2025 Team Preview: Roswell Coyotes

OVERVIEW   Roswell head coach Jeff Lynn and his players have heard the chatter about how his Coyotes are destined to take a step back in 2025 after capturing the Class 5A championship last November with a senior-dominated roster.   “Our guys have heard the naysayers,” Lynn told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “We had 31 seniors last year and eight signed scholarships to play at the next level. So, we lost a lot. And there's a lot of people around the state and around our town saying we lost too much and we're headed for a down year. Our guys hear that. It has fueled our off-season a little bit.”   Lynn is confident Roswell will continue to be one of the top 5A teams in 2025. How? The system. Coyote freshmen typically play on the freshman team when they are 9th-graders followed by at least one year on the junior varsity as sophomore.   Then, if they're good enough, they earn a roster spot with the Roswell varsity as juniors and seniors. Result? Roswell's varsity roster is filled with experienced seniors every year. That's why the number of seniors on the 2025 team will exceed the number last season.   “We lose 30 seniors every year, at this point,” Lynn said. “Going into this season, we're expecting to have 37 seniors. Every year, we reload. Every year, we have to replace people. We had so many good players last year that some people believe we just can't be as good. But we had some juniors last season that could have started on 85 percent of the schools in this state. Here, they have to pay their dues.”                  Roswell has completed their 10 allowed practices in pads and recently held its spring game at the Wool Bowl in front of about 500 fans on a Friday morning. Over 6,000 fans viewed the live stream.   OFFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1750685' first='Luke' last='Lynn'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1599539' first='Noah' last='Estrada'] (TE), [player_tooltip player_id='1750777' first='Kolby' last='Sanchez'] (WR).      Six-foot-3, 220-pound rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750685' first='Luke' last='Lynn'], son of the head coach, will likely be the new starting quarterback for Roswell. Rising junior Francisco Guzman will be the backup. Rising sophomore Andrew Fuentez, younger brother of former Roswell QB Manny Fuentez, will compete for the backup job.   “Luke can do a little of both in terms of being a drop-back or duel threat guy,” Lynn said. “He can run. He's got great size and athleticism. Big kid. He's also a very good baseball player and has gotten some looks as a starting pitcher. He can throw the football. Luke is more of a pocket passer than (our QB last season). He won't be as dynamic in the run game. He's more of a bruising type runner than a speed guy. But he can get it done as a runner.”   The new running backs are rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750722' first='Nathaniel' last='Lujan'], an elite wrestler with superb balance and speed, and quick rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750743' first='Renden' last='Duran']. Neither is tall (both are around 5-foot-8), which could alter Roswell's ground game strategy. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1826036' first='Luis' last='Rodriguez'] (qualified for state track meet as a freshman + power lifter) has already raised eyebrows and could see varsity action in 2025.     “We'll be a little different (in the run game),” Lynn said. “We won't be as bruising back there as we have been the last couple of years. But Nathaniel and Renden are a couple of really good speed guys I'm excited about. It's going to be hard to keep Luis off the field. He has a chance to be special. We'll keep him on JV for as long as we can, but he might not be there for very long. He had a very good spring game. He was probably the MVP.”   Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750777' first='Kolby' last='Sanchez'] returns at wide receiver. Another rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750809' first='Olin' last='Ingram'] could be a breakout player in 2025 after sitting behind several seniors last season and playing mostly special teams. Ingram has plenty of speed, running the 100 in about 11 seconds, and is expected to test defenses vertically. Rising junior Isaac Gonzalez should contribute too along with rising seniors Jadrain Garcia and Diego Sanchez.   Roswell's best offensive player could be 6-foot-3, 210-pound rising senior H-Back/Tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1599539' first='Noah' last='Estrada'].   “Noah does a lot of things for us,” Lynn said. “He leads blocks on our counters. He catches the underneath stuff on our boots and drags. He's a super hard worker and super competitive. He's a very good football player. Going into this season, I would say he's our best offensive player.”   Roswell returns three starters on the offensive line: Daniel Chavez-Gonzales, [player_tooltip player_id='1750858' first='CJ' last='Kennard'] and center [player_tooltip player_id='1750887' first='Edgar' last='Reyes Soltero']. Rising junior Emmanuel Sanchez is a promising newcomer and expected to be the starting left tackle. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='853055' first='Isaiah' last='Trujillo'] was a backup last season and could compete for a starting job.        “We have the chance to have the best offensive line we've ever had there,” Lynn said. “It's probably our deepest and most experienced position group. They're all about 5-foot-10 and 250 pounds. But they're nasty. They aren't teddy bears. They like to get after it. I'm super excited about those guys.”   DEFENSE   3 Players To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1750924' first='David' last='Gaumond'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1750954' first='Joaquin' last='Bolanos'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1750988' first='Nick' last='Anaya'] (DB).   The Roswell defensive line loses the talented ‘Big Three,' all of whom signed to play in college. Two signed with West Texas A&M and the other with prominent D2 program Central Missouri.   