Updated 2026 Rankings: New Additions (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 10 of the top New Additions to our updated 2026 Rankings:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599561' first='Chris' last='Aguilar'], Artesia</strong>: One of the top defensive linemen in Class 5A this past season. Earned First-Team All-State honors after making&nbsp; 36 tackles and 3.0 TFL for the Class 5 A runner-up Bulldogs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599893' first='Joseph' last='Duran'], Bernalillo</strong>: Nice addition to the Class 4A wide receiver ranks after transferring to Bernalillo before the 2023-24 academic year. Elite athleticism and speed allowed him to stretch defenses in 2024 as he caught 37 passes for 941 yards and 12 TD, an impressive average of 25.4 yards per reception. Also made 77 tackles on defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599539' first='Noah' last='Estrada'], Roswell</strong>: The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder earned Class 5A Second-Team All-State honors at tight end for the 5A champion Coyotes. Should have a larger role within the Roswell offense in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1429624' first='Alvin' last='Gomez'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Anchored the Volcano Vista defensive line, earning Class 6A First-Team All-State honors after making 22 tackles, 6.0 TFL and 3.0 sacks for the Hawks. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599800' first='Justice' last='French'], Hobbs</strong>: Became an integral part of the Hobbs offense with 33 receptions for 628 yards and 7 TD. He earned Class 6A Second-Team All-State honors. Also served as a kick returner. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599835' first='Riley' last='Haussler'], Cleveland</strong>: Cleveland had so much talent on defense this past season that Haussler probably got lost a little bit. But he proved to be a heckuva player along the D-Line. Made 42 tackles with 8.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Class 6A First-Team All-State honoree. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599566' first='Xavier' last='Ochoa'], Mayfield</strong>: Emerged as a solid defensive back for the Trojans in 2024. Honorable Mention All-State honors in Class 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599531' first='Emmanuel' last='Ortega'], Los Alamos</strong>: Earned Second-team All-State honors at center for the Hilltoppers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599923' first='Michael' last='Storms III'], Valencia</strong>: Possibly the Breakout Player of the Year in Class 4A. After seeing limited varsity action as a sophomore in 2023, Storms erupted for 1,723 rushing yards and 21 TD on a workhorse 261 carries in 2024 and helped lead the Jaguars to 8 wins and the quarterfinals of the 4A playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599529' first='Braven' last='Vasquez'], Loving</strong>: The Falcons reached the semifinals of the Class 2A playoffs behind a prolific offense and a stout defense led by Vasquez, who had a team-high 118 tackles and 6.0 TFL. Class 2A Honorable Mention All-State honors. Watch out for Loving in 2025. Many of their major contributors are back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔥 Huge shoutout to [player_tooltip player_id='1429624' first='Alvin' last='Gomez'] for earning a spot on the 2024 All-State 1st Team as a defensive lineman! Your hard work and dedication paid off, and we couldn't be prouder. Keep shining, Alvin! 🏆💪 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GATA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GATA</a> <a href="https://t.co/wC2zdTKV5J">pic.twitter.com/wC2zdTKV5J</a></p>&mdash; Volcano Vista HS Football (@vvhsfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/vvhsfootball/status/1867617028502090170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my highlight - <a href="https://t.co/nHScfA9OLZ">https://t.co/nHScfA9OLZ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1599800' first='Justice' last='French'] (@Justicefre93652) <a href="https://twitter.com/Justicefre93652/status/1877609292078997724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">J French! 2026 playmaker on the outside! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheGoldStandard?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheGoldStandard</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TPW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TPW</a> <a href="https://t.co/k3ftpG3mrk">pic.twitter.com/k3ftpG3mrk</a></p>&mdash; Hobbs Eagles Football (@HobbsEaglesFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/HobbsEaglesFB/status/1866992235415527556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congratulations to our 1st Team All-District Players! 🏈 🐆 <a href="https://t.co/E4r0MLXuBD">pic.twitter.com/E4r0MLXuBD</a></p>&mdash; VHS Jaguars Football (@VHSJagFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/VHSJagFootball/status/1865407319602769937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->