Early Impact: Fantastic Freshmen To Watch in 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's never too late to make an early impact! Here are 8 Freshman To Watch for the 2025 season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Devon Chavez, Estancia</strong>: Chavez is the starting dual threat QB for Estancia. In the opener, his first varsity game, Chavez had moderate success with 69 yards passing, 61 yards rushing and made 3 tackles on defense. Estancia might not win many games this season because their schedule is very difficult but Chavez will play, learn and, someday in the future, thrive. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1865586' first='Harlem' last='Coley'], Raton</strong>: Coley started his varsity career by rushing for triple digits. He had 109 yards and 1 TD on just 7 carries in Raton's mercy-rule win over Tohatchi. Coley and Raton will face tougher competition down the road in Robertson, St. Michael's, Legacy Academy and Santa Rosa, but first impressions of Coley are pretty good. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1720592' first='Julian' last='Fernandez'], Grants</strong>: Varsity football isn't a new thing for Fernandez. He saw significant action for the Pirates as an 8^th-grader last season, including 134 yards against Aztec. He also played extensively against St. Pius X in the playoffs. In Week 1, he had 43 yards rushing and made 8 tackles on defense in Grants' road win at Miyamura. Fernandez is only getting started. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581314' first='Kingston' last='Lee'], Portales</strong>: The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Lee possesses great size and exceptional athleticism. He won the Rams starting QB job following a summer long competition. Completed 10-of-13 passes in Portales' season opener against Goddard. The Rans lost, but good things are ahead for Lee and the Rams. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jude Olguin, Valley</strong>: Who's going to be Valley's No. 2 WR behind [player_tooltip player_id='1532837' first='Gabe' last='Gonzales']? It could be Olguin, who had 2 receptions for 48 yards in the Vikings' season opener against Bernalillo. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaziah Romero, Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Romero has good size at 6-foot-0, 180 pounds. He had 3 tackles and 1 sack in his varsity debut in Week 1 when the Elks made the long trip to Crownpoint and rode home with a mercy-rule win. How good is the Pojoaque Valley defense? We'll find out over the next 3 weeks when the Elks face Hot Springs, Los Alamos and Dexter. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aden Trujillo, Hope Christian</strong>: Offensive line is a tough position to play – let alone start - when you're a freshman because the job is so physically demanding and you're often going up against juniors and seniors. Trujillo saw action on the Hope Christian O-Line as an 8^th-grader in 2024. He should be the starter at center in 2025. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jude Winters, Aztec</strong>: The Aztec defense came up big in the second half against Rio Grande in Week 1, allowing no points to the Ravens. Winters is the MLB for the Tigers and he finished with 4 tackles. He looks like he'll be a mainstay for the Aztec defense all season long. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/ILYV2A1XRx">https://t.co/ILYV2A1XRx</a><br>Game 1 vs. Miyamura:<br>• 43 rushing yards on 10 carries<br>• 2 TDs<br>• 8 tackles<br>• #12<br>Ready to keep grinding this season!<a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GHSCoachBrown?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GHSCoachBrown</a> <a href="https://t.co/QkNN9CFxWh">pic.twitter.com/QkNN9CFxWh</a></p>&mdash; Julian (@Julian410268522) <a href="https://twitter.com/Julian410268522/status/1960181851798040855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Proud dad moment watching Kingston take the field as the starting QB in his 1st Varsity game for the Rams as a Freshman. It didn't go the way they hoped but he hung in there and completing 10-13 passes on the night. Looking forward to watching you play the next 4 years! <a href="https://t.co/ZhbUCJDgxr">pic.twitter.com/ZhbUCJDgxr</a></p>&mdash; Kelley Lee (@CoachKelleyLee) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKelleyLee/status/1960033752341766533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->