The Tucson to Silver City, N.M., contingent of high school football players is getting larger.
Cienega receiver Caleb Kidney announced Thursday that he will continue his football career at Western New Mexico, joining teammates Hunter Schlagel, a defensive tackle, and Isaiah Webb, a linebacker, with the Mustangs next season.
Western New Mexico, an NCAA Division II program, already has nine players from Southern Arizona, including Webb’s brother Thomas, a safety.
“With the lack of exposure because of the season cut short (due to COVID-19), he felt this was a good opportunity,” said Caleb’s father Chris. “They have been looking at him the last couple of years and he can also be with his friends. He’s played with Hunter (in the Tucson Youth Football & Spirit Federation) since they were 7 with the Wildcats.”
I want to say I am excited to be continuing my future at @WNMUFootball Thank you @coachb_blevins5 @CoachTristan_ @CoachBeauGrech for giving me this opportunity. Also thanks to @GametimeRC @CienegaFootball @SOAZFootball @JavierJMorales @CodyTCameron #2021GametimeFamily pic.twitter.com/5l1m4d55zw
— Caleb Kidney (@CalebKidney2021) February 26, 2021
Caleb, 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, is the 10th Cienega player to make a commitment or sign with a college.
The others are RB/S C.J. Flores (NAU), LB/RB Josiah Flores (Fort Lewis), RB Gabe Levy (Mary), WR/DB Charles Hamm III (Jamestown), DT Hunter Schlagel (Western New Mexico), LB Isaiah Webb (Western New Mexico), SS Sebastian Felix (Drake), C Andrew Husfelt (Washburn) and QB Ryan Swoger (South Dakota State).
Here is the list of the 34 local Class of 2021 players who have committed or signed:
- Former Salpointe OT Jonah Miller on May 18 to Oregon. He signed on Dec. 16.
- CDO RB Stevie Rocker on July 16 to Arizona. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Ironwood Ridge QB Chase Cassel on Sept. 23 to St. Norbert. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Nogales LB Rene R. Urias Jr. on Oct. 1 to Grinnell, He signed on Feb. 13.
- Cienega QB Ryan Swoger on Oct. 23 to South Dakota State. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Walden Grove LB Sebastian Adamski on Nov. 16 to Drake. He signed on Dec. 16.
- Cienega C Andrew Husfelt on Nov. 19 to Washburn. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Ironwood Ridge FS Dylan Cook on Nov. 24 to Morehead State
- Walden Grove WR Alex Culbertson on Nov. 24 to Simpson
- Catalina Foothills TE Garrick Krautz on Dec. 9 to Morehead State.
- Cienega SS Sebastian Felix on Dec. 16 to Drake. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega LB Isaiah Webb on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega DT Hunter Schlagel on Dec. 18 to Western New Mexico. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Buena OT Dominic Avant on Jan. 19 to Sioux Falls. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Pusch Ridge RB/DB Evan Lovett on Jan. 19 to Minot (N.D.) State. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega WR/DB Charles Hamm III on Jan. 19 to Jamestown. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Buena RB Isaac Benoit on Jan. 20 to Sioux Falls. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Salpointe TE Fernando Torres on Jan. 22 to St. Olaf.
- Cienega RB Gabe Levy on Jan. 23 to Mary. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Nogales WR Ricky Hanlan on Jan. 27 to Western New Mexico. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega LB Josiah Flores on Feb. 2 to Fort Lewis. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Cienega S/RB C.J. Flores on Feb. 3 to NAU. He signed on Feb. 3.
- Empire ATH Yani Brown on Feb. 3 to Arizona Christian.
- Tucson WR/S Daniel Becerra on Feb. 3 to Chadron (Neb.) State.
- Sahuaro WR/S Damon Robledo on Feb. 3 to Concordia (Chicago). He signed on Feb. 3.
- Desert View LB Anton Jamero on Feb. 4 to Ripon.
- Rincon/University WR/S Steven Geiger on Feb. 4 to Lawrence. He signed on Feb. 4.
- Walden Grove RB Stephen Brower Jr. on Feb. 5 to Simpson. He signed on Feb. 18.
- Desert View RB Jacob Ramirez on Feb. 11 to to Lyon.
- Salpointe RB David Cordero on Feb. 15 to Ottawa.
- CDO CB Raife Anthony on Feb. 16 to Aurora.
- Sunnyside WR Anthony Galvez on Feb. 17 to Simpson.
- Salpointe DE Brees McCraren on Feb. 25 to Fort Lewis.
- Cienega WR Caleb Kidney on Feb. 25 to Western New Mexico
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
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