From Shadow To Light: 10 Under The Radar Wide Receivers For 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue with our ‘Underrated' Series by taking a look at some of the wide receivers flying under heading into the 2025 season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Robert Castanada, Carlsbad</strong>: Definitely one of the top ‘under the radar' receivers in the state. Hasn't gotten the attention he deserves because Carlsbad hasn't qualified for the playoffs since 2022. But Castanada has 87 receptions and over 1,300 receiving yards with 20 TD in his first two seasons of varsity football. This could be his breakout season. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599893' first='Joseph' last='Duran'], Bernalillo</strong>: Duran brought a jolt of electricity to the Bernalillo offense in 2024 after being limited to non-varsity football in 2023 following his transfer from Volcano Vista. Duran is quick and possesses great hands. Bernalillo should have another fantastic WR corps in 2025. Duran had 37 receptions&nbsp; for 941 yards and 12 TD. Potential to become a 1,000-yard WR in 2025. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599800' first='Justice' last='French'], Hobbs</strong>: French has great size at 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. He led Hobbs in receiving in 2024 with 33 receptions for 628 yards. Second Team All-State. The top 3 WR for Hobs return in 2025, so the Eagles have the potential to have a very productive passing attack (as they always do) in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gabe Gonzales, Valley</strong>: The Albuquerque Metro Region is filled with quality receivers, so Gonzales got overshadowed in 2024 even though he had 50 receptions for 818 yards and 5 TD. He had the second most receptions of any sophomore WR in the state in 2025. Gonzales will be again be a major factor for Valley in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605074' first='Logan' last='Hague'], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: Hague put together a solid 2024 season as a sophomore with 38 receptions for 483 yards. Two of the Chargers top three WR return in 2025, and they have a superb young QB. Albuquerque Academy's passing attack could be dynamic in 2025. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137096' first='Jay' last='Lee'], Socorro</strong>: Lee had the most receptions and receiving yardage of any junior WR in the state this past season with 58 catches for 1,182 yards and 17 TD. He has 60 receptions (2023) and 58 (2024) in the last two years. Definitely will be one of the top WRs in the state in 2025. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600116' first='Dyson' last='Lord'], Eunice</strong>: Eunice loses its top three receivers to graduation, so Lord ascends to the No. 1 job after collecting 40 receptions for 838 yards, an average of 21.0 yards per catch, and 11 TD. The ultra-talented [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon'] is his QB, so Lord should get plenty of opportunities. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266408' first='Parker' last='Miller'], Rio Rancho</strong>: Like other receivers on this list, Miller excelled as Rio Rancho's No. 2 WR in 2024, earning Honorable Mention All-State honors after finishing with 43 receptions for 683 yards and 8 TD. As he showed last season and at Sunday's College Football Prospect ID Camp, Miller possesses good speed and quickness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613352' first='Broden' last='Price'], Manzano</strong>: One of the top rising sophomore WR in the state. As a freshman in 2024, he had 27 receptions for 477 yards and 7 TD. Great size at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds. Potential to become a ‘stud' WR over the next couple of years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142363' first='Francisco' last='Winnikoff'], Las Cruces</strong>: The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Winnikoff has been the Bulldawgs' No. 2 WR for the past two seasons behind [player_tooltip player_id='615455' first='Nate' last='Libby']. But Libby is graduating, so Winnikoff gets his chance at being the No. 1 WR. Since [player_tooltip player_id='853029' first='Gunnar' last='Guardiola'] returns at QB for Las Cruces, look for Winnikoff to get plenty of opportunities after finishing with 51 receptions for 781 yards and 5 TD in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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">All State WR - Honorable Mention - [player_tooltip player_id='1266408' first='Parker' last='Miller'] - Class of ‘26 <a href="https://t.co/CtZL8Kvc94">pic.twitter.com/CtZL8Kvc94</a></p>&mdash; Arthur F Miller (@Arthur_F_Miller) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arthur_F_Miller/status/1867730161128681792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Week 4 Vs Portales(4a state champs)<br>4 receptions<br>73 yards<br>2 touchdowns <a href="https://t.co/DRw98Zy4D6">pic.twitter.com/DRw98Zy4D6</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1613352' first='Broden' last='Price'] (@Broden_19Wr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Broden_19Wr/status/1838236286705963407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here are our skill position offensive All District players! This offense broke 6 school records and averaged over 330 yards per game! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CVE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CVE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/brotherhood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#brotherhood</a> <a href="https://t.co/pt2Mw3DcPv">pic.twitter.com/pt2Mw3DcPv</a></p>&mdash; Carlsbad Cavemen Football (@CavemenFBall) <a href="https://twitter.com/CavemenFBall/status/1860804461981053282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JR Yr Highlights 55 rec 850 yards 7 Tds <a href="https://twitter.com/mjlopezdawgs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mjlopezdawgs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/renetorres05?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@renetorres05</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GinoSatriana?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GinoSatriana</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LCHSFOOTBALL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LCHSFOOTBALL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmprepcosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmprepcosports</a> <a href="https://t.co/5AJc4kV6H8">https://t.co/5AJc4kV6H8</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1142363' first='Francisco' last='Winnikoff'] (@Sisco2x__) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sisco2x__/status/1885505442127687739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->