Running Backs Who Could Win NMPreps.com Mr. Football
Grine of NMPreps.com
Chris Streetz from Volcano Vista is due for a breakout year in 2016
Today, on NMPreps.com we take a look at the top returning running backs in the state of New Mexico. This could be the Year of the Back.
Yes, too many variables to predict the winner for the state championship or top individual award in the state in the Mr. Football despite the uncertainty we name the top candidates from the running back cores.
1. Isaac Vance, Sr, RB, Mayfield HS (Las Cruces, NM). From the get-go last season we rushed to highlight the name of Isaac Vance who ran for 361-yards with four touchdowns during week one. He followed that up with a week two performance of 247-yards and 5-touchdowns. Well, that story continued for a season of 2,200 yards and 30 touchdowns. Vance and the Trojans are an early favorite to win the 6A title this season which will create for him to be heavy favorite. The better a team does combined with individual numbers only help the case.
2. O'Maury Samuels, Sr, RB, Los Lunas HS (Los Lunas, NM). Samuels became a star this summer after making headlines across the nation at a combine. Samuels also committed to the University of Michigan. However, the state of New Mexico was well aware of the back before national news after running for 1,468 yards and 21 touchdowns. The task will be all the more difficult this season but if Samuels has a season that has a stat line like last season he could be in place himself among the finalist.
3. Josh Foley, Sr, RB, Rio Rancho HS (Rio Rancho, NM). The City of Rio Rancho is quickly rising as one of New Mexico's top cities for high school football with the likes of Artesia and Las Cruces. Josh Foley rushed for 1,081-yards and 20 touchdowns last season and will only see those numbers improve. Like many projections on this list the variables will vary but the Rams could be the number one favorite to win the title this creating a big push for a great running back.
4. Micah Gray, Sr, RB, Clovis HS (Clovis, NM). Continuing the list of sensational running backs Micah Gray tops the candidates list after a 1,057 yard season with 13 touchdowns. Gray becomes a centerpiece to a 6A power in football and frontrunner in their district. Gray, could run wild during the district race and you can expect huge numbers from the young man. Gray is a pick that you could see taking home the award somewhat under the radar even if the Wildcats don't make it far into November...but I predict they will and that only helps his case.
5. Kayzan Martin, Sr, RB, Cibola HS (Albuquerque, NM). Easily one of the best returning prospects on the Cibola Cougars offense. Martin rushed for 800-yards last season and had a few weeks of making the All-NMPreps Team. Martin should get plenty of love during the season and the Cougars success will rely heavy on what they do this season.
6. Ezekiel Tapia, Sr, FB, Estancia HS. The running game is the centerpiece of the Bears offense and now they turn to Tapia who at 1,323 was not the leading rusher on this roster. You have to imagine this number climbs and his stock will rise. The Bears are back-to-back state champions in 3A and once again will be a favorite.
7. Jesus Vargas, Sr, RB, Capital HS (Santa Fe, NM). Vargas, was mentioned this week of attending the Boise St. football camp as the back will be one of the names to know in 5A football. Vargas, rushed for 1,215 yards last season and that number, with the teams loss of Auguie Larranaga will only help his touches and numbers.
8. Shawn Nieto, Sr, RB, Cleveland HS (Rio Rancho, NM). We can't truly say that Nieto is underrated but he's been underrated. We know the studs Cleveland had last season and returning this season off their state championship year. Well, Neito should be among the list of backs we know, he could be the one in store for one of the biggest breakout years. He ran for 931-yards last season with 18-touchdowns. You can expect those numbers to improve.
9. Axel Fowler, Jr, RB, Farmington HS (Farmington, NM). The Scorpions have become a football program to reckon with and they could be in store for another top season. I could predict another 8-10 win season and Fowler only a sophomore last season rushed for 908-yards and 13-touchdowns. The better they do, the more touches he gets the bigger the Fowler name.
10. Chris Streetz, Sr, RB, Volcano Vista HS (Albuquerque, NM). Streetz checks a lot of boxes for this award and one is the name - STREETZ. I wouldn't mind typing that name in 2016 and it is likely that I might as he ran for 750-yards, 9 yards per carry with 7 touchdowns for team that had a great QB and WR game.
10 More to Come in the Conversation
Jonathan Stroman (La Cueva)
Xavier Vigil (St. Mikes)
Cisco Mayville (Ruidoso)
Josiah Fielder (Onate)
Ryan Beltran (Las Cruces)
Thomas Bui (La Cueva)
Luis Mendoza (Roswell)
Tommy Trujillo (Espanola Valley)
Gabe Kline (Valencia)
Joseph Griego (Robertson)
Grine of NMPreps.com
Chris Streetz from Volcano Vista is due for a breakout year in 2016
Today, on NMPreps.com we take a look at the top returning running backs in the state of New Mexico. This could be the Year of the Back.
