New Mexico High School Football Player Rankings: 2026 Season

NMPreps' Top-75 list highlights the state's top returning talent

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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NMPreps has released its Top 75 New Mexico high school football player rankings heading into the 2026 season. The list serves as an early snapshot of the state's top returning talent as teams transition from the offseason toward preseason preparation.

Why it matters

These rankings provide valuable insight into the top high school football players in New Mexico, giving fans, coaches, and recruiters an early look at the state's top talent and potential future college stars.

The details

The list is headlined by Colton McKibben, a linebacker from Carlsbad High School who is ranked as the #1 player in the state and the #1 player in the 2027 class. McKibben had an impressive 2025 season, recording 111 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery across 12 games. He is described as a "high-motor, aggressive linebacker with true sideline-to-sideline range" who "diagnoses plays quickly, reacts decisively, and consistently flows to the football."

  • The rankings were released on February 15, 2026, ahead of the 2026 high school football season.

The players

Colton McKibben

A linebacker from Carlsbad High School who is ranked as the #1 player in New Mexico and the #1 player in the 2027 class. He had an impressive 2025 season, recording 111 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery.

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The takeaway

These rankings provide an early look at the top high school football talent in New Mexico, highlighting players like Colton McKibben who have the potential to make a big impact on the field in the coming seasons and potentially earn college scholarships.