2025 Team Preview: Hobbs Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 HOBBS PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since the addition of Class 6A in 2014, Hobbs has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, including the last four years when they've reached the Round of 8 before losing to three different Albuquerque Metro area schools (Cleveland twice, La Cueva and Volcano Vista). Hobbs was mercy ruled by La Cueva last November. Understandably, the sense of urgency is high at Hobbs to shatter the glass ceiling. After all, the Eagles rank among the bluest of blue blood programs in New Mexico.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Our message to our players has been we want to finish better,” Hobbs head coach Ken Stevens told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We've been in the quarterfinals for four straight years. Our goal is ultimately to win a state championship. To do that, we need to get past the quarterfinal round and see what happens from there. We have to earn a higher seed and see different teams than the ones we've faced in the quarterfinals. We just need to compete better.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1605057' first='Junior' last='Medrano']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604984' first='Shamus' last='Wright']</strong> (RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599800' first='Justice' last='French']</strong> (WR).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hobbs had a senior quarterback in 2024, and two largely inexperienced candidates are battling for the starting job heading into the summer. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605057' first='Junior' last='Medrano']</strong> served as the varsity backup QB (2 TD passes) and the JV starting QB in 2024 for the Eagles. He's a dual threat QB and runs well. Promising rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1684424' first='Conlin' last='McCool']</strong> (good size at 6-foot-0, 180 pounds) will compete for the job.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Conlin is going to be special down the road,” Stevens said. “He's going to push for that spot. Those two guys will battle it out. Junior, with his experience, probably has the edge. He brings a lot to the table because he can beat you with his legs and his arm. He throws well on the run. We like his playmaking ability. Conlin will probably be the valedictorian of his class and he already has the physical size as a young player. He's probably going to grow a little bit more. He still has some things to prove, though. But he has a lot of athletic ability.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604984' first='Shamus' last='Wright']</strong>, a workout warrior, returns at running back after leading the Eagles in rushing (639 yards and 5 TD on 95 carries) as a sophomore in 2024 when he divided carries with a graduating senior. Wright should be the undisputed No. 1 RB for Hobbs in 2025. Rising junior<strong> Demarcus Hill</strong> will be the No. 2 RB after spending most of last season with the Hobbs JV team. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Shamus has had a great off-season,” Stevens said. “He has very good vision. He sees the field very well. That's probably his greatest strength. He will get the bulk of the carries. I don't see him splitting carries. He's a 20 to 25 carries per game guy, for sure.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hobbs has a talented wide receiver duo in rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599800' first='Justice' last='French']</strong> (a next level talent)  and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600876' first='Braddock' last='Beaty']</strong>. Both are about 6-foot-2. They combined for 63 receptions, over 1,100 receiving yards and 15 TD in 2024. Moving up from the JV team is 6-foot-4, 185-pound rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679720' first='Bryan' last='Estrada']</strong>, who is expected to fill a ‘flex tight end' role. The fourth receiver should be rising senior <strong>Joshua Ortiz</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hobbs has historically had a big offensive line. Returning starters include LT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672355' first='Diego' last='Argott']</strong> and LG <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672358' first='Oliver' last='Hernandez']</strong> (265 pounds). New <strong>center Ricky Alvarado</strong> moves up from the JV team. Rising senior <strong>Hector Mendoza</strong> is the incumbent at right guard but he faces come competition. The new starting right tackle is expected to be California transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1749046' first='Max' last='Garcia']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players To Watch</strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672364' first='Peyton' last='Davis']</strong> (LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606138' first='Amryn' last='Wheeler']</strong> (DL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137893' first='Javen' last='Hernandez']</strong> (DB).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hobbs had one of the most productive linebacker duos in the state last season ([player_tooltip player_id='1119266' first='Tristan' last='Davis'], Gustavo Diaz-Castro) but both were seniors and are graduating. Davis signed with NMMI after combining for 299 tackles with Diaz-Castro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the Davis name will continue as Tristan's younger brother, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672364' first='Peyton' last='Davis']</strong>, takes over at one of the LB spots after suffering a serious knee injury in Week 3 last season. Rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672368' first='Aidan' last='Gluhm']</strong> joins him on the second level after making 69 tackles in 2024. