Position Breakdown: Top 2024 Defensive Backs for the 2023 Season
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We continue with our look at some of the top players in New Mexico heading into the 2023 season by telling you the top rising senior defensive backs in the 2024 class: Tavon Archibald Tavon Archibald 6'0" | 170 lbs…
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Continue ReadingWe continue with our look at some of the top players in New Mexico heading into the 2023 season by telling you the top rising senior defensive backs in the 2024 class:
Tavon Archibald Tavon Archibald 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB West Mesa | 2024 State NM , West Mesa: Archibald has emerged over the last year as one of the top defensive backs in Albuquerque. He had 18 tackles, 3 QB hurries and 3 passes defended in 2022. Good speed. He’s now excelling for the New Mexico Legacy 7×7 team. Invited to Junior Day by New Mexico Highlands.
Jesse Armendariz Jesse Armendariz DB Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia: A free safety for the Class 5A champion Bulldogs, Armendariz was a standout for Artesia’s underrated defense with 60 tackles and 6 interceptions. Definitely one of the defensive breakout stars of 2022. Earned First-Team All-State honors.
David Beasley David Beasley 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Centennial | 2024 State NM , Centennial: Beasley was perhaps overshadowed by others on Centennial’s outstanding defense in 2022 but he proved to be an excellent defensive back with 30 tackles and 5 pass breakups. Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico have expressed interest.
Jackson Cherry Jackson Cherry 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB La Cueva | 2024 State NM , La Cueva: Our #1 DB for the 2024 class possesses good size (5-11, 175) and speed. Per MaxPreps, he finished with 30 tackles in 2022 to help spark the Bears to the 6A state championship game. He’s been offered by Grinnell College in Iowa. He traveled the camp circuit last summer with visits to multiple Ivy League schools, the Colorado School of Mines and others.
Wesley Gallegos Wesley Gallegos 5'6" | 145 lbs | DB Roswell | 2024 State NM , Roswell: Roswell reached the Class 5A semifinals in part by playing strong defense. Gallegos earned Second-Team All-State honors.
David Hammond David Hammond DB Artesia | 2024 State NM , Artesia: Between Armendariz and Hammond, Artesia had one of the top secondaries in the state last season. Hammond earned Second-Team All-State honors. Credited with 48 tackles, 3TFL, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 INT in 12 games. Those numbers show Hammond was around the ball a lot.
W.D. Hyer W.D. Hyer 5'10" | 165 lbs | DB Raton | 2024 State NM , Raton: A hybrid OLB/DB, Hyer is one of the leading candidates to replace Cayden Walton Cayden Walton 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB Raton | 2023 State NM , the state’s all-time leading rusher, as the leader of the Tigers in 2023. Last season he had 98 tackles and 3 forced fumbles. Ball hawk.
Demarcus Thompson Demarcus Thompson 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH Lovington | 2024 State NM , Lovington: Thompson is extraordinarily versatile. His Hudl profile lists SEVEN different positions he plays, including cornerback, free safety and strong safety. In 9 games last season, Thompson compiled 46 tackles, 13 TFL, 7.5 sacks and 6 QB hurries. Certainly one of the top defensive players in Class 4A.
Dominic Trujillo Dominic Trujillo DB Los Lunas | 2024 State NM , Los Lunas: Like the rest of his Los Lunas teammates, Trujillo did a good job adjusting to life in Class 6A last season. Credited with 28 tackles, 2 INT and 6 passes defended in 6 games.
Jason Ussery Jason Ussery 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Los Lunas | 2024 State NM , Los Lunas: Besides Trujillo, Ussery will anchor the Los Lunas secondary in 2023. The first thing that stands out is his impressive size: 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. In his first varsity season, Ussery amassed 45 tackles, 3 INT, 11 passes defended and 2 forced fumbles. Ivy League institution Columbia has expressed interest.
HONORABLE MENTION: Walter Woodward Walter Woodward DB Silver | 2024 State NM (Silver); Hunter Maldonado Hunter Maldonado 5'9" | 150 lbs | DB Sandia | 2024 State NM (Sandia); Drew Perez Drew Perez 5'9" | 140 lbs | DB BLoomfield | 2024 State NM (Bloomfield); Coen Morales Coen Morales 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Las Cruces | 2024 State NM (Las Cruces); Lionel Salazar Lionel Salazar 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Taos | 2024 State NM (Taos); George Rascon George Rascon 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Bloomfield | 2024 State NM (Bloomfield) ; Isaiah Quintana Isaiah Quintana 6'0" | 145 lbs | DB Moriarty | 2024 State NM (Moriarty); Diego Lucero Diego Lucero 5'7" | 130 lbs | DB Silver | 2024 State NM (Silver); Mario Saenz Mario Saenz 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Raton | 2024 State NM (Raton); Diego Molinar Diego Molinar 5'7" | 165 lbs | DB Bernalillo | 2024 State NM (Bernalillo).