NMPREPS TOP-25 PRESEASON RANKINGS
NMPreps ranks the top-25 New Mexico high school football teams for the 2022 season. Teams are ranked regardless of classification as we look for the best of the best. #nmpreps
(1) LA CUEVA BEARS
La Cueva has been the clear favorite pick this preseason but that has changed slightly since the start of August. That is due to the fact that next-level prospect Exodus Ayers transferred out of state. However, the Bears stay in the top spot with the depth returning this season and most of that is in large part to Aidan Armenta (2023), the quarterback holding an offer from D-1 University of New Mexico. Others to watch are Gabriel Buie (2023), Colt Mangino (2023), Mason Crowell (2023) and Mason Posa (2025). Posa also has an early offer from UNM.
(2) CLEVELAND STORM
Much of the focus leading into the 2022 season has been centered around new head coach Robert Garza. The longtime Storm assistant takes over with the departure of former head coach Heath Ridenhour taking a position with the University of New Mexico. The good news here for Garza will be the return of quarterback Evan Wysong (2023), a UNM commit, that is a top-5 player in our NMPreps200 rankings. Also, back is the overall No. 1 2024 prospect in Stratton Shufelt who can dominate on both sides of the football for the Storm. Let's make it three for three as the Storm will also return a top receiver in the state with 2023 Nic Trujillo coming off a near 1,000-yard season. The Storm have weapons and continue to reload but the big looming question will be the transition from Ridenhour to Garza.
(3) RIO RANCHO RAMS
Transition is a key word in 6A football as both powers in Rio Rancho have new head coaches taking over their programs. The Rams turn to longtime assistant Nate Pino as the next signal caller. The Rams offense will also have pieces to replace, specifically at QB and RB. 2024 QB Noah Nelson gained some experience last season serving as the backup. Nelson threw for 272-yards and 4-touchdowns. He also rushed for another 143-yards and 1-TD. He will have top prospect Mikey Wood (2023/WR) to throw to on the outside along with Travien Williams II (2023) another WR with experience. Williams II had three receiving touchdowns last season. On defense it will be the talented CB in Chris Montoya Jr. (2023). The Rams will stay in district 1 in the new alignment with the likes of Cleveland, Cibola, and Volcano Vista -- three strong contenders to go deep in the playoffs.
(4) LAS CRUCES BULLDAWGS
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs have voids to fill left by the graduation to a very strong 2022 class. The Bulldawgs went 7-5 overall last season reaching the 6A semifinals, before falling to eventual state champion Cleveland (Rio Rancho). The Dawgs will have some key players to watch and we start on the offense with Zayke Hawkins (2024/WR) returning as one of the top prospects on the squad. The defense will feature a new name but a well known name in the Las Cruces area in Siddeeq Shabazz (2023/S). The two will highlight a new Las Cruces Bulldawgs team looking to make another run in November.
(5) LOS LUNAS TIGERS
When you have the quarterback that they do, when you have a talented core of wide receivers and when you have the experience that the Tigers have -- they have the opportunity to compete in 6A football despite the move "up" from 5A. The Tigers offense will go on the shoulders of top prospect Paul Cieremans along with studs Jalin Holland (2025/WR), Fabian Trujillo (2024/WR), and Thomas Ordonez (2023/WR), as they look to continue their winning ways. They are favored to win their district -- Clovis, Santa Fe, Capital, Albuquerque -- and move along with a well balanced schedule. They will open the season on the road on a Friday night against Belen (8/19).
(6) CIBOLA COUGARS
It's been an offseason of massive change for the Cibola Cougars football program, but the Cougars still have some pieces to be successful. New head coach Chris Howe has some building to do after what was a highly successful tenure for former head coach Rod Williams who resigned this Spring. The Cougars will also have to replace top quarterback prospect Aden Chavez - the 2023 prospect transferred to Florida this offseason. So where do we turn to for the 2022 season? A trio of talented receivers with Branden Castillo (2023), Marcus Wilson (2024), and Brayden Mummert (2023) look to guide the offense and new quarterback. Caden Lowery (2023) and Peyton Harrison (2023) on the defensive side of the ball. The Cougars still compete in the tough district 1-6A with the likes of Rio Rancho, Cleveland, Volcano Vista, and Atrisco Heritage. Update: Our early preseason rankings were done before the coaching change and transfer.
(7) CENTENNIAL HAWKS
The Hawks claimed the District 3-6A title in 2021 and despite falling in the playoffs to Las Cruces, success continues to surround the program. Head coach Aaron Ocampo will again after to rebuild the roster after losing key prospects to graduation but history tells us that they will be okay. The Hawks return a strong core of 2023 prospects in Devyn Woods (LB), Isaiah Abeyta (WR), Izaiah Gonzales (DE), and Mikah Gutierrez (RB). If the pieces fall into place, this should be one of District 3-6A's better defenses. The schedule will be tough with the first three games going against Cleveland, El Paso-Franklin (TX), and La Cueva -- Cleveland and La Cueva likely 1-2 going into the season.