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679730' first='Gavin' last='McPherson']</strong>, younger brother of former Hobbs standout Zaeden McPherson, will be the third linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Peyton is a very good high school football player, every bit as good as his brother, if not better," Stevens said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along the defensive line, 6-foot-3, 215-pound rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606138' first='Amryn' last='Wheeler']</strong> (50 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 19 QB hurries in 2024) shined at defensive end late last season and he returns to the same position. Defensive tackles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672373' first='Mike' last='Myrideth']</strong> (44 tackles) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672376' first='Jeremiah' last='Mackey']</strong> (52 tackles, 9.0 TFL) are both back after solid 2024 campaigns. Rising senior <strong>JJ Reza</strong> should play the DE spot opposite Wheeler after missing most of last season with an injury. A promising newcomer to watch is incredibly strong rising junior DT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1679754' first='Jesus' last='Ortiz']</strong>, who won the 275-pound class title at the recent state power-lifting championships. Ortiz deadlifts 545 pounds. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the secondary, two starters return: rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601125' first='Adrian' last='Mora']</strong> (44 tackles, 3 INT in 2024) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137893' first='Javen' last='Hernandez']</strong> (68 tackles; 3-year starter) return at safety. The cornerbacks could be rising senior <strong>Leo Jaquez</strong> and rising junior California transfer <strong>Robert Garcia</strong> (younger brother of OL [player_tooltip player_id='1749046' first='Max' last='Garcia']). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 Hobbs Football Schedule:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 22 &nbsp;LOVINGTON</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 29 at Artesia &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 5 ROSWELL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 at El Paso (TX) Parkland &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 19 at Las Cruces* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 26 ALAMOGORDO* &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 3 Bye &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 10 CENTENNIAL* &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 17 at Clovis* &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 24 at Organ Mountain* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 31 CARLSBAD, 7 p.m.* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-3 Game</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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">End of sophomore football season!!!<br>All purpose yards:915/ Td:6 /<br>Rush:639 / Rec:134 / Kr:142<a href="https://twitter.com/UTEPCoachCJones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UTEPCoachCJones</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JGonzalesJr10?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JGonzalesJr10</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UTEPFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UTEPFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasstateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasstateFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasTechFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasTechFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/HobbsEaglesFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HobbsEaglesFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FootWorkUnit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FootWorkUnit</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWhiteDB1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWhiteDB1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SHSIndianFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SHSIndianFB</a> <br><br>Check out my highlights!<a href="https://t.co/E9Qze9EOtW">https://t.co/E9Qze9EOtW</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1604984' first='Shamus' last='Wright'] (@BDshamus1) <a href="https://twitter.com/BDshamus1/status/1866701794660978827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">putting in that work with <a href="https://twitter.com/BDshamus1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BDshamus1</a> <a href="https://t.co/51gqoJ9vdC">pic.twitter.com/51gqoJ9vdC</a></p>&mdash; Demarcus Hill (@Demarcusho23) <a href="https://twitter.com/Demarcusho23/status/1921313283719516540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my highlight - <a href="https://t.co/GOOd8ZdCob">https://t.co/GOOd8ZdCob</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1600876' first='Braddock' last='Beaty'] (@BeatyBraddock) <a href="https://twitter.com/BeatyBraddock/status/1918473265015865731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">[player_tooltip player_id='1679754' first='Jesus' last='Ortiz']<br>NMAA 5A State Champion Power Lifter - 275 pound class<br>Hobbs Eagle Nose Guard!! Class of 2027<br><br>Total Weight - 1485 State Record <br><br>Squat - 565 State Record <br><br>Bench - 375 State Record 5A<br><br>Deadlift - 545 <a href="https://t.co/Dq1fzOf4v4">pic.twitter.com/Dq1fzOf4v4</a></p>&mdash; Mike Mills (@MikeMil56032675) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMil56032675/status/1910737424789143809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->