Under the Radar: 11 NM Heisman Award Contenders You Need To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The major contenders for the 2025 New Mexico Heisman Award are mostly well known players such as Cleveland QB [player_tooltip player_id='851873' first='Jordan' last='Kekoa Hatch'], Las Cruces RB [player_tooltip player_id='1137388' first='Daniel' last='Amaro'] and Eunice QB [player_tooltip player_id='854273' first='Elijah' last='Melancon']. Here are 11 contenders flying under the radar:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1369761' first='William' last='Braun'], Albuquerque Academy (QB)</strong>: Braun is a major reason Albuquerque Academy is challenging for the District 4A-2 title. The Chargers have won two games in a row over St. Pius X and Manzano. Braun is the state's fourth leading passer with 1,669 yards and 22 TD. Only one other QB has passed for more TDs than Braun.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137066' first='Robert' last='Castaneda'], Carlsbad (WR)</strong>: Third in the state in receiving yards with 765 on 40 receptions. Castaneda is a major reason Carlsbad is challenging for the District 6A-3 crown with a 3-1 mark, just one-half game behind leader Las Cruces.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manual Chavarria, Bloomfield (QB)</strong>: Who is the state's leading passer going into Week 9? The guy they call Peanut. Chavarria has thrown for 1,851 yards and 28 TD in seven games. His TD Pass-to-INT ratio of 28-to-3 is beyond impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='854299' first='David' last='Chavez'], Santa Rosa (RB/LB)</strong>: Is Chavez the top two-way player in the state? Perhaps. His production is impressive: Chavez has rushed for 716 yards and 10 touchdowns on 99 carries (7.2 yards per carry) on offense, while defensively he ranks 2^nd in the state with 99 tackles, an average of 14.1 per game, with 8.0 TFL and 2 INT. The guy is all over the field. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613755' first='Cross' last='Figg'], Texico (QB)</strong>: Few players have meant more to their team that Figg, who has already posted impressive numbers. As the Wolverines' QB, he has rushed for 1,039 yards and 8 TD while throwing for 676 yards and 10 TD. Should join the prestigious 1,000-1,000 club by the end of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'], Los Alamos (RB)</strong>: Six ball carriers have already amassed 1,000+ rushing yards this season. Nobody has more than Herrera, a physical runner who leads the state with 1,418 rushing yards. Los Alamos (7-0) is unbeaten and the favorite to win District 4A-1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Belen High <br>274 Rushing Yards 5 TDs<br>22 receiving Yds 296 total <br>7-0✅<a href="https://t.co/ptdP6FWGKX">https://t.co/ptdP6FWGKX</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'] (@JordanHerrera27) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanHerrera27/status/1974944318898253914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155082' first='Raul' last='Lopez'], Chaparral (RB)</strong>: Lopez has quietly put together a very productive season for the Lobos, who have a monster game at St. Pius X Saturday. Lopez had rushed for nearly 900 yards with five 100+ rushing yards game this season. He's a major reason Chaparral is 6-2 and eying the District 4A-2 title. Last Saturday he had 157 yards on just 9 carries against a very good Silver defense.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266408' first='Parker' last='Miller'], Rio Rancho (WR)</strong>: The speedy Miller is second in the state in receptions with 47. He's plenty fast, but as he demonstrated against Cibola recently, he's capable of making the difficult catch as well. Rio Rancho has upcoming games against Volcano Vista and Cleveland, so where they're seeded for the 6A playoffs remains a question mark. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jasper Nelson, Santa Fe (RB)</strong>: Nelson could be the ultimate ‘under the radar' player in New Mexico right now. Because Santa Fe has historically struggled in football, the Demons don't attract a lot of attention. Santa Fe is 4-3 and challenging for a 6A playoff spot. If they secure a postseason berth, Nelson would deserve a ton of credit. He is fifth in the state in rushing with 1,045 yards and 10 TD in 6 games.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605033' first='Dailen' last='Ramirez'], Centennial (RB)</strong>: Only a junior, Ramirez has erupted onto the scene this season with 1,151 rushing yards and 15 TD on 144 carries. He's making the most of his opportunities (20+ carries per game). His game-winning TD against Rio Rancho is one of the top Plays of the Year through 8 weeks. With upcoming games against Clovis and Organ Mountain, Centennial is positioned to make the Week 11 matchup vs. Las Cruces possibly for the district title.       </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137423' first='Jose' last='Tapia'], Highland (RB)</strong>: Has there been a better RB in the state over the past four weeks or so? Tapia has been lights out since rushing for 128 yards against Lo Alamos in Week 4. His recent surge includes an impressive 351 rushing yards against Valley on Sept. 26. While catching Los Alamos in the district standings appears remote since the Hilltoppers own the tiebreaker over the Hornets, Tapia has his team positioned to earn a decent seed and a first-round home playoff game in Class 5A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First 5 game highlights!<a href="https://t.co/6raNT6hAqZ">https://t.co/6raNT6hAqZ</a><br>1193 passing yards<br>13 passing touchdowns<br>Best yet to come... <a href="https://twitter.com/1209dlee?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1209dlee</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachGehres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachGehres</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachirishodea?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachirishodea</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mjgaynor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mjgaynor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeymarquardt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikeymarquardt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/grayson_kline?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@grayson_kline</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Joel_Lamb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Joel_Lamb</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Ryan_Kalukin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ryan_Kalukin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Aurich?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Aurich</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMikeWeick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachMikeWeick</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_jonke?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_jonke</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRenoYale?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRenoYale</a>…</p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1369761' first='William' last='Braun'] (@WillBraun_9) <a href="https://twitter.com/WillBraun_9/status/1972492674008764863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So thankful for my coaches and teammates <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/brotherhood?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#brotherhood</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/OnwardCavemen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OnwardCavemen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSanders88?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSanders88</a> <br>Extremely grateful <a href="https://t.co/k67vCrWDCn">pic.twitter.com/k67vCrWDCn</a></p>&mdash; robertcastaneda (@Castaneda11111) <a href="https://twitter.com/Castaneda11111/status/1975743380991725953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨🚨🚨Week 4 vs 6A Centennial Hawks- [player_tooltip player_id='1266408' first='Parker' last='Miller']🚨🚨🚨 <br>200 total yards and 2 TD's<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMXKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachMXKelly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDrayden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDrayden</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachoneal_osu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachoneal_osu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewMitch?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AndrewMitch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCarthel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCarthel</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Thamannjr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Thamannjr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachLikeMike?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachLikeMike</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dpearma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dpearma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_SmithUW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_SmithUW</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachReedLive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachReedLive</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bryanfilker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bryanfilker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/COACHSTACE_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@COACHSTACE_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WRHitList?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WRHitList</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kendalbriles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kendalbriles</a>… <a href="https://t.co/3bmKwoKDom">pic.twitter.com/3bmKwoKDom</a></p>&mdash; Arthur F Miller (@Arthur_F_Miller) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arthur_F_Miller/status/1967437866168148466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH THIS LAST SECOND WIN: Centennial running back [player_tooltip player_id='1605033' first='Dailen' last='Ramirez'] had three scores, including the game winner with eight seconds left as the Hawks beat the Rio Rancho Rams 42-39. Centennial is at Carlsbad this week. <a href="https://twitter.com/Cen10Hawks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Cen10Hawks</a> <a href="https://t.co/tLx2iemH3x">pic.twitter.com/tLx2iemH3x</a></p>&mdash; NMAA (@_NMAA) <a href="https://twitter.com/_NMAA/status/1966855624215654758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->