(8) VOLCANO VISTA HAWKS
The Volcano Vista Hawks will enter the season with another quarterback under center but they fill the void with a nice prospect. Elliot Paskett-Bell (2023), a 6-foot-2 mobile quarterback, with athleticism and does well at improvising to make a big play for the offense when a play breakdown. The Hawks are coming off a 7-win season and this could seem high for a program that produces some serious talent each year. Keys to that are replacing number ones at - QB, RB, WR (top 2), and most talented defender. The defense looks to take a hit, due to graduation, and playing in the very difficult 1-6A could appear concerning.
(9) SANDIA MATADORS
The Matadors opened the 2021 season with a 1-4 mark, yet rebounded with victories in four out of their last five games to finish 5-5 overall. Rising star running back
Malachi Thymes (2023) powers the offense after recording 1,158 yards as a junior in '21. For the Matadors to climb in the rankings, improvement on the defensive side of the ball will need to improve after allowing 287 (28.7 ppg) per game in '21.
Dalen Moyer (2023) will need to continue taking a step forward after throwing for 1,009 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, the the receiving corps has to be restocked after key departures of Speis, Johnson, and Miranda all three of which had 1,204 receiving yards of the team 1,654 from '21.
(10) ELDORADO EAGLES
The Eldorado Eagles are in the section of unknown teams as we head into the 2022 season. Keys to them being an unknown or early riser will be with returners Brandon Olivas (2024/QB), Mark Pacheco (2023), and John Paul Ludi (2023). Pacheco will lead the defense this season. We are sitting around 5/6 wins for the Eagles this season.
(11) ROSWELL COYOTES
The Coyotes enter the 2022 season as the number ranked 5A team and the serious contender to get back to the state championship game. The Coyotes are only a couple year removed from back-to-back state titles and some think that could have been more if it hand't been for the pandemic. I like the youth that I seen last season and will have some key prospects back for a program that only looks to get better.
(12) GODDARD ROCKETS
Goddard welcomes back one of the top running backs in New Mexico high school football in Javyn Morales (2023). The Rockets have more pieces that are returning this season and have their eyes on a state championship -- the talent is certainly there -- but a staying healthy and playing well in November.
(13) ARTESIA BULLDOGS
Artesia was close to claiming another state championship before falling in the final game last season. They went 9-4 overall, the first season under Jeremy Maupin. The excitement should be high for the Bulldog faithful with some outstanding prospects returning in 2022. Peyton Greathouse (2024) was a standout last season and will only get better the next two seasons.
(14) HOBBS EAGLES
The Hobbs Eagles went 6-6 last season and look to continue moving the program forward after winning a state playoff game. The receiving core is one to watch in 2022 behind 2023 Kaden Trevino who had nearly 1,000-receiving yards.
(15) MAYFIELD TROJANS
The Mayfield Trojans are returning after finishing 7-5 overall in 2021. They make a big move over to the SE district with Artesia, Goddard, and Roswell creating the toughest district in football, top-down. Mayfield will have new faces in new places as they look to fill voids left to graduation. OL Omar Mejia (2023) is a preseason top name to know.
(16) FAMRINGTON SCORPIONS
After going 11-1 in 5A football last season the Scorpions move into 6A football for the 2022 & 2023 season. Although they graduate plenty from that talented roster last season, they do have some replacements that could fill roles left void.
(17) CLOVIS WILDCATS
The Clovis Wildcats are coming off a disappointing three win season in 2021. They hired former Belen head coach Andrew McCraw to lead the way in 2022. They have holes to fill but have experience from last season.
(18) CARLSBAD CAVEMEN
Oliver Soukup will lead the Cavemen this season, the long-time New Mexico State University assistant coach got the call after Gary Bradley stepped down. They have University of Arizona commit
Tylen Gonzalez (2023).
(19) DEMING WILDCATS
Deming has some hype headed into the 2022 season and although they graduated a next level running back they return another college prospect in Ian Ortiz.
(20) PIEDRA VISTA PANTHERS
Piedra Vista won six games last season and have a duo returning in Howell (2023) and Ramsted (2023) that have them thinking a playoff run in 2022.
(21) ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY CHARGERS
Albuquerque Academy has one of the most talented teams top-down in 4A football and will have eyes on the following prospects: AJ Rivera (2023/QB), Cole Conway (2023/RB) and Kellen Gehres (2023/WR) among others.
(22) LOVINGTON WILDCATS
The Lovington Wildcats won the 4A state championship in 2021 and return talented quarterback Ashton Aranda as they look to repeat. They are a favorite to do so.
(23) ST. PIUS X SARTANS
The private school in Albuquerque returns after winning 8-games in 2021 and ranked in the top-3 this preseason in 4A football.
(24) MANZANO MONARCHS
Stephen Johnston enters year two at the helm of the Manzano Monarchs football program and will look to a mixture of 2024 prospects on the rise.
(25) ORGAN MOUNTAIN KNIGHTS
The Knights ranked in the top-25 could be a surprise to many but head coach Steve Castille has the program headed in the right direction coming off a 4-6 season in 2021.
