Recruiting New Mexico: NMHU busy handing out offers
In this article:
With new recruiting coordinator Garrett Myers leading the charge, Las Vegas-based New Mexico Highlands is displaying a new boldness in recruiting prospects from the Land of Enchantment. Myers and NMHU head coach Ron Hudson have traveled the state this spring…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith new recruiting coordinator Garrett Myers leading the charge, Las Vegas-based New Mexico Highlands is displaying a new boldness in recruiting prospects from the Land of Enchantment.
Myers and NMHU head coach Ron Hudson have traveled the state this spring talking with dozens of coaches to gather information on prospects.
Result? Monday, per social media, the Cowboys offered four 2024 prospects from New Mexico: WR Jacob Adcox Jacob Adcox 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Sandia | 2024 State NM (Sandia), LB Dalton Lee Dalton Lee 6'1" | 180 lbs | LB Albuquerque Academy | 2024 State NM (Albuquerque Academy), WR/TE Cruz Markham Cruz Markham 6'3" | 200 lbs | TE La Cueva | 2024 State NM (La Cueva) and OL T.J. McCarthy (Albuquerque High).
Tuesday, NMHU offered Manzano LB Eli Darnell Eli Darnell LB Manzano | 2024 State NM .
Earlier this month, they offered several other deserving 2024 prospects from New Mexico: Hobbs QB Owen Callaway Owen Callaway 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Hobbs | 2024 State NM , St. Pius X OL/DL Aidan Thomas Aidan Thomas 6'5" | 260 lbs | OL St. Pius X | 2024 State NM and Centennial DB David Beasley David Beasley 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB Centennial | 2024 State NM .
Roswell RB Bryce Sanchez Bryce Sanchez 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Roswell | 2024 State NM and teammates Peyton Kennard Peyton Kennard K Roswell | 2024 State NM (ATH) and Dylan King Dylan King OL Roswell | 2024 State NM (OL) were invited to come to the NMHU campus for one of two newly scheduled Junior Days on May 17 and May 26.
The Cowboys will later host a 7-on-7 Tourney and Big Man Camp on July 22.
At one time, NMHU limited their recruiting in New Mexico to mostly the northern half of the state. But Hudson has aggressively extended the Cowboys’ recruiting efforts to the southern half, particularly Las Cruces and the talent-rich southeastern region where most of the Friday Night Lights towns are located.
“Our name is getting out there,” Hudson told Prep redzone New Mexico. “When I got this job last year, just about everybody I talked to commented they hadn’t seen a Highlands coach in years. Throughout the state, specifically in the southeast with schools like Artesia and Hobbs and those folks, we’re trying to make our presence known and showing people we want to recruit their kids. Now we’re getting more kids reaching out to us wanting to come see us.”
NMHU’s 2023 signing class reflects Hudson’s early attempt to expand the Cowboys’ recruiting boundaries beyond the traditional region. NMHU signed two players from Hobbs (DL Andre Alvarado Andre Alvarado 6'1" | 245 lbs | DL Hobbs | 2023 State NM , DB Isaiah Jackson), three from Socorro (WR Brian Armijo Brian Armijo 5'9" | 155 lbs | LB Socorro | 2023 State NM , WR Marcus Armijo Marcus Armijo 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Socorro | 2023 State NM , LS/LB Warren Kurtnaker), one from Artesia (OLB Rylee Jarratt Rylee Jarratt 6'3" | DL Artesia | 2023 State NM ) and one from Centennial (OL Izaiah Hilliard Izaiah Hilliard 5'10" | 275 lbs | OL Centennial | 2023 State NM ).
“One of the first things we did was get into southern New Mexico more,” Hudson said. “Trying to get down there and show guys we have a sincere interest in them and get them to come up here. Our coaches are going to be at a bunch of satellite camps, including New Mexico and New Mexico State. This is our state. We’re a good university. We’re a great option for kids.”
In all, NMHU signed 28 prospects from New Mexico as part of the 2023 class.
“The fact we’re back this spring to the schools we visited last year made a huge impact,” Hudson said. “They know we’re serious about recruiting their schools. I shook a bunch of hands. I want coaches to know we want to talk ball with them and we want to recruit their guys. They know now we’re not a one-hit wonder. Highlands has had a lot of turnover (with coaches). They were concerned about that. We’re in Year 2. We’re committed to recruiting the entire state.”
Hudson’s secret weapon could be Myers, who spent the last three seasons at FBS Northern Illinois as a graduate assistant and assistant offensive line coach. In addition to serving as recruiting coordinator for the Cowboys, Myers will also be the offensive line coach.
“He’s doing a great job,” Hudson said. “He’s a hustler. We’re going to give Coach Myers the southeastern part of the state to recruit.”
2023 NEW MEXICO SIGNEES – NM HIGHLANDS
Aaron Loya Aaron Loya 6'2" | OL Highland | 2023 State NM , Highlands – OL
Andre Alvarado Andre Alvarado 6'1" | 245 lbs | DL Hobbs | 2023 State NM , Hobbs – DL
Andrew Aguirre Andrew Aguirre 6'0" | 260 lbs | OL Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM , Atrisco Heritage – OL
Andrew Roybal, Albuquerque High – WR
Anthony Anaya, Capital – DB (PWO)
Brian Armijo Brian Armijo 5'9" | 155 lbs | LB Socorro | 2023 State NM , Socorro – WR
Caeden Jojola, Valley – RB
Cole Hopper, Raton – P/K
Creed Chavez Creed Chavez 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR St. Michael's | 2023 State NM , St. Michael’s – DB
Eric Sanchez, Capital – OLB (PWO)
Isaiah Jackson, Hobbs – DB (PWO)
Isaiah Valdez Isaiah Valdez 6'0" | 185 lbs | DL Capital | 2023 State NM , Capital – DL (PWO)
Izaiah Hilliard Izaiah Hilliard 5'10" | 275 lbs | OL Centennial | 2023 State NM , Centennial – OL (PWO)
Jahvon Maes McChriston, Bernalillo – OLB
Rylee Jarratt Rylee Jarratt 6'3" | DL Artesia | 2023 State NM , Artesia – OLB
Jayden Daize, Bernalillo – OL (PWO)
Joey Cave, Rio Rancho – QB
Kendrik Brown, Laguna-Acoma – OL/DL (PWO)
Lazarus Griego, Capital – OL (PWO)
Luc Jaramillo, Santa Fe – QB (PWO)
Marcus Armijo Marcus Armijo 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Socorro | 2023 State NM , Socorro – WR
Michael Ash Michael Ash 6'0" | 275 lbs | DL Bernalillo | 2023 State NM , Bernalillo – DL (PWO)
Robert Marquez, Atrisco Heritage – LB
Ryan Sharpe Ryan Sharpe QB Bloomfield | 2023 State NM , Bloomfield – QB (PWO)
Santos Salazar, Capital – WR (PWO)
Tyler Finley, West Mesa – DT (PWO)
Victor Aguilar, Capital – OL (PWO)
Warren Kurtnaker, Socorro – LS/LB