2020 New Mexico Mr. Football Candidates
Each season NMPreps.com and Rivals announce the winner of the New Mexico Mr. Football winner. The award given to the most valuable player in the state of New Mexico for the given season.
FFRONT RUNNERS to WIN
Brad Thomas
Class: 2021
School: La Cueva High School (6A)
Position: WR
Why He Can Win It: Thomas is the target again this coming season. He was on the receiving end of 70 throws last season for 1,235 yards and 13 touchdowns. You know the new QB-1 will be zoning in where Thomas is on the field with the loss of the other two top targets, which accounted for 87 receptions combined.
Braxton McDonald
Class: 2021
School: Artesia High School (5A)
Position: WR
Why He Can Win It: Last season McDonald had 1,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns for the Artesia Bulldogs. Numbers like that jump off the screen and anything remotely close, with a winning season for the Bulldogs could have McDonald on the final ballot.
Caleb Carrillo
Class: 2021
School: Farmington High School (5A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: : If Carrillo throws for another 3,000 yards in 2020, the man has a real shot at taking home the award. The Scorpions will need to get into the semifinals or finals. 2,992 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns.
Chance Harris
Class: 2021
School: Clovis High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: : 2,281 passing yards (2nd in class), 22 touchdowns, 154 for 249, 9 INTS. 3 rushing TDs, 182 yards. Harris has committed to Colorado State University (Mountain West).
Jeston Webskowski
Class: 2021
School: Clovis High School (6A)
Why He Can With It: A blessing to have two players on the preseason New Mexico Mr. Football candidate list, even if it means they could split votes. Webskowski is the man though and the top ranked running back in New Mexico. He rushed for 1,713-yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior, can he go for 2,000 and 30? That could lock it up.
Marcos Lopez
Class: 2021
School: Las Cruces High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: : The Bulldawgs quarterback will be a three-year starter come 2020 and will be one to watch - again. As a junior he tossed for 1,900-yards and had a total of 23 TD's in 2019. The Bulldawgs are going to be in the mix for a State Championship again and Lopez could be the one to carry them over the hump.
Tyler Kiehne
Class: 2021
School: Los Lunas High School (5A)
Position: DE/LB
Why He Can Win It: : The 6-4 venom has garnered plenty of offers from the likes of Wisconsin, Utah, and others (recruiting news). He eventually signed with UCLA of the Pac-12. Kiehne had 56 total tackles (13 TFL), 9 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries.
Zach Vigil
Class: 2022
School: Rio Rancho High School (6A)
Position: RB
Why He Can Win It: Vigil had a sound sophomore season with 1,253-rushing yards and 18-touchdowns. He is one of the top ranked prospects from the 2022 class for New Mexico.
SLEEPERS & RISERS TO WIN
Aden Chavez
Class: 2023
School: Cibola High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: We quickly got to the name Aden Chavez last season and the freshman went on to pass for 1,500 yards and 13-touchdowns for the Cougars. A year that should have been a complete rebuild.....turned into more.
Jeff Davison
Class: 2021
School: Cleveland High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: Last season the Storm featured the New Mexico Mr. Football award winner, their second player to do so. Davison is on the sleeper/riser list because he'll have more of a responsibility to hit the targets - and the dude has targets. He passed for nearly 1,200 yards and 12-touchdowns in six games last season (regular season).
Luke Mummert
Class: 2021
School: Albuquerque High School (6A)
Position: LB/ATH
Why He Can Win It: : 75 total tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF. An overall athlete that participates in football, swimming, track, and lacrosse. Also, is a 4.04 gpa student with a 26 ACT.
Luke Padilla
Class: 2021
School: Capital High School (5A)
Position: RB
Why He Can Win It: : Padilla is coming off a 1,852 rushing season with 23-touchdowns. Padilla has been one to watch the last three years and with what the Jaguars have returning in 2020 they could be a threat for a playoff win or more (the more will help his candidacy).
Sean Hays
Class: 2021
School: Alamogordo High School (5A)
Position: RB
Why He Can Win It: The Tigers have turned a corner and Hays could be the focus of what could turn out to be a successful run in 2020. He is coming off a 1,844-yard rushing season for the Tigers.
Grine Going For Two
Who Else?: Any of of the Cleveland Storm Wide Receivers could win the award. Top ranked WR's in Luke Wysong (University of New Mexico commit) and Tre Watson are frontrunners but Trevon Dennard and ATH Trey Ortega are just as dangerous.
Young Fellas? Cayden Walton (2023) rushed for 1,907-yards and 19-touchdowns as a freshman in 2019. Could he be the first sophomore?
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers: Ayden Madrid (172 total tackles), Matthew Maestas (153), and Donathan Coates (137) with the total tackles leaders. Coates a small school player is a player on both sides, could see that name come seasons end.
