2027 Rankings Preview: Eight Quarterbacks You Need To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our updated 2027 rankings will be released next week. Here are 10 quarterbacks you need to know before the new rankings are revealed:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604925' first='Gonzalo' last='Cano'], Belen</strong>: Cano should skyrocket up the rankings after joining the prestigious 1,000-1,000 yard club in 2025. Cano threw for 1,242 yards, rushed for 1,383 yards and accounted for 31 TD for the Eagles, who reached the 5A quarterfinals. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1787301' first='Luke' last='Cieremans'], Los Lunas</strong>: The younger brother of former Los Lunas standout (and current New Mexico State Aggie) Paul Cieremans, Luke emerged this past season as a solid passing quarterback. He threw for over 1,400 yards and 16 TD while running for over 250 yards and 5 TD. Should move up significantly in the new rankings. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605989' first='Aden' last='Clah'], Navajo Prep</strong>: A promising newcomer to the QB rankings. Clah, virtually unknown outside of Farmington, was the No. 9 junior QB in passing yards in 2025. He threw for 1,518 yards and 16 TD to lead the Eagles to the 2A quarterfinals. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cayden Encinias, West Las Vegas</strong>: Encinias was ranked No. 273 in the last rankings released before the 2025 season started. It's virtually guaranteed he'll make a quantum leap up the rankings after he threw for over 1,100 yards and 5 TD while rushing for close to 450 yards and 8 TD. Emerging as one of the top signal callers in northern New Mexico. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155256' first='Nathan' last='Gonzales'], Robertson</strong>: Ranked No. 77 overall in the August rankings as an ATH, the 6-foot-5 Gonzales switched to QB this past season for the Cardinals and did remarkably well. He finished 8^th among all junior QBs by throwing for close to 1,600 yards and 13 TD and rushing for nearly 500 yards and 8 TD. Very mobile for a player of his size. Not surprising considering he's a very good basketball player as well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605057' first='Junior' last='Medrano'], Hobbs</strong>: All we knew coming into the 2025 season was Medrano was next in line to quarterback Hobbs. How did he do? He put up New Mexican Heisman caliber numbers by throwing for 1,811 yards and 22 TD while rushing for 1,475 yards and 16 TD. Accounted for 38 TD in leading Hobbs to its first semifinal playoff berth since the early 1980s. He &nbsp;announced his arrival on the scene with blaring trumpets. Definitely a top contender for the 2026 New Mexico Heisman award. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1183085' first='Monty' last='Melendez'], La Cueva</strong>: Few quarterbacks in the state entered the 2025 season with bigger shoes to fill than Melendez. After all, his immediate predecessor was Cameron Dyer (now at Arizona State) and before him, Aiden Armenta (now at Louisiana-Monroe). Both are now playing FBS football. Melendez lived up to the heavy expectations by passing for 2,425 yards and 20 TD in leading the Bears to the Class 6A semifinals. He'll move significantly up the rankings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marley Munoz, Carlsbad</strong>: Overshadowed by other Cavemen players going into his first season as Carlsbad's starting QB, Munoz proved to be a solid signal caller in 2025. He threw for over 1,500 yards and 14 while rushing for 868 yards. So, he fell just short of joining the 1,000-1,000 club. Don't be surprised if he does in 2026. He'll join the rankings in a very high position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Junior season ended with 1811 passing yards with 22 passing touchdowns and 1475 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns with 122.9 rushing yards per game first time in a semi finals game since 1981 <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/TARIKEMBRACK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TARIKEMBRACK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachmclaren3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachmclaren3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coach_kcurry?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coach_kcurry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/delanefitz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@delanefitz</a> <a href="https://t.co/BdHlPirN4f">https://t.co/BdHlPirN4f</a></p>&mdash; herarrdo medrano jr (@jrmedranohera) <a href="https://twitter.com/jrmedranohera/status/1999658486507143178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Year 3<br>2425 passing yards <br>20 passing tds<br>1 rushing td<br>District champs 🏆<br>Year 4 loading… <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LaCuevaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaCuevaFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ley7HCuYLi">pic.twitter.com/Ley7HCuYLi</a></p>&mdash; MontyMelendez (@MontyMelen) <a href="https://twitter.com/MontyMelen/status/1993414088899412028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->