2026 Team Preview: Albuquerque Bulldogs

OVERVIEW   Prior to last season, Albuquerque High was cautiously optimistic they could snap a 30-plus year playoff drought. The Bulldogs were involved in the race for most of the season before back-to-back losses to Sandia and La Cueva in late October – together with an earlier loss to Santa Fe - doomed their hopes.   As a result, the No. 1 goal for the Bulldogs entering the 2026 campaign is the same as a year ago: earn a long coveted playoff berth. In order to accomplish that laudable goal, Albuquerque High must maneuver through a schedule gauntlet that includes games against new district rivals La Cueva, Cleveland and Rio Rancho. In fact, the Bulldogs make consecutive trips to the City of Vision in the second half of October.   “Absolutely, one of our team goals for this season is to break the streak and get into the playoffs,” Albuquerque High head coach Desmond Anaya told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “It's a key motivating factor for us this year. We want to be that team to break the streak and achieve a milestone for the program. To do that, we have to work hard, work smart and never give up. We're going to be a bit younger than what we have been the last couple of years.”         One positive development for the Bulldogs: Anaya, who is going into his third season as head coach, will have 10 assistant coaches in 2026, allowing every position unit to have its own coach.               OFFENSE   Rising junior transfer Adam Aguirre has the inside track to claim the starting quarterback job. Aguirre played for the Bulldogs JV team in 2025 and is varsity eligible in the fall.   “Adam throws a very good ball and has good mechanics,” Anaya said. “What we're working on with him is recognizing defenses and decision-making. We want him to take what is given him within the scheme and not hold onto the football for too long. Those are the big teaching point s for him as we move into the summer.”   The backup QB will likely be rising senior Julian Madera, who could play multiple positions on both sides of the ball, including running back and safety. The Bulldogs must replace one of the top running backs in the Albuquerque Metro Region from last season. He was one of 24 seniors on the 2025 roster. This year, that number will be cut in half.   Madera and rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2108944' first='Liam' last='Smartt-Saunders'] are two of the top candidates to handle the ball carrying responsibilities in a run-heavy offense. The Bulldogs ran the ball about 73 percent of the time in 2025, and could adopt a by-committee approach to 2026. Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1613618' first='Juan' last='Carlos Landeros'] is another possibility to get opportunities run the football.   Rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1684448' first='Brayden' last='Velarde'] is expected to start at ‘X' receiver. Smartt-Saunders and Landeros will also be key targets when the Bulldogs do throw the football. Rising junior Giovanni Rivera will fill the H-Back/Tight End role and he'll catch some passes as well. Behind him is rising senior Orion Gonzales. Rising junior Ray Allen Rackley, a basketball standout, could contribute after a spring/summer of hoops. He could enjoy an expanded role in the Bulldogs offense after a promising sophomore season.   The Albuquerque High offensive line will be led by 260-pound next level prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1685105' first='Julius' last='Lueras']. He'll likely play center, but could see action at guard as well. Western New Mexico has expressed interest. He'll be joined on the O-Line by rising seniors David Iguado and Gabriel Morales, giving the Bulldogs plenty of experience in the trenches. Jeremiah Sanchez would make it four seniors if he wins the right guard job.   Key Players: Adam Aguirre (QB), Julian Madera (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='2108944' first='Liam' last='Smartt-Saunders'] (WR/RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1685105' first='Julius' last='Lueras'] (OL).       DEFENSE   Six-foot-3 rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2104709' first='Nijion' last='Bokor'] emerged last season as one of the most promising defensive end prospects in the Albuquerque Metro Region, and he's attracting plenty of recruiting interest. New Mexico State, Western New Mexico and NMMI have all expressed interest. Amazingly, Bokor has been playing football for just two years, so he's still raw. But he looks the part and has a wingspan of close to seven feet.   “It's starting to pay off for Nijion,” Anaya said. “He has great work ethic. He lives in the weight room. He also runs track and does power lifting. When we do drills, he definitely looks the part.”   The nose tackle in the Bulldogs' 3-4 alignment  will be rising senior Daniel Borjas. Six-foot-2, 225-pound rising junior Karrar Altameemi is expected to claim the DE job opposite Bokor. All in all, the Bulldogs' D-Line could be very good. Altameeni will also play fullback in certain offensive packages.   The four-man linebacker corps will include rising senior OLB Alexi Quintana, rising senior ILB Miguel Gonzalez, rising junior ILB Joshua Campbell and promising rising sophomore OLB Sagan Amburgey, who is blessed with good size, nice speed and elite athleticism. He has a high ceiling.   In the secondary, the aforementioned Julian Madera will be the strong safety with Ray Allen Rackley as the free safety. The cornerbacks will be new.  [player_tooltip player_id='1684448' first='Brayden' last='Velarde'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1613618' first='Juan' last='Carlos Landeros'] are two expected to play prominent roles at CB. The up-and-comer is rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2111655' first='Jayvion' last='Brown'].                 Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2104709' first='Nijion' last='Bokor'] (DL), Daniel Borjas (DL), Alexi Quintana (LB).      2026 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH SCHEDULE   Aug. 21 VALLEY   Aug. 28 at Eldorado   Sept. 4 CIBOLA   Sept. 10 at Sandia (Thur.)*   Sept. 18 Bye   Sept. 25 LA CUEVA*   Oct. 2 at Farmington*   Oct. 9 ATRISCO HERITAGE*   Oct. 16 at Rio Rancho*   Oct. 24 at Cleveland*   Oct. 30 WEST MESA*   * District 6A-1 Game     All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">6'2|6.7 wingspan |Albuquerque highschool|class of 2027| Dend|3.1 GPA| email- nijionjohnson72@gmail.com hudl:<a href="https://t.co/v87fUUsRXT">https://t.co/v87fUUsRXT</a><a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDezAnaya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDezAnaya</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='2104709' first='Nijion' last='Bokor'] ⭐ (@x_bokor) <a href="https://twitter.com/x_bokor/status/2000978366371922236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote>   <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">[player_tooltip player_id='1685105' first='Julius' last='Lueras'] Junior Szn highlight's 2025 #62 39 knockdowns most in the state All district Honorable Mention Center<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDezAnaya?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDezAnaya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BulldogCityFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BulldogCityFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/VEOdg4MfA4">pic.twitter.com/VEOdg4MfA4</a>— [player_tooltip player_id='1685105' first='Julius' last='Lueras'] (@Julius_6221) <a href="https://twitter.com/Julius_6221/status/2020563701573538209?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2026</a></blockquote>

OVERVIEW