New Mexico Showed Out in Grants: First-Team All-Showcase

<p>Showcases strip everything down — no Friday night lights, no scheme to hide behind, just reps and results. These are my personal First‑Team All‑Showcase selections, the guys who kept popping no matter what drill they were in or who lined up across from them. This isn't about stats, rankings, or who looks best getting off the bus — it's about players who competed, stacked reps, and made you keep writing their name down. When it was time to go, these guys went.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Offense</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">QB:</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1594010' first='Jahleel' last='Lewis'] popped the second he stepped onto the field, and not just because he's built more like a linebacker than the typical camp quarterback. He's the kind of athlete you can't accidentally ignore when groups are splitting up, and what I liked most was how steady he stayed all day — calm, focused, and never rushing the moment, even when the reps got competitive. Mechanically, his upper half was a big separator: the hips stay tied to the shoulders, the shoulders stay clean through the throw, and the arm motion is smooth and repeatable, so the ball comes out with real consistency. Between the athleticism, the poise, and the way his mechanics held together across the day, it was easy to understand why he walked out of there as the offensive MVP.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">WR</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1686972' first='Chris' last='Lopez'] didn't just run fast — he ran fast with purpose, and that's what separated him. Yes, he posted the fastest 40 at the showcase, but the more telling stuff showed up when you watched the change-of-direction work: tight footwork in the L-drill, sharp cuts without wasted steps, and the kind of suddenness that makes defensive backs open their hips early because they don't want to get beat over the top. Then you see it carry over into routes, where he's not just sprinting in a straight line — he's getting in and out of breaks with real urgency and creating space. The hands were solid, too, but the calling card today was the combination of speed and route running that actually translates when it's time to compete.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">RB</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1629861' first='Vaughn' last='Saunders'] earned this spot in a crowded running back group, and he really separated himself once the day shifted into the skeleton portion and it became more about complete skill sets than just looking good in isolated drills. He showed he's more than serviceable as an extra receiver — clean enough working into space, confident catching it, and comfortable turning upfield without needing everything to be perfect. His frame is a little longer than what you usually see at running back, but that can be a real advantage if it's used right, because it adds versatility: a bigger catch radius out of the backfield, more ways to be featured, and more matchup answers when teams try to get cute with who they put on him. A lot of backs had nice moments, but Saunders stacked reps and looked like the most consistently useful weapon in the group.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">OL</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1751732' first='Cristian' last='Medrano'] looked like a problem from the jump — a straight-up house of a human — and then he backed it up with the kind of testing number that makes everybody look around in awe. A 5.68 in the 40 at 340 pounds is ridiculous, and the best part is you could actually see that quickness show up where it matters: his feet were active, controlled, and fast enough to stay square against quicker opponents in drills. He played with that blend of quick feet and heavy hands, looked dominant in the reps, and walked out of there looking like the most physically imposing lineman at the event.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defense</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">DL</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'] brought the full package today: production, effort, and the kind of attitude that raises the level of the group around him. He's built more like a linebacker than a classic interior defensive lineman, but don't let the frame fool you — he plays with real power, and it starts with a strong base that lets him generate force without needing a big runway. What makes him tough is that he can win with that strength, but he can also weaponize being lean and fast: he's quick off the snap, he closes ground in a hurry, and he doesn't waste movement getting to where he's trying to go. The motor never dipped, and his reps consistently looked like a player who understands how to use his body. Just a really complete showing from an all-around defender.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">LB</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1155132' first='Aiden' last='Maldonado'] stood out in a linebacker group that had real competition, and the reason is he checks boxes that matter in today's game. He's got the size and length you want, but it's the movement skills that make the length stand out more — he's fast enough to do more than just survive in coverage, and he doesn't look uncomfortable when he has to run and match. Then against the run, those long arms showed up in the exact way you want: getting off blocks quicker so he can actually finish the play. It's a modern linebacker profile — range, coverage ability, and the tools to deal with traffic — and he put it on display all day.</p>    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">DB</h3>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1137878' first='Cardenio' last='Chavez'] picked a great day to have a great day. He ended up getting a scholarship offer — <em>on the spot</em> — from Arizona Christian University's Coach Justin. He competed like every rep mattered, which isn't always easy in a showcase setting where guys can quickly start to lose discipline. He showed legit closing speed, attacked the hands at the catch point instead of waiting for the ball to arrive, and stayed physical enough to win even when he was giving up size. He did get a little handsy at times — welcome to being a defensive back — but it never felt like panic, more like a competitor making sure the receiver doesn't get a free release or an easy finish. Everything about his day screamed toughness, urgency, and confidence, and that's how you earn an offer in real time.</p>

Showcases strip everything down — no Friday night lights, no scheme to hide behind, just reps and results. These are my personal First‑Team All‑Showcase selections, the guys who kept popping no matter what drill they were in or who lined up across from them. This isn't about stats, rankings, or who looks best getting off the bus — it's about players who competed, stacked reps, and made you keep writing their name down. When it was time to go, these guys went.