City Series: Top Running Backs In Northern New Mexico for 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We continue with our popular City Series by telling you about the top running backs in Northern New Mexico for the 2026 season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'], Los Alamos</strong>: The state's top rusher in 2025 and the only running back to eclipse 2,000 yards. While not big, Herrera is a powerful RB with speed to beat defenders to the corner and the fearlessness to run between the tackles. Herrera led the Hilltoppers to a district title last season and the semifinals of the Class 5A playoffs. If Herrera surpasses 2,000 rushing yards again in 2026, he'll join a very small and exclusive group of running backs with TWO 2,000 yard rushing seasons on their prep resume.          </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2114563' first='Julian' last='Fernandez'], Grants</strong>: It's rare to see a freshman rush for more than 800 yards or have more than 100 carries in a single season, but that's what Fernandez did in 2025. He finished with a team-high 817 yards and 14 TD on 137 carries in 12 games. He also caught 13 passes for 242 yards and made 52 tackles with 4.0 TFL on defense. He never came off the field, impressive for a freshman. Certainly one of the top young two-way players in the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604784' first='Cael' last='Walton'], Raton</strong>: Obviously, Cael won't post the same numbers as older brother Cayden, a Raton legend who is currently the state's all-time leading rusher with close to 8,000 yards in his career (2018-22). But Cael is a very good RB in his own right. Last season he rushed for 1,791 yards and 15 TD to finish as the state's fifth-highest rusher. He's one of just five running backs who surpassed 1,700 rushing yards last season. The Walton Legacy lives on in Raton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1680194' first='Josh' last='Baker'], Capital</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1763645' first='Roman' last='Barrera'], St. Michael's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harlem Corley, Raton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1556720' first='Amasi' last='Griego'], Piedra Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jai Harvier, Santa Fe Indian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Truitt Lewis, Gallup</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1213336' first='Jaden' last='Leyba-Moya'], Pojoaque Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1606130' first='Francisco' last='Lopez'], Robertson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1248683' first='Lorenzo' last='Lucero'], Aztec</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talon Stowell, Farmington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1791434' first='AJ' last='Trujillo'], West Las Vegas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1715054' first='Cody' last='Trujillo'], Espanola Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1606093' first='Dallas' last='Wilson'], Navajo Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2025 Season Highlights <br>2,224 Rushing Yards #1 in NM<br>Top #100 Nationally <br>35 Total Touchdowns <a href="https://twitter.com/NMHUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMHUFootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTaufaasau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTaufaasau</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thatchercoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thatchercoach</a> <a href="https://t.co/lAgSMGLsJB">https://t.co/lAgSMGLsJB</a><a href="https://t.co/s31tECZ5S9">https://t.co/s31tECZ5S9</a> <a href="https://t.co/zDnBGj20i1">pic.twitter.com/zDnBGj20i1</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1604744' first='Jordan' last='Herrera'] (@JordanHerrera27) <a href="https://twitter.com/JordanHerrera27/status/2019468443842408623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/eoAeeRlDIx">https://t.co/eoAeeRlDIx</a><br>Checkout the freshman season highlight reel🏈🐾<br>Freshman season done ✅ <br>•RB |LB| ATH<br><br>• Offense<br>•Rushing yards- 817<br>•Receiving yards- 242<br>•Carries- 137<br>•Receptions- 13<br>•All purpose yards- 1059<br>•Fumble- 1<br>•Touchdowns- 14<br><br>•Defense<br>•Total…</p>&mdash; Julian (@JulianF1211) <a href="https://twitter.com/JulianF1211/status/2006265873875787825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->