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New Mexico Highlands University Athletics

2024 Football Roster

Go To Coaching Staff

Team Photo John Vestal | Sports Fanatic Photography

Players

  • LB 6'2"
    Gr. Oakland, CA Saint Mary's College High School
    Graduate Student Oakland, CA Saint Mary's College High School
  • RB 5'11"
    So. Philadelphia, PA Monsignor Bonner HS / East Stroudsburg
    Sophomore Philadelphia, PA Monsignor Bonner HS / East Stroudsburg
  • DB 6'0"
    So. Hobbs, NM Hobbs High School
    Sophomore Hobbs, NM Hobbs High School
  • WR 6'0"
    Sr. Los Angeles, CA Westchester High School
    Senior Los Angeles, CA Westchester High School
  • DB 6'1"
    Fr. Casa Grande, AZ Vista Grande High School
    Freshman Casa Grande, AZ Vista Grande High School
  • RB 5'8"
    Sr. Los Angeles, CA Hamilton High School
    Senior Los Angeles, CA Hamilton High School
  • LB 6'1"
    Jr. Huntington Beach, CA Mater Dei HS/Long Beach CC
    Junior Huntington Beach, CA Mater Dei HS/Long Beach CC
  • RB 5'10"
    So. Raton, NM Raton HS
    Sophomore Raton, NM Raton HS
  • DB 5'10"
    Gr. Williamstown, NJ Williamstown High School
    Graduate Student Williamstown, NJ Williamstown High School
  • QB 6'2"
    Fr. Hauula,HI Kahuku High School
    Freshman Hauula,HI Kahuku High School
  • DB
    Fr. Hobbs, NM Hobbs High School
    Freshman Hobbs, NM Hobbs High School
  • DB 6'0"
    Sr. Los Angeles, CA La Mirada High School
    Senior Los Angeles, CA La Mirada High School
  • DB 6'0"
    So. Taos, NM Saint Michaels
    Sophomore Taos, NM Saint Michaels
  • TE 6'2"
    So. El Paso, TX Pebble Hills High School
    Sophomore El Paso, TX Pebble Hills High School
  • LB 6'3"
    Jr. Los Angeles, CA San Pedro HS / El Camino Community College
    Junior Los Angeles, CA San Pedro HS / El Camino Community College
  • QB 6'4"
    Jr. Baton Rouge, LA Dutchtown High School
    Junior Baton Rouge, LA Dutchtown High School
  • WR 6'2"
    Sr. Exeter,CA Exeter Union High School
    Senior Exeter,CA Exeter Union High School
  • RB 5'8"
    Gr. South Bend, IN South Bend High School
    Graduate Student South Bend, IN South Bend High School
  • DB 6'0"
    Fr. Rio Rancho, NM Bernalillo High School
    Freshman Rio Rancho, NM Bernalillo High School
  • WR 5'9"
    Jr. Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas
    Junior Fort Lauderdale, FL St. Thomas Aquinas
  • WR 5'9"
    Jr. Fort Worth, TX Byron Nelson HS / Tyler JC
    Junior Fort Worth, TX Byron Nelson HS / Tyler JC
  • QB 6'0"
    Sr. Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho High Schoool
    Senior Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho High Schoool
  • WR 5'10"
    Fr. Albuquerque, NM Volcano Vista High School
    Freshman Albuquerque, NM Volcano Vista High School
  • QB 6'2"
    Fr. Farmington, NM Farmington High School
    Freshman Farmington, NM Farmington High School
  • WR 5'8"
    Fr. Albuquerque, NM West Mesa High School
    Freshman Albuquerque, NM West Mesa High School
  • WR 6'4"
    So. Minden, NV Douglas, HS / Feather River College
    Sophomore Minden, NV Douglas, HS / Feather River College
  • LB 6'0"
    Jr. Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho HS
    Junior Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho HS
  • DB 5'11"
    Fr. Alta Loma, CA Alta Loma High School
    Freshman Alta Loma, CA Alta Loma High School
  • RB 5'10"
