The Trenches: 10 Rising O-Linemen You Need To Know (Part 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Mexico is filled with outstanding offensive linemen. Here are 10 Rising OL You Need To Know for the 2025 season (Part 1):</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266460' first='Diego' last='Baeza'], Valencia</strong>: The 6-foot-2, 300-pound Baeza raised his stock considerably with an outstanding camping season. He runs very well and has great mobility. Very athletic. Also plays basketball for the Jaguars. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266485' first='Landon' last='Casalino'], Manzano</strong>: The 6-foot-6, 280 pound Casalino is definitely one of the tallest offensive linemen in the state. His great size and strength makes him very difficult to beat in a 1-on-1 battle. Swallows up smaller defenders. He'll play left tackle in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1752446' first='Warren' last='Cooper'], Bernalillo</strong>: The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Cooper could be one of the most underrated offensive linemen in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Multiple D2 schools have expressed interest. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599532' first='Diego' last='Garcia'], Los Alamos</strong>: One of the top offensive linemen in northern New Mexico. The 6-foot-3, 270-pounder was a Class 5A First-Team All-State selection in 2024. The Hilltoppers O-Line could be dominant in 2025 with four starters returning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1790913' first='Aidan' last='Lopez'], Capital</strong>: The 6-foot-2, 275 pound Lopez started as a sophomore for the Jaguars last season and will be the anchor of the O-Line this season. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672532' first='Lorenzo' last='Mendietta'], Centennial</strong>: The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Mendietta has emerged as one of the top offensive linemen in southern New Mexico. Western New Mexico has offered. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1268759' first='Diego' last='Ortega'], Alamogordo</strong>: One of the larger and most coveted offensive linemen in the state with a 6-foot-4, 305 pound frame. Class 6A Second Team All-State selection in 2024. Moves well. New Mexico Highlands and Eastern New Mexico have offered. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137844' first='Ryan' last='Timberlake'], Texico</strong>: The Wolverines are a Class 2A school but they have an offensive line that could be the envy of some Class 5A and 6A schools. Timberlake is the leader. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672486' first='Jeremy' last='Vargas'], Carlsbad</strong>: Nicknamed ‘Cowboy' by Cavemen teammates, Vargas served notice the 2025 season could be special when he won the title convincingly in the 308-pound division at the state powerlifting championships in April. Incredibly strong. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599883' first='Lance' last='Volk'], Moriarty</strong>: Few offensive linemen in the state had a better summer than the 6-foot-1, 290-pound Volk. He improved his recruiting stock significantly with impressive showings at numerous camps. Moves very well. Culver-Stockton College in Missouri has offered, but it certainly won't be the his last. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2026 Manzano OL [player_tooltip player_id='1266485' first='Landon' last='Casalino'] runs well for a big guy. 6-foot-5, 297 pounds. He tells us he will play LT for the Monarchs. <a href="https://t.co/3pTukb3lxM">pic.twitter.com/3pTukb3lxM</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1931444169073168706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2026 Valencia OL [player_tooltip player_id='1266460' first='Diego' last='Baeza'] runs well for a big guy. Checks in at 6-foot-2, 303 pounds. OL District POY. <a href="https://t.co/jZQsjMUeUh">pic.twitter.com/jZQsjMUeUh</a></p>&mdash; Prep Redzone New Mexico (@PrepRedzoneNM) <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM/status/1931743864999555453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my Junior Season Highlights!<br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/Angrybirdfb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Angrybirdfb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_bhickman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_bhickman</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ash_dazzle?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ash_dazzle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/emflores413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emflores413</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKikel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKikel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachmccraw?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachmccraw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachStanchek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachStanchek</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DrudikJd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrudikJd</a> <br> <a href="https://t.co/gxR6bfebSX">https://t.co/gxR6bfebSX</a> <a href="https://t.co/g8hNNeyHC0">pic.twitter.com/g8hNNeyHC0</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1672532' first='Lorenzo' last='Mendietta'] (@ProtectorZo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProtectorZo/status/1893340232398885004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my Junior year highlights <br>Alamogordo high school<br>Offensive tackle <br>HT:6'4 <br>WT:300 <br>2nd team all district <br>2nd team all state<a href="https://t.co/pBpFpp9Ez3">https://t.co/pBpFpp9Ez3</a><a href="https://twitter.com/AlamoFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlamoFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDrefs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDrefs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1268759' first='Diego' last='Ortega'] (@DiegoOrtega7726) <a href="https://twitter.com/DiegoOrtega7726/status/1877044850274566427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The face you make when you finish two-a-days your senior year. Glad it's done but also sad it's done. <a href="https://t.co/G57xhsvhWd">pic.twitter.com/G57xhsvhWd</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1599883' first='Lance' last='Volk'] (@LanceVolk_65) <a href="https://twitter.com/LanceVolk_65/status/1954016308431138887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->