Each season NMPreps.com and Rivals announce the winner of the New Mexico Mr. Football winner. The award given to the most valuable player in the state of New Mexico for the given season.
FFRONT RUNNERS to WIN
Brad Thomas
Class: 2021
School: La Cueva High School (6A)
Position: WR
Why He Can Win It: Thomas is the target again this coming season. He was on the receiving end of 70 throws last season for 1,235 yards and 13 touchdowns. You know the new QB-1 will be zoning in where Thomas is on the field with the loss of the other two top targets, which accounted for 87 receptions combined.
Braxton McDonald
Class: 2021
School: Artesia High School (5A)
Position: WR
Why He Can Win It: Last season McDonald had 1,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns for the Artesia Bulldogs. Numbers like that jump off the screen and anything remotely close, with a winning season for the Bulldogs could have McDonald on the final ballot.
Caleb Carrillo
Class: 2021
School: Farmington High School (5A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: : If Carrillo throws for another 3,000 yards in 2020, the man has a real shot at taking home the award. The Scorpions will need to get into the semifinals or finals. 2,992 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns.
Chance Harris
Class: 2021
School: Clovis High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: : 2,281 passing yards (2nd in class), 22 touchdowns, 154 for 249, 9 INTS. 3 rushing TDs, 182 yards. Harris has committed to Colorado State University (Mountain West).
Jeston Webskowski
Class: 2021
School: Clovis High School (6A)
Why He Can With It: A blessing to have two players on the preseason New Mexico Mr. Football candidate list, even if it means they could split votes. Webskowski is the man though and the top ranked running back in New Mexico. He rushed for 1,713-yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior, can he go for 2,000 and 30? That could lock it up.
Marcos Lopez
Class: 2021
School: Las Cruces High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: : The Bulldawgs quarterback will be a three-year starter come 2020 and will be one to watch - again. As a junior he tossed for 1,900-yards and had a total of 23 TD's in 2019. The Bulldawgs are going to be in the mix for a State Championship again and Lopez could be the one to carry them over the hump.
Tyler Kiehne
Class: 2021
School: Los Lunas High School (5A)
Position: DE/LB
Why He Can Win It: : The 6-4 venom has garnered plenty of offers from the likes of Wisconsin, Utah, and others (recruiting news). He eventually signed with UCLA of the Pac-12. Kiehne had 56 total tackles (13 TFL), 9 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries.
Zach Vigil
Class: 2022
School: Rio Rancho High School (6A)
Position: RB
Why He Can Win It: Vigil had a sound sophomore season with 1,253-rushing yards and 18-touchdowns. He is one of the top ranked prospects from the 2022 class for New Mexico.
SLEEPERS & RISERS TO WIN
Aden Chavez
Class: 2023
School: Cibola High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: We quickly got to the name Aden Chavez last season and the freshman went on to pass for 1,500 yards and 13-touchdowns for the Cougars. A year that should have been a complete rebuild.....turned into more.
Jeff Davison
Class: 2021
School: Cleveland High School (6A)
Position: QB
Why He Can Win It: Last season the Storm featured the New Mexico Mr. Football award winner, their second player to do so. Davison is on the sleeper/riser list because he'll have more of a responsibility to hit the targets - and the dude has targets. He passed for nearly 1,200 yards and 12-touchdowns in six games last season (regular season).
Luke Mummert
Class: 2021
School: Albuquerque High School (6A)
Position: LB/ATH
Why He Can Win It: : 75 total tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 FF. An overall athlete that participates in football, swimming, track, and lacrosse. Also, is a 4.04 gpa student with a 26 ACT.
Luke Padilla
Class: 2021
School: Capital High School (5A)
Position: RB
Why He Can Win It: : Padilla is coming off a 1,852 rushing season with 23-touchdowns. Padilla has been one to watch the last three years and with what the Jaguars have returning in 2020 they could be a threat for a playoff win or more (the more will help his candidacy).
Sean Hays
Class: 2021
School: Alamogordo High School (5A)
Position: RB
Why He Can Win It: The Tigers have turned a corner and Hays could be the focus of what could turn out to be a successful run in 2020. He is coming off a 1,844-yard rushing season for the Tigers.
Grine Going For Two
Who Else?: Any of of the Cleveland Storm Wide Receivers could win the award. Top ranked WR's in Luke Wysong (University of New Mexico commit) and Tre Watson are frontrunners but Trevon Dennard and ATH Trey Ortega are just as dangerous.
Young Fellas? Cayden Walton (2023) rushed for 1,907-yards and 19-touchdowns as a freshman in 2019. Could he be the first sophomore?
Numbers, Numbers, Numbers: Ayden Madrid (172 total tackles), Matthew Maestas (153), and Donathan Coates (137) with the total tackles leaders. Coates a small school player is a player on both sides, could see that name come seasons end.
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