In the world of football, if you have an offense that can consistently gain first downs, that’s a good thing. But when you have a player that can virtually gain a first down every time he touches the ball, you have yourself a dangerous weapon.

We ran the Value Add Sports calculations on all returning athletes in New Mexico and emailed sports writers and other experts in the state to help rank the top 10 state players to watch on a list we will update here.

It’s no secret that wolves run in packs, and that statement holds true for the Lobos of New Mexico. They’re led by gamebreaker Jhurell Pressley, who averaged 9.5 yards a tote for the Lobo rushing attack in running for 1,083 yards and 12 scores. As the most explosive playmaker for the nation’s 5th-best rushing attack, Pressley is primed for a big year. He won’t be alone with Teryion Gipson, Lamar Jordan, and David Anaya also taking some carries but with Pressley’s production, one would expect that he gets the lion’s share of the work this year as despite leading the team in rush yards and rushing scores, he was third on the team in attempts—Jordan and Gipson each had more, and both are back.

But the athletes have a long way to go to get in the conversation of best athletic export from the Land of Enchantment. Currently, that distinction belongs to perhaps the hardest hitting defensive back ever in Ronnie Lott, according to a December 2012 article from Bleacher Report.

  1. Jhurell Pressley, New Mexico, Football, RB (pictured)

  2. Pascal Siakam, New Mexico St., Basketball, C

  3. Lamar Jordan, New Mexico, Football, QB

  4. Ian Baker, New Mexico St., Basketball, PG

  5. Kyra Mohns, New Mexico, Track/Field, Decathlon

  6. Dillon Romine, New Mexico, Football, OL

  7. Teriyon Gipson, New Mexico, Football, RB

  8. David Anaya, New Mexico, Football, RB

  9. Obij Aget, New Mexico, Basketball, C

  10. Eden Mahina, New Mexico Lobos, Football, OL