Six of Twelve We Guarantee To Return To The Playoffs
J Grine of NMPreps.com
Today, we continue our look into the future and the 2016 New Mexico High School football season. If you have been following along we took a look at the teams who missed the playoffs last season in our Cellar Teams That Will Make The Playoffs.
12 of 24 teams make the New Mexico High School state football playoffs each season and today we take our prediction on 6 of the returning 12 that will go dancing again.
More: Buy or Sell Cellar Teams for 2016
Cleveland (State Champs)
Making the State Championship is tough to do in consecutive seasons and good thing we are not making a prediction on that today. However, when you look take a look at the City of Vision, you automatically predict them playing past the final game of the season.
Why? First you have to look at the number four returning prospect in the 2017 class, Adam Cook. Cook a dominating TE with 406-yards last season will look to lead the way on offense along with OL Daimon Altamirano. Altamirano is the seventh ranked prospect from the 2017 class.
Mayfield (Semi-Finals)
Tradition never graduates? Well, how about the tradition of never missing the playoffs. It's not rocket science when we 'guarantee' the Trojans will return to another playoff season.
Why? The Trojans offense will continue to thrive as long as Issac Vance is healthy. Vance, is returning after posting a 2,200-yard rushing season and scoring 30-touchdowns as a junior. Not much else to add along with Vance being the number returning prospect from the 2017 class.
Las Cruces (Semi-Finals)
Well, in Las Cruces you are almost guranteed to be playing in the playoffs if you have Blue and Red as your favorite team colors. The Bulldawgs however have several key positions to replace along with one of the best high school football coaches. However, to say they won't be in the playoffs.... well that's close to impossible.
Why? The sixth ranked returning prospect from 2017 is OL Tristan Olson a 6-foot-2, 265 pound lineman that will be ready to lead the Bulldawgs into a new era.
Rio Rancho (Quarterfinals)
Well, we are four teams in and two cities deep of our six teams that will play in the playoffs next season. The 2014 State Champion Rio Rancho Rams return some excitement in Josh Foley along with a plethora of depth on defense.
Why? Well, we mentioned Foley but the depth on defense s led by linebackers Elijah Goodwin and Vincent Palmeri, two prospects on the rise and ranked 17th and 18th respectfully.
Eldorado Eagles (State Runner-Up)
The Eagles made the run to the title game and have been a power waiting in the wings. The team is loaded with talent returning and features several prospects ranked in the Top 60 returning players for next season. You have to like the Eagles to be a threat to return to the final game.
Why? Fullback Elias Baker, Adam Clark (OL), and Dominic Sandoval (ATH) are only three of the reasons why the Eagles will be just as good this season. All three ranked in the Top 20 players and making them a team to not take lightly in 2016.
Clovis (Quarterfinals)
Is this the final ride that we are seeing for the legendary head coach? With two legendary head coaches stepping down this summer we wouldn't be surprised. Well, this ride won't end without a playoff run and they have a few reasons why they make the return.
Why? Clovis runningback Micah Gray returns after a 1,057 rushing season and looks to lead the offense this season after graduating a stud QB and other pieces.
J Grine of NMPreps.com
Today, we continue our look into the future and the 2016 New Mexico High School football season. If you have been following along we took a look at the teams who missed the playoffs last season in our Cellar Teams That Will Make The Playoffs.
12 of 24 teams make the New Mexico High School state football playoffs each season and today we take our prediction on 6 of the returning 12 that will go dancing again.
More: Buy or Sell Cellar Teams for 2016
Cleveland (State Champs)
Making the State Championship is tough to do in consecutive seasons and good thing we are not making a prediction on that today. However, when you look take a look at the City of Vision, you automatically predict them playing past the final game of the season.
Why? First you have to look at the number four returning prospect in the 2017 class, Adam Cook. Cook a dominating TE with 406-yards last season will look to lead the way on offense along with OL Daimon Altamirano. Altamirano is the seventh ranked prospect from the 2017 class.
Mayfield (Semi-Finals)
Tradition never graduates? Well, how about the tradition of never missing the playoffs. It's not rocket science when we 'guarantee' the Trojans will return to another playoff season.
Why? The Trojans offense will continue to thrive as long as Issac Vance is healthy. Vance, is returning after posting a 2,200-yard rushing season and scoring 30-touchdowns as a junior. Not much else to add along with Vance being the number returning prospect from the 2017 class.
Las Cruces (Semi-Finals)
Well, in Las Cruces you are almost guranteed to be playing in the playoffs if you have Blue and Red as your favorite team colors. The Bulldawgs however have several key positions to replace along with one of the best high school football coaches. However, to say they won't be in the playoffs.... well that's close to impossible.
Why? The sixth ranked returning prospect from 2017 is OL Tristan Olson a 6-foot-2, 265 pound lineman that will be ready to lead the Bulldawgs into a new era.
Rio Rancho (Quarterfinals)
Well, we are four teams in and two cities deep of our six teams that will play in the playoffs next season. The 2014 State Champion Rio Rancho Rams return some excitement in Josh Foley along with a plethora of depth on defense.
Why? Well, we mentioned Foley but the depth on defense s led by linebackers Elijah Goodwin and Vincent Palmeri, two prospects on the rise and ranked 17th and 18th respectfully.
Eldorado Eagles (State Runner-Up)
The Eagles made the run to the title game and have been a power waiting in the wings. The team is loaded with talent returning and features several prospects ranked in the Top 60 returning players for next season. You have to like the Eagles to be a threat to return to the final game.
Why? Fullback Elias Baker, Adam Clark (OL), and Dominic Sandoval (ATH) are only three of the reasons why the Eagles will be just as good this season. All three ranked in the Top 20 players and making them a team to not take lightly in 2016.
Clovis (Quarterfinals)
Is this the final ride that we are seeing for the legendary head coach? With two legendary head coaches stepping down this summer we wouldn't be surprised. Well, this ride won't end without a playoff run and they have a few reasons why they make the return.
Why? Clovis runningback Micah Gray returns after a 1,057 rushing season and looks to lead the offense this season after graduating a stud QB and other pieces.
