From Shadow to Light: Top Underrated Defensive Backs for 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We conclude our ‘Underrated Series' with a look at some of the defensive backs flying under the radar heading into the 2025 season:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605059' first='Bryson' last='Bloom'], Alamogordo</strong>: Just a sophomore, Bloom has the potential to develop into one of the top DBs in the state over the next couple of seasons. Team-leading 70 tackles with 4.0 TFL in 2024. Runs 40 in 4.52 seconds. He's camping at the US Army National Combine Series in Phoenix at the end of this month. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672553' first='Orlando' last='Cascante'], Eldorado</strong>: Tied for third most tackles on Eldorado with 80, adding 3.0 TFL and 5 PD in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137878' first='Cardenio' last='Chavez'], Grants</strong>: Chavez blossomed into a top-notch defender in 2024 as he made 77 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 3 INT and 8 passes defended for the improving Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594128' first='Isaac' last='Gomez'], Las Cruces</strong>: Gomez had an outstanding junior season for the Bulldawgs, finishing with 46 tackles and an eye-opening 6 INT, second most among all juniors in the state. Ball hawk.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606054' first='Alejandro' last='Guerra'], Organ Mountain</strong>: Guerra helped spark Organ Mountain's revival in 2024 with 78 tackles and 3 INT. The Knights have some of the top young players in Las Cruces. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johannes Hernandez, Cleveland</strong>: Hernandez was overshadowed by several seniors in the Storm secondary in 2024 but he impressed with 23 tackles and 2 INT, a nice start to his varsity career for Cleveland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155336' first='Kade' last='Lockner'], Tularosa</strong>: Made 44 tackles and 2 INT for the Wildcats as a sophomore in 2024. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266497' first='Tootie' last='McNeil'], Artesia</strong>: Good size at 6-foot-2. Solid junior campaign in 2024 with 44 tackles and 3 INT. He'll be a leader in the Artesia secondary in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599971' first='Kenneth' last='Saiz'], Bernalillo</strong>: Major contributor to Bernalillo's ‘Goon Squad' defense in 2024 with 29 tackles and 4 INT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1137890' first='Benjamin' last='Vidales'], Miyamura</strong>: Led the Miyamura defense with 96 tackles in 2024. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sophomore season highlights!<br><br>10 Games played <br><br>70 tackles/55 solo tackles/2 forced fumbles/ 2 PBU<br><br>19 rushes/193 yards /2 TD<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachCiscoAHS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachCiscoAHS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/_BrettyB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_BrettyB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/D7JsFFDoEk">https://t.co/D7JsFFDoEk</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1605059' first='Bryson' last='Bloom'] (@BrysonBloom) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrysonBloom/status/1852910870743179310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->