis is familiar with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I really like the new coaching staff at New Mexico State," Davis told Prep Redzone New Mexico. "They seemed very organized and well put together. The culture of the Aggies is great because they focus on football being a family. After watching a couple practices, talks and meetings, I have come to learn what being an Aggie is all about and what coach Sanchez and coach Morris expect out of the players. I love the expectations they put on the players. It makes you better when you are held to a high standard. I grew up watching the Aggies and always imagined what it would be like to play for them. Getting offered by the Aggies was basically a dream come true." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prior to taking over at QB midway through last season when starter [player_tooltip player_id='1155301' first='Daniel' last='Hernandez'] was injured, Davis was a highly productive LB for the Hawks, averaging close to 5 tackles per game in 2023. He also played LB in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Yes, I am being recruited to play linebacker, which I am looking forward too," Davis said. "Coming into high school, I was a quarterback. But sophomore year, we really needed a linebacker on varsity so I was given the opportunity to fill that spot, which I am thankful for. I started junior year as linebacker before our QB got hurt. We needed a QB, so I finished off the year playing mostly QB and sometimes both ways." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis qualified for the state meet in March as a powerlifter, finishing fourth in his weight class (198 pounds) with a combined weight of 1,155 pounds. Davis and Centennial open the 2024 season Aug. 23 with a massive matchup against Cleveland at Thunderbolt Stadium in Rio Rancho.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"At Centennial, we always have a lot to prove and always have high expectations," Davis said. "So, the standard is pretty high coming in to the season, especially after last season. Every year is a new year and a chance to do something that's never been done. We will take it one game at a time and focus one game at a time."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DavisZaiden/status/1819439564672692280","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/DavisZaiden/status/1819439564672692280 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DavisZaiden/status/1779154917242048793","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/DavisZaiden/status/1779154917242048793 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DavisZaiden/status/1708602450054468043","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/DavisZaiden/status/1708602450054468043 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->