    Fr. Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho HS
    Freshman Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho HS
  • RB 5'10"
    So. Artesia, NM Artesia High School
    Sophomore Artesia, NM Artesia High School
  • DB 6'1"
    Fr. Sierra Vista, AZ Buena HS
    Freshman Sierra Vista, AZ Buena HS
  • DB 6'0"
    Fr. Portales, NM Portales HS
    Freshman Portales, NM Portales HS
  • RB 5'9"
    Fr. El Paso, TX Socorro High School
    Freshman El Paso, TX Socorro High School
  • DB 6'2"
    Fr. Rio Rancho, NM Bernalillo High School
    Freshman Rio Rancho, NM Bernalillo High School
  • WR 5'8"
    Jr. Albuquerque, NM Cibola High School
    Junior Albuquerque, NM Cibola High School
  • WR 5'9"
    Fr. Grants, NM Grants High School
    Freshman Grants, NM Grants High School
  • LB 6'0"
    Jr. Everett, WA Arch Bishop Murphy HS/Santa Ana College
    Junior Everett, WA Arch Bishop Murphy HS/Santa Ana College
  • DB 6'2"
    Sr. Huntington Beach, CA Huntington Beach High School
    Senior Huntington Beach, CA Huntington Beach High School
  • DB 5'10"
    Fr. Newman, GA East Coweta HS
    Freshman Newman, GA East Coweta HS
  • RB 6'0"
    Fr. Springville, UT Springville HS
    Freshman Springville, UT Springville HS
  • RB 5'10"
    So. Albuquerque, NM Valley High School
    Sophomore Albuquerque, NM Valley High School
  • DL 6'2"
    Jr. Petaluma, CA Marin Catholic HS / City College of San Francisco
    Junior Petaluma, CA Marin Catholic HS / City College of San Francisco
  • LB 6'2"
    Fr. Farmington, NM Farmington HS
    Freshman Farmington, NM Farmington HS
  • K 6'1"
    Fr. Parker, CO Pondarosa High School
    Freshman Parker, CO Pondarosa High School
  • LB 6'0"
    Fr. El Paso, TX Eastlake HS
    Freshman El Paso, TX Eastlake HS
  • DB 5'10"
    Fr. Albuquerque, NM Rio Rancho HS
    Freshman Albuquerque, NM Rio Rancho HS
  • LB 6'1"
    Fr. Las Cruces, NM Centennial High School
    Freshman Las Cruces, NM Centennial High School
  • LB 6'2"
    Jr. Eureka, CA Eureka High School
    Junior Eureka, CA Eureka High School
  • LB 5'9"
    Fr. Las Cruces, NM Mayfield High School
    Freshman Las Cruces, NM Mayfield High School
  • WR 5'8"
    Fr. Phoenix, AZ Paradise Valley High School
    Freshman Phoenix, AZ Paradise Valley High School
  • DL 6'3"
    Sr. East Palo Alto, CA Milpitas High School
    Senior East Palo Alto, CA Milpitas High School
  • LB 6'2"
    Fr. Artesia, NM Artesia High School
    Freshman Artesia, NM Artesia High School
  • LB 5'10"
    Fr. Grants, NM Grants HS
    Freshman Grants, NM Grants HS
  • LB 5'11"
    Fr. Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho High Schoool
    Freshman Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho High Schoool
  • DL 6'3"
    Fr. Raton, NM Raton HS
    Freshman Raton, NM Raton HS
  • LB 6'1"
    Fr. Ontario, CA Coronado High School
    Freshman Ontario, CA Coronado High School
  • LB 5'11"
    Fr. Belen, NM Belen HS
    Freshman Belen, NM Belen HS
  • DL 6'1"
    Fr. Las Vegas, NM Robertson HS / NMMI
    Freshman Las Vegas, NM Robertson HS / NMMI
  • OL 6'1"
    Jr. El Paso, TX Franklin HS / Southwestern Oklahoma State
    Junior El Paso, TX Franklin HS / Southwestern Oklahoma State
  • DL 6'1"
    Fr. El Paso, TX Eastlake HS
    Freshman El Paso, TX Eastlake HS
  • OL 6'0"
    Fr. Bernalillo, NM Bernalillo High School
    Freshman Bernalillo, NM Bernalillo High School
  • DL 6'3"
    58

