PRZ Stock Up Showcase Preview: 11 Defensive Players To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase Tour comes to Grants on Saturday. Here are 10 defensive players to watch (listed in alphabetical order):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'], Grants</strong>: As a junior, Chavez had as good a season in 2024 as any defender in NM. He collected 87 tackles, a staggering 27.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks and 13 QB hurries. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1248676' first='Joseph' last='Clawson'], Grants</strong>: Like Chavez, Clawson had an outstanding season for the Pirates defense. He finished with 77 tackles, 17.0 TFL, 11 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155132' first='Aiden' last='Maldonado'], Sandia</strong>: Maldonado emerged this past season as a promising defensive end/running back for the Matadors. He finished with 61 tackles, 11.0 TFL, 11 QB hurries and 2 INT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1248719' first='Chase' last='Nelson'], St. Pius X</strong>: Nelson is one of the top two-way linemen in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Just a sophomore, he has started for St. Pius X for the past two seasons. Earned Class 4A First-Team All-State honors at DL after making 62 tackles and 13.0 TFL in 2024. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267030' first='Kolbe' last='Padilla'], St. Pius X</strong>: Padilla was one of the top linebackers in the Albuquerque Metro Region in 2024 as he sparked the Sartans defense with 115 tackles, 16.0 TFL, 14 QB hurries and 3.0 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1248672' first='Hugh' last='Pena'], Cleveland</strong>: Pena is one of the up-and-coming defensive standouts for the Storm. Set to earn a spot with the Cleveland varsity in 2025 after playing JV this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1224569' first='Kaleb' last='Vander Wilt'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Possessing great size at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, Vander Wilt earned First-Team All-District and Second-Team All-State honors after finishing with 37.0 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 5.0 sacks and 6.0 QB hurries. Great opportunity for him to impress college coaches. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1272795' first='Vincent' last='Varela Jr.'], Manzano</strong>: Another defender with great size. Varela just completed his sophomore season, but he's listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. Nearly half his tackles in 2024 produced negative yardage (14.0 TFL). Added 5 sacks and 15 QB hurries. Likely to become a major college prospect by this time next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zachary Waghorn, Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Following a spectacular sophomore campaign in 2023, Waghorn amassed impressive statistics for the Chargers for the second straight season. He had 107 tackles, 6.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks for the Chargers. Aiming for his 3^rd consecutive season with 100+ tackles in 2025. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137835' first='Krew' last='Ward'], Hope Christian</strong>: Became one of the top LBs in the Albuquerque Metro Region in 2024 as he totaled 100 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 3 sacks and 3 forced fumbles for the Huskies. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1608127' first='Aurelius' last='Wiley'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Promising up-and-coming prospect for the Hawks. Saw limited action with the varsity in 2024 (2 receptions) while playing mostly for the JV team. Could make a significant contribution to the VVHS varsity in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">check out my 2024 season highlights!<br>37 total tackles<br>8 tfls<br>5 sacks<br>6 qb hurries<br>6 pass deflections<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWallin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWallin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vvhsfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachList13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachList13</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSitdikov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSitdikov</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a><a href="https://t.co/ddFC1IuONO">https://t.co/ddFC1IuONO</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1224569' first='Kaleb' last='Vander Wilt'] (@Kaleb_vw) <a href="https://twitter.com/Kaleb_vw/status/1862006687298892061?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Full season highlight for Sophomore year<br>7 sacks <br>Forced fumble<br>18 TFL's <br>2 TD's <br>Blocked punt <br>1 extra pt block <a href="https://t.co/5oiFbNc7Wn">https://t.co/5oiFbNc7Wn</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1272795' first='Vincent' last='Varela Jr.'] (@VinnyVarela84) <a href="https://twitter.com/VinnyVarela84/status/1855675315546108298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hey coaches, Im a Defensive End out of Grants High school. We just had a sweet season and I want YOU to check out my highlights!! <a href="https://t.co/dvVmAK3FiD">https://t.co/dvVmAK3FiD</a><br>I promise I'm worth the time!!<br><br>87 Total Tackles<br>27 TFLs <br>6 Sacks<br>13 QB Hurries<br>2 Forced Fumbles<br>2 Fumble Recoveries <a href="https://t.co/3yCGVNphcS">pic.twitter.com/3yCGVNphcS</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'] (@Gary_Chavezz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gary_Chavezz/status/1860060069288902876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my Sophomore season highlights!<br>1 team all state DL<br>2 team all state Center<br>1 team all district DL/C <br>1 sack given up 3 forced fumbles<br>62 Tot Tackles 3 sacks 13 TFL 13 GP<a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecoachflakes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NMrecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMrecruits</a> <a href="https://t.co/rikGRdGFcC">https://t.co/rikGRdGFcC</a></p>&mdash; Chase (@ChaseNelson58) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseNelson58/status/1881075814953091332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">[player_tooltip player_id='1267030' first='Kolbe' last='Padilla'] CO 2026 Junior year stats<br>68 Solo Tackles |16 TFLs |115 Total Tackles| <a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecoachflakes</a> <a href="https://t.co/vlJ0dtSVv3">https://t.co/vlJ0dtSVv3</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1267030' first='Kolbe' last='Padilla'] (@kolbepadilla9) <a href="https://twitter.com/kolbepadilla9/status/1878460461215093065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->