2026 Team Preview: Eldorado Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like many Albuquerque-area high school football programs, the nationwide pandemic of 2020-21 had a significant negative impact on the Eldorado football program. Numbers decreased noticeably. But the Eagles are bouncing back. Afte two consecutive non-playoff seasons in 2022 and 2023, the Eagles earned a spot in the 6A playoffs the past two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now they enter the 2026 campaign with cautious optimism. Numbers are up (95 players in the current football class). Just as important, the talent is better as well. The Eagles will have some of the top offensive skill players in the Albuquerque Metro Region, a coveted offensive line prospect and an improving defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We've had a good spring,” long-time Eldorado head coach Charlie Dotson told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “Our numbers have been going up since Covid. We have about 48 freshmen in the program. Football is a numbers game. The programs with the most kids tend to win. You have to have the numbers. You can hold kids to higher standards when you have a lot of players.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest challenges Eldorado faces in 2026 is handling their new district (6A-2). Like Volcano Vista, the Eagles are grouped with the southern-based Class 6A schools. As a result, the Eagles have three long bus trips this fall, two to Las Cruces. Moreover, six of the eight teams in District 6A-2 made the playoffs in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're going to have to elevate ourselves in this new district,” Dotson said. “And our non-district games are tough, too. We don't have any weeks to breath. Travel is part of the puzzle we have to master. And we're playing a bunch of new teams and new schemes.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado will have a new starting quarterback in 2026 following the graduation of last season's signal caller. The new QB is 6-foot-2 rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2178505' first='Landon' last='Smith']</strong>. He was the Eagles' JV QB in 2025 and now takes the varsity reins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're excited about Landon,” Dotson said. “He has a good arm. He's young, but he's just inexperienced. He's very smart. He has a live arm. But we think he'll be able to pull it and run too. He's multi-faceted. Time will tell how much we run him. Obviously, we want to keep him healthy. We're excited about his future. He'll keep getting stronger every year.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six-foot-2 rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613357' first='Stellar' last='Kendrick']</strong> will likely be the backup QB, but his primary position is tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith will be helped by having two elite offensive skill position players at his side. Rising junior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613434' first='Nolan' last='Romero-Williams']</strong> was a 1,000-yard rusher in 2025 with eight TD and four 100+ yard rushing games. Smith's No. 1 passing target will be the dynamic speedster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead']</strong>, who fought off double and triple teams all season long to finish with 67 receptions for 866 yards and 9 TD. Morehead is also a dynamic kick returner - when teams dare to kick the ball to him. Romero-Williams and Morehead are two of six returning starters for the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's second leading rusher, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605043' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana']</strong>, is moving to inside linebacker. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2191968' first='Daijon' last='Jackson']</strong>, who played mainly JV in 2025, will battle for the No. 2 RB job along with rising sophomore <strong>Lamont Allison</strong>. At receiver, Kendrick will be a target as well as 6-foot-3 rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2079719' first='Brodie' last='Cochran']</strong>, rising junior transfer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2078851' first='Amari' last='Clark']</strong> and rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680003' first='Colby' last='Bateson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I feel pretty good about our wide receiver corps coming back,” Dotson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive line will be led by FBS prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1406446' first='Isaic' last='Alderman']</strong>, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound rising senior offensive tackle with excellent strength and mobility . The University of Akron, a member of the Mid-American Conference, extended an offer to Alderman on Thursday. He has been a starter on the Eagles' offensive line since he was a freshmen. He has dropped about 20 pounds during the off-season, making him quicker and more mobile. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The center will be rising junior <strong>Max Wisemen</strong>, who is also Eldorado's long snapper. The other three positions (one OT, both guards) along the offensive front are up for grabs. Six-foot-1, 275-pound rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2057110' first='Josiah' last='Fayne']</strong> is expected to compete for one of those jobs. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're going to have some athletes, but our big thing is being able to protect the quarterback and move the ball,” Dotson said. “Finding guys for those three spots on the offensive line and getting them up to speed is going to be one of our biggest challenges.