NMPREPS POSITION BREAKDOWNS
NMPreps annual New Mexico high school football player rankings. Today, we look at the top quarterbacks for the 2023 season. #nmpreps
QUARTERBACKS
#1 Elijah Brody - West Mesa High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2024. One of the more unique quarterback prospects in the 2024 class given ability to run and make plays. Impressive athlete with desired height to play the position. Brody is a 6-foot-4, 190 pound mobile quarterback with that has developed into a nice passer but not afraid to lower his shoulder against defenders. Thrives under the offensive system that embraces a dual-threat QB and leans on his strengths. Brody passed for 2,454 yards and 29 passing touchdowns in 2022. He also rushed for 765 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns for a much improved Mustangs team. Update (3/23/23): Brody picked up a D-1 offer from the University of New Mexico
#2 Cameron Dyer - La Cueva High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2025. Dyer is at the top of the player rankings overall and will enter as the number one ranked quarterback. Requisite height, strong build, and big-pay running ability. Dyer is a high-level natural athlete who is also an elite basketball player. Dangerous athleticism with regular threat when breaking the pocket. He now moves into the starting role and numbers are surely to skyrocket. Update (5/18/23): Dyer picked up an offer from New Mexico State University.
#3 Nye Estrada - Artesia High School (Artesia, NM)
Class: 2024. Estrada had a huge 2022 season, leading 5A in passing yards with 3,425-yards. Estrada also finished with a class high of 42 passing touchdowns. He throws with nice touch and drops passes into a bucket. He gives receivers opportunities to make plays on the ball. So far a productive high school career on one of the top New Mexico high school football programs. Estrada is a gamer and will have the Bulldogs in the hunt for another state championship.
#4 Daniel Hernandez - Centennial High School (Las Cruces, NM)
Class: 2024. Possesses great concentration skills with good field speed capable of beating teams off the run. Hernandez is a playmaker and was instrumental in the Hawks 9-2 overall season and 5-0 in district. The Hawks also reached the semifinals in 2022 and favored to make another run behind the senior QB. Hernandez passed for 1,577 yards and 23 passing touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 808 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns for the Hawks.
#5 Paxton Culpepper - Portales High School (Portales, NM)
Class 2025. A natural at the position, good height (6'0), and accurate passer. Culpepper led the position in passing yards with 2,290 yards along with 27 passing touchdowns. The team will be much improved this season and so should Culpepper during the build of the Rams this season. Portales finished 9-3 overall and 2-1 in district last season. The Rams went 1-1 in the playoffs falling in the quarterfinals.
#6 Trel Griego - Farmington High School (Farmington, NM)
Class: 2024. Griego is a strong-armed quarterback with nice size at 6'3'' and 225 lbs. Griego had some nice weapons last season and showed that distributes the ball well. Farmington went 6-6 last season and 3-1 in district play. His numbers standout after passing for 2,887 yards and 31 passing touchdowns last season.
#7 Julian Butkivich - Valley High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2025. Another standout in the Albuquerque metro area last season Butkivich quietly helped guide the Vikings to the playoffs behind a 8-4 overall season. With more reps he will only improve and by seasons end could be one of the top playmakers in 5A football. Look for his numbers to improve - 1,330 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns.
#8 JJ Arellano - Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM)
Class: 2025. Arellano is well-equipped to operate the Rams offense. It's no secret the Rams like to run the football and run it they did to a tune of 1,609 yards-- Arellano led the team with 610 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Arellano is a dual threat and likely to only get better, he passed for 1,096 yards last season connecting on 86 of 154 attempts. Add in 15 passing touchdowns and the junior-to-be has a chance to guide a good Rams offense returning in '23.
#9 Dean Marquez - Atrisco Heritage Academy (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2024. The Jaguars are on the verge of breakout season and Marquez has been instrumental to the offense. The senior had five games with over 300-yards passing ending the season with 2,190 yards and 30 passing touchdowns. Marquez keeps things close by and will utilize a talented core of receivers and athletes in the backfield for the Jaguars this season.
#10 Brandon Olivas - Eldorado High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2024. Olivas brings stability and excitement for the Eagles offense this season. Olivas has a strong arm and is not afraid to let it fly, connecting with receivers over the top. I also like his speed when things breakdown to make a run, when needed. Olivas finished with 1,647 yards and 20 passing touchdowns last season. The Eagles went 2-8 last season but they are a team that could surprise many this season.
