Summer Scene: 2029 QB Returns To Artesia; New Ruidoso Coach

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kickoff to the 2026 New Mexico high school football season is less than four weeks away. Herre are some news and notes as we approach August:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BACK IN ARTESIA</strong>: A few months ago, highly regarded sophomore quarterback <strong>Chance Hocker</strong> and his family moved from Artesia to Nashville, TN. Hocker planned to attend Lipscomb Academy and play for former NFL QB Trent Dilfer. However, Hocker's father had to return to Artesia for business reasons and his family followed him back. As a result, Hocker has rejoined the Artesia football program and recently competed in the Orange-White game at the Bulldog Bowl.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I had a great experience with coach Dilfer at Lipscomb,” Hocker told Prep Redzone New Mexico. “I earned the starting spot before having to return, which was tough but my family is the most important thing. Coach (Jeremy) Maupin has been great with us coming back and super supportive to us.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hocker is rated by some national recruiting services as one of the top 2029 quarterbacks in the country. In nine games last season for Artesia's sub-varsity teams, Hocker threw for 2,300 yards, completed 73 percent of his passes and accounted for 39 TD (33 passing, 6 rushing).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Couple plays from the Orange - White game. Good job Dogs 🙌<a href="https://x.com/ArtesiaF32?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArtesiaF32</a> <a href="https://x.com/jeremy_maupin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jeremy_maupin</a> <a href="https://x.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://x.com/sixstarfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sixstarfootball</a> <a href="https://x.com/ONEWAYINC1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ONEWAYINC1</a> <a href="https://x.com/QBIQsystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QBIQsystem</a> <a href="https://x.com/QBUniverseQBU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QBUniverseQBU</a> <a href="https://x.com/QBUselect?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QBUselect</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://x.com/scout60735?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@scout60735</a> <a href="https://x.com/QBHitList?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@QBHitList</a> <a href="https://t.co/OzZgp5K88R">pic.twitter.com/OzZgp5K88R</a></p>&mdash; Chance Hocker (@chancehocker8) <a href="https://x.com/chancehocker8/status/2080684103041798394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NEW COACH IN RUIDOSO</strong>: When Ruidoso athletic director and head football coach Shane Eidson departed the Warriors, the school had a huge void to fill. Less than four seeks before the season begins, Ruidoso has hired former Clovis head coach and Eastern New Mexico assistant <strong>Andrew McCraw</strong> as the new AD/HFC.  He has been the head coach at three New Mexico high schools: Socorro (2016), Belen (2021) and Clovis (2022-23). He had three different stints as an assistant coach at ENMU, the last one as the Greyhounds offensive line coach in 2024-25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/DuGSQFqWJI">pic.twitter.com/DuGSQFqWJI</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1155308' first='Tayton' last='Coker'] | LB | Class of 2027 (@TaytonCoker) <a href="https://x.com/TaytonCoker/status/2081088786809974949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RECRUITING</strong>: Willamette University in Oregon has intensified its recruiting efforts in New Mexico. They've offered several 2027 prospects over the past several weeks. The most recent offer went to Sandia WR [player_tooltip player_id='1272752' first='J'ven' last='Smith'], who recently transferred to the Matadors from Atrisco Heritage. 2027 Sandia QB [player_tooltip player_id='1594010' first='Jahleel' last='Lewis'] was offered by Willamette on July 20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AGTG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTG</a> I&#039;m blessed to receive my first offer from <a href="https://x.com/WillametteFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WillametteFB</a> !! Thank you so much <a href="https://x.com/thomasordonez4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thomasordonez4</a> for the opportunity to play at the next level! <a href="https://x.com/tony_mccoy3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tony_mccoy3</a> <a href="https://x.com/BryantWill757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BryantWill757</a> <a href="https://x.com/CouchPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CouchPSports</a> <a href="https://t.co/IR1WBsehf8">pic.twitter.com/IR1WBsehf8</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1272752' first='J'ven' last='Smith'] C/O &#039;27 (@jvensmith09) <a href="https://x.com/jvensmith09/status/2081172742041375085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPEED KILLS</strong>: 2028 La Cueva WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1686972' first='Chris' last='Lopez']</strong> proved again he's one of the fastest players in the state when he hit 22.47 mph in summer testing. La Cueva always has a bunch of fast players and this season Lopez is the fastest. 2027 Bears DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2246168' first='Robbie' last='Abeyta']</strong>, who hold multiple offers, also surpassed 22 mph in testing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEW PR <br>30+10 yard fly in split 0.909<br>Fastest athlete in the La Cueva Football Program <a href="https://x.com/CarsonCallaway7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CarsonCallaway7</a> <a href="https://x.com/Coach_DCarr?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_DCarr</a> <a href="https://x.com/coltonedwardsFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coltonedwardsFB</a> <a href="https://x.com/CanaanYarro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CanaanYarro</a> <a href="https://x.com/CouchPSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CouchPSports</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://x.com/EthanBrenesFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EthanBrenesFB</a> <a href="https://x.com/coachfern5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachfern5</a> <a href="https://x.com/coachC_Cormier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachC_Cormier</a> <a href="https://x.com/LoboRecruiting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LoboRecruiting</a> <a href="https://t.co/TkOuGkHALo">pic.twitter.com/TkOuGkHALo</a></p>&mdash; Chris (@chrislopez1317) <a href="https://x.com/chrislopez1317/status/2080689269556081055?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->