NMPreps.com - Top 25 Football Prospects In New Mexico

June 26, 2012

Kyle Henderson
NMPreps.com Staff Writer

We have released our first addition of our NMPreps.com's Top 100 Prospect Rankings. Remember, we'll update the top 100 prospect rankings once more after we have another opportunity to see the best of the best at the NMPreps.com Elite Combine which takes place on July 28th of 2012.

Team Rankings: Top 100 | 5A | 4A | 3A | 2A | 1A | Prep Football Team Previews Here | Elite 100 Info

Checking in at #25 is Las Cruces Offensive/Defensive Linemen Jacob Benegas who started for the Dawgs as a junior in 2011. He has a great size at 270 pounds and we liked what we saw in him again at Lobo Camp. #24 is Cory Ross out Albuquerque Cibola. Strong, tough, runner that is explosive with the football. Ran for over 1,000-yards as a junior. #23 is Bobby Mallett out of Carlsbad.

Great nose for the football and wants to be the top linebacker in the State. Impressive Highlight Tape from last year. #22 is Rishard Ortiz out of Albuquerque Highland. Big time player maker on both sides of the ball. At 6-foot-2, and 185 pounds Ortiz is a big play threat, but needs to become tougher. #21 is Kamal Cass out of Clovis.

The 175 pound running back had a productive sophomore season in 2011 and with a decent offensive line returning, he projects as their best back since Manuel Robles. #20 is Skyler Walker out of Albuquerque Manzano. At 6-3 and 185 pounds, Walker runs crisp routes and has improved on making the tough catch in traffic over the off-season. Expect him to haul in 1,000-yards in 2012.

#19 is Ulises Astorga out of Rio Rancho and one prospect who will likely test thru the roof at the Elite Combine this summer. Astorga's older brother was the top running back in Colorado a few years back, so it's in his bloodline to be big time. #18 is JT Boone who will be La Cueva's top offensive linemen in 2012. Well built and an extremely hard worker in the off-season. You want this type of young man on your team.

#17 is Rodney Holcomb out of Carlsbad. The 6-4, 185 pound Quarterback form the Class of 2014 is one of the few juniors to crack the top 25 this year. He started as a freshmen against Manzano, had a huge sophomore year leading Carlsbad past Mayfield and Artesia for the first time in years. Kid is big time, don't forget about him. #16 is Mustafa Mudada the younger brother of Bobby Newcomb who went on to play at Nebraska. While Mustafa does not have Bobby's size, Mudada is a burner with superb speed. Expecting a breakout out season for the Highland Star.

Cleveland's Desmond Branch checking in at #15 is currently at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds. Branch has three older bothers that all earned D-1 scholarships after high school. Branch is no where near his prime in our early evaluation of him. #14 Marshall Winn is one of the top tight ends on the boards with great size at 6-foot-4 and some solid hands. Underrated prospect, but you'll know who were are talking about once the season starts. #13 is 290 pound offensive and defensive linemen Austin French who has waiting his turn at Eldorado. Great feet, good first move off the ball, and one of the more dominating players in the trenches in Albuquerque.

Rio Rancho will be led on defense this year by #12 Dallin Brady at defensive back. Great coverage skills and bone shattering hit stick player. According to Rio Rancho Coaches, Brady is generating college level interest. #11 is Chris Loidolt out of La Cueva. At 220 pounds, he's a big boy that will lay the lumber on opposing team's running backs, receivers, etc. Also looks good carrying the rock at fullback.

Jumping into the top 10, we highlight out #10 overall prospect in David Chavers. A hybrid linebacker/defensive linemen that is nearly impossible to stop for slow footed linemen. Chavers is likely pound for pound of the state's strongest players from the Class of 2013. #9 is Steven Steele who when he steps on the field looks like he plays in California rather than in New Mexico. He'll be their big time threat at defensive back and on special teams, and is their number two quarterback. The Man of Steele is legit. #8 is Taylor Tisby out of Las Cruces. At 6-foot-2, and 240 pounds Tisby had 12 sacks as a junior in 2011. The Dawgs are number one right now because of prospects like Tisby.

#7 is Superman aka Adam Lucero who led the Aztec Tigers to a perfect 13-0 season as junior. Tough as they come, team leader, gamer, clutch. Lucero will keep Aztec in the mix. #6 is Romell Jordan their fastest man in New Mexico as he recently won the open 100M at the 2012 State Track Meet. He had over 20 touchdowns as a junior and totaled over 1,500-yards.

Alex Donaghe their offensive linemen that looks like a D-1 Linebacker checks in at #5. The 6-foot-1, 230 pound Ivey League Prospect has a stellar G.P.A. and is the next big time Artesia Bulldog. #4 is Big Calvin Allen at 6-foot-6, 240 pounds who many feel should be the number one overall prospect. Our take is this: Every time we've seen Allen at La Cueva he's been in a walking cast. Have not had the opportunity to evaluate him. Hopefully he will come prove he's the best at the Elite. He recently committed to Arizona.

#3 is 6-foot-5, 275 pound Kullen Wooten who on our board is a sure shot D-1 guy. Likely another prospect that will get hosed by the whole "Preferred Walk On" gig ran by our two in-state football programs. Hopefully New Mexico and New Mexico offer this one before he is starting at Colorado like 6-foot-5, 215 Tyler McCulloch receiver from Eldorado. #2 is Devonate Weeks out of Mayfield.

At 6-foot-5, and 265 pounds Weeks looks the part, but needs to prove he's the man this year. Looked fantastic at Aggie Camp. #1 overall in our early summer Top 100 Player Ranking is Kamryn Dixon out of Las Cruces High School. At 6-foot-3, and 220 pounds Dixon is gaining college level interest as a tight end and as a defensive end. Tore it up as the Elite Combine last year. Excited to see his overall progress as a senior.