    DJ West

    Fr. Jesup, GA Wayne County High School
    Freshman Jesup, GA Wayne County High School
  • OL 5'11"
    Sr. Seaside,CA Seaside High School
    Senior Seaside,CA Seaside High School
  • OL 6'3"
    Jr. Murrieta, CA Murrieta Mesa High School
    Junior Murrieta, CA Murrieta Mesa High School
  • OL 6'1"
    Fr. Albuquerque, NM Atrisco Heritage Academy
    Freshman Albuquerque, NM Atrisco Heritage Academy
  • OL 5'11"
    Fr. Carlsbad,NM Carlsbad High School
    Freshman Carlsbad,NM Carlsbad High School
  • OL 6'3"
    Fr. Phelan, CA Hisperia HS
    Freshman Phelan, CA Hisperia HS
  • OL 6'1"
    So. Albuquerque, NM Highland HS
    Sophomore Albuquerque, NM Highland HS
  • OL 6'2"
    Sr. Canoga Park, CA El Camino Real Charter
    Senior Canoga Park, CA El Camino Real Charter
  • DL 6'2"
    Fr. Mesa, AZ American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North
    Freshman Mesa, AZ American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North
  • OL 6'3"
    Jr. Farmington, NM Farmington HS
    Junior Farmington, NM Farmington HS
  • OL 6'5"
    Fr. El Paso, TX Austin High School
    Freshman El Paso, TX Austin High School
  • OL 6'3"
    Fr. El Paso, TX Pebble Hill HS
    Freshman El Paso, TX Pebble Hill HS
  • OL 6'6"
    Sr. El Serano,CA Woodrow Wilson High School
    Senior El Serano,CA Woodrow Wilson High School
  • OL 6'6"
    Fr. Federal Way, WA Fife High School
    Freshman Federal Way, WA Fife High School
  • WR 5'7"
    Fr. El Paso, TX Socorro High School
    Freshman El Paso, TX Socorro High School
  • WR 6'3"
    Fr. Hayward, CA Hayward High School
    Freshman Hayward, CA Hayward High School
  • WR 5'9"
    Fr. Tucson, AZ Salpointe Catholic HS
    Freshman Tucson, AZ Salpointe Catholic HS
  • WR 6'1"
    Fr. Sierra Vista, AZ Buena High School
    Freshman Sierra Vista, AZ Buena High School
  • WR 5'9"
    Fr. El Paso, TX J.M. Hanks High School
    Freshman El Paso, TX J.M. Hanks High School
  • TE 6'2"
    Fr. Monmoth, OR Central High School
    Freshman Monmoth, OR Central High School
  • WR 5'8"
    Fr. High Point, NM Chaparral High School
    Freshman High Point, NM Chaparral High School
  • TE 6'4"
    Jr. Monrovia, CA Rio Hondo Prep/Citrus College
    Junior Monrovia, CA Rio Hondo Prep/Citrus College
  • WR 6'2"
    Fr. Santa Fe, NM Capital high School
    Freshman Santa Fe, NM Capital high School
  • TE 6'4"
    Fr. Albuquerque, NM Cibola High School
    Freshman Albuquerque, NM Cibola High School
  • DL 6'1"
    Jr. Waimea, HI Faith Lutheran High School
    Junior Waimea, HI Faith Lutheran High School
  • DL 6'1"
    Fr. Henderson, NV Foothill High School
    Freshman Henderson, NV Foothill High School
  • DL 6'1"
    Sr. Montclair, CA Montclair High School
    Senior Montclair, CA Montclair High School
  • DL 6'1"
    Fr. Los Angeles,CA Culver City HS
    Freshman Los Angeles,CA Culver City HS
  • DL 6'2"
    So. Hatch, NM Hatch Valley HS/NMMI
    Sophomore Hatch, NM Hatch Valley HS/NMMI
  • DL 6'0"
    Fr. Albuquerque, NM Menaul HS
    Freshman Albuquerque, NM Menaul HS
  • DL 5'10"
    Fr. Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho High Schoool
    Freshman Rio Rancho, NM Rio Rancho High Schoool