NMPreps annual New Mexico high school football player rankings. Today, we look at the top quarterbacks for the 2023 season. #nmpreps
QUARTERBACKS
#1 Elijah Brody - West Mesa High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2024. One of the more unique quarterback prospects in the 2024 class given ability to run and make plays. Impressive athlete with desired height to play the position. Brody is a 6-foot-4, 190 pound mobile quarterback with that has developed into a nice passer but not afraid to lower his shoulder against defenders. Thrives under the offensive system that embraces a dual-threat QB and leans on his strengths. Brody passed for 2,454 yards and 29 passing touchdowns in 2022. He also rushed for 765 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns for a much improved Mustangs team. Update (3/23/23): Brody picked up a D-1 offer from the University of New Mexico
#2 Cameron Dyer - La Cueva High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2025. Dyer is at the top of the player rankings overall and will enter as the number one ranked quarterback. Requisite height, strong build, and big-pay running ability. Dyer is a high-level natural athlete who is also an elite basketball player. Dangerous athleticism with regular threat when breaking the pocket. He now moves into the starting role and numbers are surely to skyrocket. Update (5/18/23): Dyer picked up an offer from New Mexico State University.
#3 Nye Estrada - Artesia High School (Artesia, NM)
Class: 2024. Estrada had a huge 2022 season, leading 5A in passing yards with 3,425-yards. Estrada also finished with a class high of 42 passing touchdowns. He throws with nice touch and drops passes into a bucket. He gives receivers opportunities to make plays on the ball. So far a productive high school career on one of the top New Mexico high school football programs. Estrada is a gamer and will have the Bulldogs in the hunt for another state championship.
#4 Daniel Hernandez - Centennial High School (Las Cruces, NM)
Class: 2024. Possesses great concentration skills with good field speed capable of beating teams off the run. Hernandez is a playmaker and was instrumental in the Hawks 9-2 overall season and 5-0 in district. The Hawks also reached the semifinals in 2022 and favored to make another run behind the senior QB. Hernandez passed for 1,577 yards and 23 passing touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 808 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns for the Hawks.
#5 Paxton Culpepper - Portales High School (Portales, NM)
Class 2025. A natural at the position, good height (6'0), and accurate passer. Culpepper led the position in passing yards with 2,290 yards along with 27 passing touchdowns. The team will be much improved this season and so should Culpepper during the build of the Rams this season. Portales finished 9-3 overall and 2-1 in district last season. The Rams went 1-1 in the playoffs falling in the quarterfinals.
#6 Trel Griego - Farmington High School (Farmington, NM)
Class: 2024. Griego is a strong-armed quarterback with nice size at 6'3'' and 225 lbs. Griego had some nice weapons last season and showed that distributes the ball well. Farmington went 6-6 last season and 3-1 in district play. His numbers standout after passing for 2,887 yards and 31 passing touchdowns last season.
#7 Julian Butkivich - Valley High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2025. Another standout in the Albuquerque metro area last season Butkivich quietly helped guide the Vikings to the playoffs behind a 8-4 overall season. With more reps he will only improve and by seasons end could be one of the top playmakers in 5A football. Look for his numbers to improve - 1,330 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns.
#8 JJ Arellano - Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM)
Class: 2025. Arellano is well-equipped to operate the Rams offense. It's no secret the Rams like to run the football and run it they did to a tune of 1,609 yards-- Arellano led the team with 610 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Arellano is a dual threat and likely to only get better, he passed for 1,096 yards last season connecting on 86 of 154 attempts. Add in 15 passing touchdowns and the junior-to-be has a chance to guide a good Rams offense returning in '23.
#9 Dean Marquez - Atrisco Heritage Academy (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2024. The Jaguars are on the verge of breakout season and Marquez has been instrumental to the offense. The senior had five games with over 300-yards passing ending the season with 2,190 yards and 30 passing touchdowns. Marquez keeps things close by and will utilize a talented core of receivers and athletes in the backfield for the Jaguars this season.
#10 Brandon Olivas - Eldorado High School (Albuquerque, NM)
Class: 2024. Olivas brings stability and excitement for the Eagles offense this season. Olivas has a strong arm and is not afraid to let it fly, connecting with receivers over the top. I also like his speed when things breakdown to make a run, when needed. Olivas finished with 1,647 yards and 20 passing touchdowns last season. The Eagles went 2-8 last season but they are a team that could surprise many this season.
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