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='2178505' first='Landon' last='Smith'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1613434' first='Nolan' last='Romero-Williams'] (RB)&lt; [player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1406446' first='Isaic' last='Alderman'] (OL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado returns five of its top eight tacklers from last season. The leader is linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1613441' first='Matthew' last='Rodriguez']</strong>, who had a team-high 100 tackles in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive line features a pair of promising defensive ends in rising junior <strong>Dillon Rodgers</strong> and rising sophomore <strong>Max Madrid</strong> (34 tackles and 5.0 TFL as a freshman in 2025). The interior of the D-Line is a question mark die to a lack of experience. Both defensive tackles graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rodriguez will team with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605043' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana']</strong> (see above) at inside LB. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2109774' first='Cannon' last='Rainville']</strong> returns at outside LB after making 60 tackles, 10.0 TFL and 13 QB hurries as a sophomore in 2025. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The secondary returns rising seniors <strong>Stephen George</strong> (CB) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104477' first='Evan' last='Gurule']</strong> (safety), last season's second-leading tackler for the Eagles with 87. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2078851' first='Amari' last='Clark']</strong> will likely fill one of the safety or cornerback spots. The fourth DB spot is wide open. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1613441' first='Matthew' last='Rodriguez'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1605043' first='Isaiah' last='Quintana'] (LB), Max Madrid (DE), [player_tooltip player_id='2109774' first='Cannon' last='Rainville'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='2104477' first='Evan' last='Gurule'] (DB). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 ELDORADO SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 21 at La Cueva</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 28 ALBUQUERQUE HIGH (Homecoming)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 4 SANDIA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 12 at Organ Mountain (Sat., 1 p.m.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 18 HOBBS*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aug. 24 at Las Cruces (Thur.)*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 2 Bye</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 9 CARLSBAD*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 16 at Clovis*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 23 CENTENNIAL*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oct. 30 at Volcano Vista*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>* District 6A-2 Game &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All kickoffs at 7 p.m. unless indicated otherwise</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Outs, Slants and Digs. Putting in work on short routes. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/movingthesticks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#movingthesticks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/VK6ah6usjA">pic.twitter.com/VK6ah6usjA</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2178505' first='Landon' last='Smith'] (@Landon_Smith33) <a href="https://twitter.com/Landon_Smith33/status/2054939140613919051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Co of 2028<br>Sophomore season<br>Rb<br>1,006 rushing yards<br>111 receiving yards<br>12 tds<br>11 games played<a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CouchPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CouchPSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/oHaeWQUiXv">https://t.co/oHaeWQUiXv</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1613434' first='Nolan' last='Romero-Williams'] (@RomeroWNolan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RomeroWNolan/status/2026139064538472617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2025 junior year varsity highlights<br>(Hudl link above)<br>1st team all state returner<br>2nd team all state reciever <br>(866 receiving yards, 67 rec, 9td)<br>(324 rushing yards 4 tds)<br>5'7-150 4.42<br>Slot/wr/returner <a href="https://t.co/70njtNtI4v">pic.twitter.com/70njtNtI4v</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155116' first='Jahari' last='Morehead'] (@JahariM2) <a href="https://twitter.com/JahariM2/status/2042305844835184883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/E7qdzDG6yp">https://t.co/E7qdzDG6yp</a><br>6'5 270lbs OT class of 2027. 3.9 weighted gpa. I have started varsity since my freshman year and played varsity as an 8th grader. Squat:525 Deadlift:505 Bench:305. <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_CBooth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_CBooth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNMLoboFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNMLoboFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NAU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NAU_Football</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coachrhud?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coachrhud</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Eck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Eck</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachGRiley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachGRiley</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/joemclain13?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joemclain13</a> <a href="https://t.co/I1ibKLSnhr">pic.twitter.com/I1ibKLSnhr</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1406446' first='Isaic' last='Alderman'] (@babyalderman_) <a href="https://twitter.com/babyalderman_/status/2041906693873827948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wind was ripping tonight but still needed to get in some work! <a href="https://twitter.com/SpecialTeamsU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpecialTeamsU</a> <a href="https://t.co/SwSw3qplQJ">pic.twitter.com/SwSw3qplQJ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1684500' first='Max' last='Wiseman'] (@MaxWiseman2028) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxWiseman2028/status/2053673824030507296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->