Yes, too many variables to predict the winner for the state championship or top individual award in the state in the Mr. Football despite the uncertainty we name the top candidates from the running back cores.
1. Isaac Vance, Sr, RB, Mayfield HS (Las Cruces, NM). From the get-go last season we rushed to highlight the name of Isaac Vance who ran for 361-yards with four touchdowns during week one. He followed that up with a week two performance of 247-yards and 5-touchdowns. Well, that story continued for a season of 2,200 yards and 30 touchdowns. Vance and the Trojans are an early favorite to win the 6A title this season which will create for him to be heavy favorite. The better a team does combined with individual numbers only help the case.
2. O'Maury Samuels, Sr, RB, Los Lunas HS (Los Lunas, NM). Samuels became a star this summer after making headlines across the nation at a combine. Samuels also committed to the University of Michigan. However, the state of New Mexico was well aware of the back before national news after running for 1,468 yards and 21 touchdowns. The task will be all the more difficult this season but if Samuels has a season that has a stat line like last season he could be in place himself among the finalist.
3. Josh Foley, Sr, RB, Rio Rancho HS (Rio Rancho, NM). The City of Rio Rancho is quickly rising as one of New Mexico's top cities for high school football with the likes of Artesia and Las Cruces. Josh Foley rushed for 1,081-yards and 20 touchdowns last season and will only see those numbers improve. Like many projections on this list the variables will vary but the Rams could be the number one favorite to win the title this creating a big push for a great running back.
4. Micah Gray, Sr, RB, Clovis HS (Clovis, NM). Continuing the list of sensational running backs Micah Gray tops the candidates list after a 1,057 yard season with 13 touchdowns. Gray becomes a centerpiece to a 6A power in football and frontrunner in their district. Gray, could run wild during the district race and you can expect huge numbers from the young man. Gray is a pick that you could see taking home the award somewhat under the radar even if the Wildcats don't make it far into November...but I predict they will and that only helps his case.
5. Kayzan Martin, Sr, RB, Cibola HS (Albuquerque, NM). Easily one of the best returning prospects on the Cibola Cougars offense. Martin rushed for 800-yards last season and had a few weeks of making the All-NMPreps Team. Martin should get plenty of love during the season and the Cougars success will rely heavy on what they do this season.
6. Ezekiel Tapia, Sr, FB, Estancia HS. The running game is the centerpiece of the Bears offense and now they turn to Tapia who at 1,323 was not the leading rusher on this roster. You have to imagine this number climbs and his stock will rise. The Bears are back-to-back state champions in 3A and once again will be a favorite.
7. Jesus Vargas, Sr, RB, Capital HS (Santa Fe, NM). Vargas, was mentioned this week of attending the Boise St. football camp as the back will be one of the names to know in 5A football. Vargas, rushed for 1,215 yards last season and that number, with the teams loss of Auguie Larranaga will only help his touches and numbers.
8. Shawn Nieto, Sr, RB, Cleveland HS (Rio Rancho, NM). We can't truly say that Nieto is underrated but he's been underrated. We know the studs Cleveland had last season and returning this season off their state championship year. Well, Neito should be among the list of backs we know, he could be the one in store for one of the biggest breakout years. He ran for 931-yards last season with 18-touchdowns. You can expect those numbers to improve.
9. Axel Fowler, Jr, RB, Farmington HS (Farmington, NM). The Scorpions have become a football program to reckon with and they could be in store for another top season. I could predict another 8-10 win season and Fowler only a sophomore last season rushed for 908-yards and 13-touchdowns. The better they do, the more touches he gets the bigger the Fowler name.
10. Chris Streetz, Sr, RB, Volcano Vista HS (Albuquerque, NM). Streetz checks a lot of boxes for this award and one is the name - STREETZ. I wouldn't mind typing that name in 2016 and it is likely that I might as he ran for 750-yards, 9 yards per carry with 7 touchdowns for team that had a great QB and WR game.
10 More to Come in the Conversation
Jonathan Stroman (La Cueva)
Xavier Vigil (St. Mikes)
Cisco Mayville (Ruidoso)
Josiah Fielder (Onate)
Ryan Beltran (Las Cruces)
Thomas Bui (La Cueva)
Luis Mendoza (Roswell)
Tommy Trujillo (Espanola Valley)
Gabe Kline (Valencia)
Joseph Griego (Robertson)
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