Six-foot-1, 265-pound rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1266452' first='Ethan' last='Lopez'] moves from the O-Line to D-Line. He started at left tackle in 2024. Rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750906' first='Daniel' last='Borrego'] was a backup D-Linemen last season and now gets his opportunity to be a starter. Six-foot-4, 220-pound rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750924' first='David' last='Gaumond'] made some noise last season along the D-Line and looks to do even more this season. One of the defensive end spots has several candidates competing for the starting job.       “Ethan is probably the most athletic defensive linemen we have in the program,” Lynn said. “He gets around very well. He has a chance to be very good. Daniel had a great spring. I was very happy with how he played. He is extremely strong. David could be our best returning defensive linemen. He played a lot last year.”   Roswell loses a top-notch LB but returns rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1750954' first='Joaquin' last='Bolanos'], who Lynn believes has an opportunity to become one of the best LBs in the state. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1788700' first='Jonathan' last='Ellis'] and rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1266509' first='Kannon' last='Ramage'] are up-and-comers.      “Joaquin is a stone cold killer,” Lynn said. “He gets after it. He has a chance to be special. I'm excited about him. He could also play some Wildcat quarterback. Jonathan was another guy that had a very good spring.”   The Coyote secondary returns starters [player_tooltip player_id='1750988' first='Nick' last='Anaya'] (CB) and [player_tooltip player_id='1751010' first='Isaiah' last='Aranda'], who is slated to move from cornerback to safety to make room for talented rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1788731' first='David' last='Fresquez']. The free safety position is up for grabs.   “I feel very good about our secondary,” Lynn said.            2025 Roswell Football Schedule:   Aug. 22 LOS LUNAS (7 p.m.)      Aug. 29 at Alamogordo (7 p.m.)         Sept. 5 at Hobbs (7 p.m.)           Sept. 12 LOVINGTON (7 p.m.)*          Sept. 19 DEMING (7 p.m.)*           Sept. 26 at Santa Teresa (7 p.m.)*          Oct. 3 at Gadsden (7 p.m.)*         Oct. 10 Bye           Oct. 17 ARTESIA (7 p.m.)*          Oct. 24 MAYFIELD (7 p.m.)*           Oct. 31 at Goddard (7 p.m.)(Wool Bowl)*         * District 5A-2 Game   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WR, TE 6'1 190 11-1 2nd All state TE State Champs<a href="https://twitter.com/osoukup?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@osoukup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Guap?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Guap</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachweiss30?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coachweiss30</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BryndanM1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BryndanM1</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/_CoachHolden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_CoachHolden</a> <a href="https://t.co/6wX8R2ex8m">https://t.co/6wX8R2ex8m</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1599539' first='Noah' last='Estrada'] (@NoahEstrada421) <a href="https://twitter.com/NoahEstrada421/status/1882665429157769357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">C/O 2026 Offensive Guard 5'10 255 5.5 40 yd dash 305 bench 500 squat 250powerclean 40+ pancakes 1st team all state 1st team all district State Champ<a href="https://t.co/f7XEhEBvw4">https://t.co/f7XEhEBvw4</a>— Daniel ChavezGonzales (@DanielChavgon) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielChavgon/status/1927439538382885170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Great meeting with the class of 2029 tonight!! Fired up to work with these dudes!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TEAM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TEAM</a> <a href="https://t.co/YPHLEBVSji">pic.twitter.com/YPHLEBVSji</a>— Coyote Football (@CoyotesRising) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoyotesRising/status/1922445589729427858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">they not like us!!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TEAM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TEAM</a> <a href="https://t.co/LuXFwB1RBM">pic.twitter.com/LuXFwB1RBM</a>— Coyote Football (@CoyotesRising) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoyotesRising/status/1915857397203276062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKelleyLee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKelleyLee</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ENMUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ENMUFootball</a> for having us!<a href="https://twitter.com/CoyotesRising?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoyotesRising</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/4v3Qu6VCy9">pic.twitter.com/4v3Qu6VCy9</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1266452' first='Ethan' last='Lopez'] (@Ethan_Lopez99) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ethan_Lopez99/status/1913415435170848998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">6 YEARS!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/elilynn109?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elilynn109</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/n0ahlynn17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@n0ahlynn17</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/lynnluke27?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lynnluke27</a> PROUD OF YOU!!! <a href="https://t.co/yFTDWIf175">pic.twitter.com/yFTDWIf175</a>— jeff lynn (@JeffJefflynn1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffJefflynn1/status/1863336246904308174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2024</a></blockquote>

OVERVIEW