Staff Roster

Football Coaching Staff

2024 Coaching Staff
  • Head Football Coach/Defensive Coordinator

    Kurt Taufa'asau

  • Offensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator

    Drew Thatcher

  • Offensive Line/Assistant Head Coach

    Robert Rodriguez

  • Linebackers Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator

    Ben Langford

  • Wide Receivers Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator

    Bryndan McCoy

  • Offensive Graduate Assistant

    Gage Guardiola

  • Defensive Graduate Assistant

    Creede Wylie

  • Student Assistant

    AJ Sanchez-Montoya

2024 Football Roster
# Full Name Pos Ht. Academic Year Hometown / High School
0 Trenton Johnson LB 6-2 Gr. Oakland, CA / Saint Mary's College High School
1 Mason Peterson RB 5-11 So. Philadelphia, PA / Monsignor Bonner HS / East Stroudsburg
2 Isaiah Jackson DB 6-0 So. Hobbs, NM / Hobbs High School
2 Orion Naulls WR 6-0 Sr. Los Angeles, CA / Westchester High School
3 Markel Lewis DB 6-1 Fr. Casa Grande, AZ / Vista Grande High School
3 Malik Norman RB 5-8 Sr. Los Angeles, CA / Hamilton High School
4 Jagger Mosqueda LB 6-1 Jr. Huntington Beach, CA / Mater Dei HS/Long Beach CC
4 Cayden Walton RB 5-10 So. Raton, NM / Raton HS
6 Damonte Campbell DB 5-10 Gr. Williamstown, NJ / Williamstown High School
6 Waika Crawford QB 6-2 Fr. Hauula,HI / Kahuku High School
7 Adrian Munson DB 6- Fr. Hobbs, NM / Hobbs High School
8 AJ Hernandez DB 6-0 Sr. Los Angeles, CA / La Mirada High School
9 Creed Chavez DB 6-0 So. Taos, NM / Saint Michaels
9 Jacob Ledesma IV TE 6-2 So. El Paso, TX / Pebble Hills High School
10 Ben Watson LB 6-3 Jr. Los Angeles, CA / San Pedro HS / El Camino Community College
10 Stephen Winfield, Jr QB 6-4 Jr. Baton Rouge, LA / Dutchtown High School
11 Teneil Nichols WR 6-2 Sr. Exeter,CA / Exeter Union High School
12 Quinton Gordon RB 5-8 Gr. South Bend, IN / South Bend High School
12 Jahvon Maes McChristian DB 6-0 Fr. Rio Rancho, NM / Bernalillo High School
13 Maurice Newton WR 5-9 Jr. Fort Lauderdale, FL / St. Thomas Aquinas
14 Mike Jones WR 5-9 Jr. Fort Worth, TX / Byron Nelson HS / Tyler JC
15 Joey Cave QB 6-0 Sr. Rio Rancho, NM / Rio Rancho High Schoool
16 Ethan Padilla WR 5-10 Fr. Albuquerque, NM / Volcano Vista High School
17 Triel Griego QB 6-2 Fr. Farmington, NM / Farmington High School
18 Chris Johnson II WR 5-8 Fr. Albuquerque, NM / West Mesa High School
19 Cameron Swain WR 6-4 So. Minden, NV / Douglas, HS / Feather River College
20 Fabiano Valdez LB 6-0 Jr. Rio Rancho, NM / Rio Rancho HS
22 Sean Casey DB 5-11 Fr. Alta Loma, CA / Alta Loma High School
22 Rayce Ramirez RB 5-10 Fr. Rio Rancho, NM / Rio Rancho HS
23 Luis Pando RB 5-10 So. Artesia, NM / Artesia High School
24 Adrian Bonilla DB 6-1 Fr. Sierra Vista, AZ / Buena HS
25 Devin Diaz DB 6-0 Fr. Portales, NM / Portales HS
26 Adrian Acosta RB 5-9 Fr. El Paso, TX / Socorro High School
26 Mason McChriston DB 6-2 Fr. Rio Rancho, NM / Bernalillo High School
27 Nathan Lopez WR 5-8 Jr. Albuquerque, NM / Cibola High School
28 Manuel Gonzlez WR 5-9 Fr. Grants, NM / Grants High School
28 Ethan Orona LB 6-0 Jr. Everett, WA / Arch Bishop Murphy HS/Santa Ana College
29 Arick McLawler DB 6-2 Sr. Huntington Beach, CA / Huntington Beach High School
31 Kaleb Harris DB 5-10 Fr. Newman, GA / East Coweta HS
32 Tevita Valeti RB 6-0 Fr. Springville, UT / Springville HS
33 Caden Jajola RB 5-10 So. Albuquerque, NM / Valley High School
34 Kekoa Garrido DL 6-2 Jr. Petaluma, CA / Marin Catholic HS / City College of San Francisco
35 Ian Fishburn LB 6-2 Fr. Farmington, NM / Farmington HS
36 Logan Matthews K 6-1 Fr. Parker, CO / Pondarosa High School
37 Tyler White LB 6-0 Fr. El Paso, TX / Eastlake HS
38 Noah Nelson DB 5-10 Fr. Albuquerque, NM / Rio Rancho HS
