City Series: Top Running Backs in ABQ Metro Region for 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Part 2 of our summer long City Series, we take a look at some of the top running backs in the state for the 2025 season. Here are some of the top ball carriers in the Albuquerque Metro Region:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600936' first='Samuel' last='Bustillos'], Cleveland</strong>: Described by his head coach as a ‘hard-nosed football player,' Bustillos rushed for close to 600 yards and 10 TD in 2024 and was part of a talented RB trio for the 6A champion Storm. This year, the No. 1 job belongs to him. Running behind a big and physical offensive line featuring at least one Power 4 prospect, Bustillos could have a huge year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1423739' first='D'Angelo' last='Mitchell'], Volcano Vista</strong>: Mitchell emerged last season as a dynamic young running back for the Hawks, proving to be a reliable No. 2 ball carrier. This year, he assumes the No. 1 job and has 1,000-yard potential. He rushed twice for 100+ yards last season, including 134 yards and 2 TD against Sandia. Solid contender for Breakout Player of the Year in Class 6A. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1154954' first='Hershul' last='Olloway'], St. Pius X</strong>: We first saw Olloway at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants ion April 2024. That day, he ran the 40 in 4.4 seconds. A year later, he's only getting faster. He recently ran the 100 in 10.7 seconds at the Metro Championships. And he produces on the football field, rushing for over 1,700 yards and 21 TD for the Class 4A runner-up Sartans in 2024. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613284' first='George' last='Smith'], Sandia</strong>: Smith's versatile skill set was on display as a freshman for 3A Robertson last fall as he rushed for nearly 700 yards, caught 34 passes and averaged 40.2 yards on 6 kickoff returns. He recently transferred to Sandia, where he will play football and basketball. He immediately becomes one of the top young RBs in Albuquerque.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599923' first='Michael' last='Storms III'], Valencia</strong>: A year ago, very few people had heard of Storms, so to say he burst onto the scene last season would be indisputable. Storms didn't just have a fantastic season, he led all junior RBs with 1,723 yards on a workhorse 261 carries. He finished third in the state in rushing behind two graduating seniors, so Storms is the state's top returning rusher. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>:, Ethan Rolon (Rio Rancho), [player_tooltip player_id='1605043' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana'] (Eldorado), [player_tooltip player_id='854302' first='Justin' last='Duran'] (Manzano), [player_tooltip player_id='1266534' first='Alberto' last='Landeros'] (Albuquerque High), [player_tooltip player_id='1672389' first='Logan' last='Jacobson-Waldrep'] (West Mesa), [player_tooltip player_id='1605046' first='Zachary' last='Perez'] (Valley), [player_tooltip player_id='1137080' first='Ryan' last='Williams'] (Albuquerque Academy), [player_tooltip player_id='1604956' first='Jagger' last='Casillas'] (Los Lunas); [player_tooltip player_id='1613382' first='Gad' last='Harris'] (Sandia); [player_tooltip player_id='1605026' first='Mateo' last='Griego-Manley'] (Moriarty), [player_tooltip player_id='1532983' first='Alijah' last='Lee'] (Atrisco Heritage); [player_tooltip player_id='1672514' first='Xavier' last='Valdez'] (La Cueva).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New PR in the 100m‼️<br>10.70 in pre lims (school record)<br>10.81 in finals (metro champion)<a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecoachflakes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesDYodice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JamesDYodice</a> <a href="https://t.co/6WoZWB4SGY">pic.twitter.com/6WoZWB4SGY</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1250361' first='Hershul' last='Olloway Jr'] (@Hersh_Olloway2) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hersh_Olloway2/status/1918789482821648676?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">#1 ranked Freshman Football Player in New Mexico! <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SebastianNoel47?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SebastianNoel47</a> <a href="https://t.co/55TtEDB47a">pic.twitter.com/55TtEDB47a</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1613284' first='George' last='Smith'] (@georgesmithlll) <a href="https://twitter.com/georgesmithlll/status/1919568870949462313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">TOP CONTENDERS: We revealed our winner of the 2024 New Mexico Heisman Award on Tuesday. Who are some of the early contenders for the 2025 award? We tell you.<br> <a href="https://t.co/ahzxuGPnh3">https://t.co/ahzxuGPnh3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GunnarGuardiola?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GunnarGuardiola</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Kekoa1_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kekoa1_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mikestormsvhs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikestormsvhs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WillBraun_9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WillBraun_9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Isaiah_3_C?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Isaiah_3_C</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kaiden_2026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaiden_2026</a> <a href="https://t.co/otisL4kvuj">pic.twitter.com/otisL4kvuj</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1867392549842755630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->