NMHU Junior Day: Who Was There, Who Was Offered?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of months after signing more than a dozen in-state prospects top letters of intent, New Mexico Highlands held their annual spring game and Junior Day this past weekend in Las Vegas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Numerous prospects made the trip to the northern New Mexico mountains to enjoy the festivities, tour the campus and talk with the Cowboys coaches about the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some left with an offer. Here are the NM prospects who were offered by NMHU on Saturday:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604943' first='Ruiz' last='Laborin'], Centennial</strong>: One of the top quarterbacks in southern New Mexico. Going into his second year as the Hawks' starter. Great size with a rocket arm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1248719' first='Chase' last='Nelson'], St. Pius X</strong>: Has been starting on the offensive and defensive lines for the Sartans since he was a freshman. His experience will pay dividends at the next level. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1629861' first='Vaughn' last='Saunders'], La Cueva</strong>: Big, powerful running back for the Bears. Has 1,000-yard potential. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1802360' first='Aaron' last='Torres'], Fort Sumner/House</strong>: It's very difficult for players in the 8-man and 6-man classifications to get offers, but Torres broke through. Helped lead Fort Sumner/House to the Class 1A state title in basketball. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are more players we know that attended NMHU's Junior Day:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2153523' first='Ifeoluwa' last='Samuel Abiodun'], La Cueva</strong>: Physically dominant defensive tackle for the Bears. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155082' first='Raul' last='Lopez'], Chaparral</strong>: One of the top running backs in southern New Mexico. Helped spark Chaparral's football revival.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155132' first='Aiden' last='Maldonado'], Sandia</strong>: One of the top linebackers in the Albuquerque Metro region. Good speed and size. Multiple D2 schools have expressed interest, including NMHU and Colorado School of Mines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606138' first='Amryn' last='Wheeler'], Hobbs</strong>: Talented DE for the Eagles. Great size at 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. Extremely active and skilled at penetrating opposing backfields. Had 28 QB hurries and 4 forced fumbles. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a great junior day I am blessed to say I have received my first offer from NMHU, all glory to god✝️. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTaufaasau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTaufaasau</a> for this amazing opportunity.<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/thecoachflakes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thecoachflakes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CouchPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CouchPSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/J265u5MfWq">pic.twitter.com/J265u5MfWq</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1248719' first='Chase' last='Nelson'] (@ChaseNelson58) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseNelson58/status/2046013809345896537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a Great time at Jr Day, and a great conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> I am blessed to receive an offer to play for <a href="https://twitter.com/NMHUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMHUFootball</a> ! All Glory to God in the Highest, I couldn't get here without him🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTaufaasau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTaufaasau</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/thatchercoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thatchercoach</a> <a href="https://t.co/7tqre36IPq">pic.twitter.com/7tqre36IPq</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1802360' first='Aaron' last='Torres'] (@Torres52Aaron) <a href="https://twitter.com/Torres52Aaron/status/2045973728107094345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">After a great junior day at <a href="https://twitter.com/MNHUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MNHUFootball</a> i am blessed to have received my first offer thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CouchPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CouchPSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LaCuevaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaCuevaFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/dqqhv2au5V">pic.twitter.com/dqqhv2au5V</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1629861' first='Vaughn' last='Saunders'] (@VaughnSaunders7) <a href="https://twitter.com/VaughnSaunders7/status/2045956129369600062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you coach <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTaufaasau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTaufaasau</a> for a great junior day <a href="https://t.co/6sCffcjlb7">pic.twitter.com/6sCffcjlb7</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1606138' first='Amryn' last='Wheeler'] (@AmrynW1532) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmrynW1532/status/2045657878879768810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank You, <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://twitter.com/NMHUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMHUFootball</a> and the rest of the entire Cowboys coaching staff and players for showing great hospitality on my Junior Day visit. New Mexico Highlands is an incredible place and their vision for the program is amazing. <a href="https://t.co/z6RTsj0EQn">pic.twitter.com/z6RTsj0EQn</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155082' first='Raul' last='Lopez'] (@ayeeeraul) <a href="https://twitter.com/ayeeeraul/status/2045682771859771497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/NMHUFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMHUFootball</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTaufaasau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTaufaasau</a> for this outstanding experience and opportunity to come check out this amazing program. I would be truly blessed to be able to be apart of this program and everything that comes with it!Thank you! <a href="https://twitter.com/coachchilly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachchilly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachTwelveGage?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachTwelveGage</a> <a href="https://t.co/9X1SZBCK1m">pic.twitter.com/9X1SZBCK1m</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155132' first='Aiden' last='Maldonado'] (@Aidenmaldonado_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Aidenmaldonado_/status/2045633386178601021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->