39 Julein Montano LB 6-1 Fr. Las Cruces, NM / Centennial High School
40 Chase Steubing LB 6-2 Jr. Eureka, CA / Eureka High School
41 Bobby Herrera LB 5-9 Fr. Las Cruces, NM / Mayfield High School
42 Michael Ibarra WR 5-8 Fr. Phoenix, AZ / Paradise Valley High School
44 Ioane Foliaki-Vete DL 6-3 Sr. East Palo Alto, CA / Milpitas High School
45 Rylee Jarratt LB 6-2 Fr. Artesia, NM / Artesia High School
47 Larry Meador LB 5-10 Fr. Grants, NM / Grants HS
48 Niko Ramirez LB 5-11 Fr. Rio Rancho, NM / Rio Rancho High Schoool
49 Isaiah Garcia DL 6-3 Fr. Raton, NM / Raton HS
50 Paul Adeoye LB 6-1 Fr. Ontario, CA / Coronado High School
52 Augustine Lopez LB 5-11 Fr. Belen, NM / Belen HS
55 Bodie Schlinger DL 6-1 Fr. Las Vegas, NM / Robertson HS / NMMI
56 Jaydn Jaramillo OL 6-1 Jr. El Paso, TX / Franklin HS / Southwestern Oklahoma State
57 Logan Duran DL 6-1 Fr. El Paso, TX / Eastlake HS
58 Jaiden Dayzie OL 6-0 Fr. Bernalillo, NM / Bernalillo High School
58 DJ West DL 6-3 Fr. Jesup, GA / Wayne County High School
62 Terrance Hawkins OL 5-11 Sr. Seaside,CA / Seaside High School
65 Isaiah Vera OL 6-3 Jr. Murrieta, CA / Murrieta Mesa High School
67 Andrew Aguirre OL 6-1 Fr. Albuquerque, NM / Atrisco Heritage Academy
68 Merced Rubio OL 5-11 Fr. Carlsbad,NM / Carlsbad High School
70 Cody LaCroix OL 6-3 Fr. Phelan, CA / Hisperia HS
71 Aaron Loya OL 6-1 So. Albuquerque, NM / Highland HS
72 Alberto Puente OL 6-2 Sr. Canoga Park, CA / El Camino Real Charter
73 Hunter Garrison DL 6-2 Fr. Mesa, AZ / American Leadership Academy-Gilbert North
74 Kioni Benally OL 6-3 Jr. Farmington, NM / Farmington HS
76 Eloy Romo-Reyes OL 6-5 Fr. El Paso, TX / Austin High School
77 Tyrese White OL 6-3 Fr. El Paso, TX / Pebble Hill HS
78 Luis Camacho-Gomez OL 6-6 Sr. El Serano,CA / Woodrow Wilson High School
79 Ignacius Bishop OL 6-6 Fr. Federal Way, WA / Fife High School
80 Diego Aguirre WR 5-7 Fr. El Paso, TX / Socorro High School
81 Eusebio Goncalves WR 6-3 Fr. Hayward, CA / Hayward High School
82 Armani Sheriff WR 5-9 Fr. Tucson, AZ / Salpointe Catholic HS
83 Simon-Peter Johnson WR 6-1 Fr. Sierra Vista, AZ / Buena High School
84 Jude Blanco WR 5-9 Fr. El Paso, TX / J.M. Hanks High School
85 Andrew Taufa'asau TE 6-2 Fr. Monmoth, OR / Central High School
86 Chantz Price WR 5-8 Fr. High Point, NM / Chaparral High School
87 Royal Young TE 6-4 Jr. Monrovia, CA / Rio Hondo Prep/Citrus College
88 Santos Salazar WR 6-2 Fr. Santa Fe, NM / Capital high School
89 Cale Jones TE 6-4 Fr. Albuquerque, NM / Cibola High School
91 Nalu Shimizu DL 6-1 Jr. Waimea, HI / Faith Lutheran High School
92 Alexandre Crawford DL 6-1 Fr. Henderson, NV / Foothill High School
94 Evan Richardson DL 6-1 Sr. Montclair, CA / Montclair High School
95 Keenan Carter DL 6-1 Fr. Los Angeles,CA / Culver City HS
96 Jeremiah Terrazas DL 6-2 So. Hatch, NM / Hatch Valley HS/NMMI
97 Tito Diaz DL 6-0 Fr. Albuquerque, NM / Menaul HS
98 Xavier Provencio DL 5-10 Fr. Rio Rancho, NM / Rio Rancho High Schoool

Football Coaching Staff

2024 Coaching Staff
Football - Coaching Staff
Image Name Title
Kurt Taufa'asau 2025 NMHU Football Kurt Taufa'asau Head Football Coach/Defensive Coordinator
Drew Thatcher 2025 NMHU Football Drew Thatcher Offensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
Robert Rodriguez 2025 NMHU Football Robert Rodriguez Offensive Line/Assistant Head Coach
Ben Langford NMHU FB 2024 Ben Langford Linebackers Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
Bryndan McCoy NMHU FB 2024 Bryndan McCoy Wide Receivers Coach/Co-Special Teams Coordinator
Gage Guardiola 2025 NMHU Football Gage Guardiola Offensive Graduate Assistant
Creede Wylie Creede Wylie Defensive Graduate Assistant
AJ Sanchez Montoya NMHU Football 2025 AJ Sanchez-Montoya Student Assistant

Staff Roster

Football Coaching Staff