Top Special Teams Performers For 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you follow Lovington placekicker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266897' first='Caleb' last='Aranda']</strong> on social media and watch his short videos, you know he has a powerful right leg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aranda was recently upgraded to a 4.5 star prospect by&nbsp; Chris Sailor Kicking, one of the most prestigious and trusted rating services for field goal kickers and punters in the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ball booms off Aranda's foot. Last season he was 43-of-46 on extra points and 2-for-2 on field goals. Because Aranda's FG range for the upcoming season appears to be well beyond 40 yards, Lovington will be in scoring position every time they reach the opponent's 25-yard line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aranda could turn into a major weapon for the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Caleb has always been deadly accurate,” Lovington head coach Josh Bailey told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “He just didn't have a strong enough leg yet. But he spent all this offseason working hard, going to camps and learning techniques. His leg has gotten so much stronger. I'm very excited about what Caleb brings to the table. Knowing you can make field goals from 50 yards out is a breath of fresh air. I know he's capable.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aranda will handle field goals and kickoffs for the Wildcats. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118377' first='Patrick' last='Sanchez']</strong> is the punter besides serving as a backup QB. He averaged&nbsp; close to 37 yards per punt in 2024 with a long of 51 yards. Aranda and Sanchez give Lovington as good a kicking duo as any in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those two probably won't be the lone special teams standout for Lovington in 2024. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137475' first='Jayden' last='Gutierrez']</strong> led all sophomores in the state last season by averaging 27.3 yards on 14 kickoff returns. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137867' first='Elijah' last='Rivero']</strong> averaged 24.7 yards on 18 kickoff returns. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Here are some other special teams standouts entering the 2024 season</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851898' first='Gage' last='Conway'], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: In addition to playing WR, the 6-foot-5 Conway is a kickoff artist. He averaged a booming 52.2 yards with 12 touchbacks on 36 kickoffs in 2023. As a freshman in 2022, he averaged 48.6 yards per kickoff. Big leg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='615512' first='Noah' last='Lundstrom'], Grants</strong>: Averaged 41.0 yards on 49 kickoffs in 2023 with 5 touchbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137850' first='Cross' last='Malcom'], Hozho Academy</strong>: Averaged 26 yards on 19 kickoff returns in 2024. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='604669' first='Bryle' last='Matthews'], Kirtland Central</strong>: Matthews returned 21 kickoffs for Kirtland Central in 2023, more than anybody else in the state. He averaged close to 24 yards per return.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaston Milford, Albuquerque High</strong>: Averaged 40.6 yards for 27 punt, including a booming 60-yarder. He also landed 3 punts inside the 20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='611116' first='Latavious' last='Morris'], Atrisco Heritage</strong>: Morris is one of the most dynamic athletes in the state. That extends to his punt return duties for the Jaguars as he averaged almost 30 yards on 5 returns in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137088' first='Kaiden' last='Reese'], Los Lunas</strong>: Reese could do it all for the Tigers in 2024. In addition to probably serving as quarterback, he'll return as the punter. Why not? He averaged an impressive 42.4 yards on 26 punts with a long of 66 yards in 2023. He put 5 punts inside the 20. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1259007' first='Ian' last='Sandoval'], Carlsbad</strong>: Sandoval has possibly the longest punt in New Mexico last season, an 82-yarder. He averaged 40.1 yards for 32 punts, so he was busy. He landed 8 punts within the 20. Very strong and accurate leg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1118058' first='Alex' last='Serrano'], Farmington</strong>: Averaged 32.1 yards on 9 punt returns in 2023. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594591' first='Andres' last='Valenzuela'], Espanola Valley</strong>: Valenzuela displayed a strong leg in 2023. He made 5-of-10 field goals, including a 43-yarder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aidan Vasquez, Alamogordo</strong>: Averaged 42.2 yards on 41 kickoffs and 34 yards on his punts as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1129687' first='Jonah' last='Villegas'], Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Nobody with 10+ kickoff returns in 2023 did better than Villegas. Utilizing his blazing speed, he averaged 43.5 yards per return with a long of 81 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672525' first='Mickey' last='Widner'], La Cueva</strong>: Arguably the top long snapper in the state. Widner has been offered by the Air Force Academy after an impressive performance at a camp there. The Chris Rubio Long Snapping Academy has ranked Widner as the No. 12 LS in the country. One of his strengths - literally - is his strength. Widner squats 425 pounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Zabel, Ruidoso</strong>: Zabel was the top punter in the state last season with an average of 40.7 yards per punt. His longest punt was 59 yards. Ability to flip the field for the Warriors.   </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CalebAranda8/status/1816155043995046303","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/CalebAranda8/status/1816155043995046303 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Jonahv_23/status/1785834613471957341","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/Jonahv_23/status/1785834613471957341 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/brylematthews34/status/1824920794868113551","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/brylematthews34/status/1824920794868113551 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/MickeyWidner/status/1824616268667949469","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/MickeyWidner/status/1824616268667949469 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->