City Series: Top 5 Linebackers in Albuquerque Metro Region
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We continue with our ‘City Series’ by taking a look at the Top 5 linebackers in the Albuquerque Metro Region (includes Rio Rancho, Los Lunas & Belen): Stratton Shufelt Stratton Shufelt 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Cleveland | 2024…
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Continue ReadingWe continue with our ‘City Series’ by taking a look at the Top 5 linebackers in the Albuquerque Metro Region (includes Rio Rancho, Los Lunas & Belen):
Stratton Shufelt Stratton Shufelt 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Cleveland | 2024 State NM , Cleveland: There’s zero dispute as to the top linebacker in Albuquerque Metro Region. Some folks (MaxPreps) have pegged Shufelt as the state’s #1 overall prospect even though he still has two more years of high school football ahead of him. Shufelt led the Storm with 56 tackles, 10 TFL, 8 sacks and 3 QB hurries. His list of offers includes New Mexico, New Mexico State, UTEP and UConn. Shufelt is listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with plenty of room for growth., He’s big, strong and fast. Right now, the only thing missing from his resume is a Power 5 offer. That should come in time.
Jahvon McChriston Jahvon McChriston 6'1" | 175 lbs | LB Bernalillo | 2023 State NM , Bernalillo: McChriston is one of the best all-around athletes in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Not only is he slated to start at QB for Bernalillo but outside linebacker as well. He had 37 tackles, 12 TFL (Note: 1/3 of his tackles produced lost yardage) and 8 sacks in 2021. He has length (6-1), speed and mobility. New Mexico Highlands has already offered while Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico have expressed interest.
Miguel Andrade Miguel Andrade 5'8" | 170 lbs | LB Los Lunas | 2023 State NM , Los Lunas: Andrade isn’t the biggest linebacker you’ll find, but he’s a tackling machine for the Tigers. Last season he amassed 102 tackles, 8.5 TFL and 1 INT. Strong, strong numbers. Yeah, Andrade has a nose for the football and just makes plays. Like everybody else on the Los Lunas roster, we’re intrigued to see how Andrade and the Tigers fare in Class 6A this season.
Alijah Gonzales Alijah Gonzales 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Volcano Vista: If Shufelt is clearly the top 2024 linebacker in Albuquerque, Gonzales isn’t far behind. He enjoyed a fantastic season as a sophomore in 2021 with 81 tackles, 13 TFL, 4 sacks and 5 passes defended. With Tyler Martinez Tyler Martinez 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM moving on to the next level, Gonzales should own the linebacker spot for the Hawks.
Peyton Harrison Peyton Harrison 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Cibola | 2023 State NM , Cibola: The biggest news out of Cibola this week was, of course, centered around QB Aden Chavez Aden Chavez 6'5" | 210 lbs | QB Cibola | 2023 State NM moving to Florida for his senior season with the hope of boosting his recruiting prospects. But the Cougars have plenty of talent, and Harrison is somebody the new staff will be counting on. Look for Harrison to double the number of tackles he had as a junior (28) in 2022.
HONORABLE MENTION: Shawn Armijo Shawn Armijo 5'11" | 160 lbs | LB Bernalillo | 2024 State NM (Bernalillo); Eloy Virgil Eloy Virgil 5'9" | 180 lbs | LB Bernalillo | 2023 State NM (Bernalillo); Nathan Wallin Nathan Wallin 5'10" | 185 lbs | LB Volcano Vista | 2023 State NM (Volcano Vista); Caden Lowry Caden Lowry 5'10" | 160 lbs | LB Cibola | 2023 State NM (Cibola); Isaac Medrano Isaac Medrano 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Cleveland | 2024 State NM (Cleveland); Christian Powell (Valley); Dominic Valencia Dominic Valencia 6'2" | 170 lbs | LB Rio Rancho | 2024 State NM (Rio Rancho); Matthew William Pascuzzi Matthew William Pascuzzi 5'10" | 200 lbs | LB Lubbock Christian | 2024 TX (La Cueva); Dalton Lee Dalton Lee 6'1" | 180 lbs | LB Albuquerque Academy | 2024 State NM (Albuquerque Academy); Brody Whitaker Brody Whitaker 5'11" | 235 lbs | LB Albuquerque Academy | 2024 State NM (Albuquerque Academy).
Another school record for @strat_shufelt !! 340 on bench! Congratulations 👏 pic.twitter.com/1JJHlvGurq
— Cleveland Storm 🏈 (@CHSStormFB) April 18, 2022
The face of hard work 😂😂 thanks for the hill sprint workout coach @jarmaine94 ! pic.twitter.com/5T6Pd5UV0L
— jahvonmcchriston (@jahvonmac) May 26, 2022