City Rankings: Top 5 Albuquerque Breakout QBs in 2021
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As the calendar prepares to flip to March, there is still plenty of uncertainty concerning whether Albuquerque’s public high schools will be able to play football this spring. If they don’t, fans will miss out on seeing one of the…
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Continue ReadingAs the calendar prepares to flip to March, there is still plenty of uncertainty concerning whether Albuquerque’s public high schools will be able to play football this spring.
If they don’t, fans will miss out on seeing one of the best young quarterback crops in years. Some, such as Cibola’s Aden Chavez, have already garnered attention with their performances as freshmen in 2019 and at camps and showcases last summer and fall.
In our view, one rising senior quarterback will have the coach and the passing-oriented system that squarely fits his skill set perfectly: West Mesa quarterback Daniel Ayala Daniel Ayala 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB West Mesa | 2022 State NM . That’s why he’s our pick to click this coming Fall and put up monster numbers.
Don’t know much about Ayala? You will. He was overshadowed in 2019 by the Eastern New Mexico-bound running back tandem of Ja’Calvin Newsom and Joseph Thompson and, unfortunately, by West Mesa’s 1-9 record.
However, West Mesa head coach Anthony Ansotigue plans to build West Mesa’s offense around Ayala in 2021.
“We’re going to be throwing the ball a lot more this coming season and try to take advantage of Daniel’s skill set,” Ansotigue told Prep Redzone New Mexico recently. “He’s a big kid and very strong. He’s a football gym rat. I’m excited for him to get out there and for people to watch him.
“It was evident from the get go that he has the intangibles. His skill set on the field is great, but he does all the extra stuff too. We don’t have to tell him to watch film or study or do things on his own or get other people to do it. He just does it. He lives and breathes it.”
Here are four more quarterbacks in the Albuquerque Metro Area we believe will have breakout seasons int he fall:
Aiden Armenta, La Cueva: Armenta was going to compete for the Bears’ starting QB with senior Ryan Cook Ryan Cook 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB La Cueva | 2021 State NM in the spring. Starting in the fall, the job belongs to Armenta, who as a 2023 prospect still has two seasons left to direct the Bears’ offense. He was sensational at the QBUniverse camp in Phoenix in January, earning accolades as one of the top performers there. Pencil the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Armenta in as La Cueva’s starting QB for 2021 and 2022.
AJ Rivera, Albuquerque Academy: Another 2023 prospect, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Rivers made a splash in his Class 4A debut in 2019, throwing for 1,476 yards and 12 touchdowns. Rivera is just one of several young promising players for Albuquerque Academy. Watch out for the Chargers in the spring (AA is a private school, so they’re playing football along with St. Pius X and Hope Christian) and the fall.
Elias Franco, Eldorado: When Nick Petty Nick Petty 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB Eldorado | 2021 State NM was able to play just four games in 2019, Franco helped fill the void at quarterback. He threw for 824 yards and seven touchdowns, both team highs, as a sophomore. He also carried the ball 43 times. His dual threat skills should be on full display in the fall for the Eagles.
Gabriel Torres, Valley: The Vikings were winless in 2019, but Torres showed flashes of the quarterback we should see on a more consistent basis this fall. He threw for 194 yards and 1 TD as a sophomore.
https://twitter.com/danielayala444/status/1348459195385802753
https://twitter.com/CoachBranTheMan/status/1364763769193123844
50 yards from the knees. @QBHitList pic.twitter.com/fxFaG0nUgW
— Aidan Armenta (@AidanArmenta) January 18, 2021
Blessed to finish the weekend strong, being named one of the Top 2 QBs overall along with a day 1 & 2 Top Performer. Thanks to @QBUniverseCamp and staff!@QBHitList @247Sports @QBIQsystem @qbtrainer14 @PhillipsQBA @AirAttackSD @RowleyQBs @ChrisHixsonQB @LilThurm @CoachKeith11 pic.twitter.com/o7x0JRMwM1
— Aidan Armenta (@AidanArmenta) January 4, 2021