Cibola star Aden Chavez is New Mexico鈥檚 hidden gem QB recruit
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (BVM) 鈥� The numbers don鈥檛 lie. Aden Chavez is the clear-cut best high school quarterback in New Mexico.聽
Only a junior, the 6-foot-5 signal-caller is already Cibola鈥檚 all-time leading passer, having thrown for 5,090 yards and 50 touchdowns in 19 varsity games. This past season he led the state with 3,075 passing yards and 32 passing TDs while also adding a pair of rushing TDs for the 6-6 Cougars, who reached the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. His 279.5 passing yards per game ranked 28th in the nation among junior QBs.
But even with all of the impressive stats, Chavez has yet to receive a Division I offer. That鈥檚 likely only because he plays in a state where it鈥檚 exceedingly difficult to gain exposure.
鈥淚 think you get put behind a little bit of a barricade until you get that national attention,鈥� Chavez said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more like you have to get that UNM (University of New Mexico) offer first or something like that because other states are like, 鈥極h, we don鈥檛 really think New Mexico is that big of a football state鈥� and so once UNM gives you that offer, other states are like, 鈥極K, this kid鈥檚 for real.鈥欌��
It鈥檚 probably only a matter of time before UNM becomes one of the first D-I programs to extend an offer as Chavez has been in close contact with the Lobos, but it鈥檚 been evident for quite a while that the Cougars鈥� QB is 鈥渇or real.鈥� In 2019, Chavez broke the state record for most passing yards and touchdowns by a freshman in their first game and also set the mark for most passing yards and touchdowns in a game by any varsity starter in New Mexico high school history when he threw for 428 yards and six TDs in a 40-35 Cibola victory over Sandia.
While continuing to improve as a player on the field since his freshman year, Chavez has also been excelling as a student in the classroom. He carries a 4.25 GPA while taking Advanced-Placement Physics, US History, Calculus, and Honor English. The son of a teacher, Chavez has always taken academics seriously, and the quality of education he鈥檒l receive in college will be an important factor when deciding where to go. It鈥檚 also always been one of Chavez鈥檚 dreams to attend an Ivy League university, and he鈥檚 been in talks with Columbia, Dartmouth and Yale.
鈥淎s a kid, I always wanted to go to the Ivy League because of what they offer,鈥� Chavez said. 鈥淚 honestly want to go to a school that offers great education because I鈥檝e always had that push from my parents to get a good education. 鈥� Even if I鈥檓 a big name or someone that gets a full-ride offer, I still think education is more important than a lot of things because you can always lean back on it.鈥�
With his impressive combination of talent and intelligence, Chavez is bound to make a college football program look smart if they鈥檙e fortunate enough to sign the hidden gem QB, who seems to have all the tools needed to succeed at the next level both on and off the field. And for the colleges that are willing to take notice, Chavez is ready to prove that he can compete with the best, no matter what state he鈥檚 competing in while making his home state proud in the process.
鈥淚 think it drives everybody here to work a little bit harder because there鈥檚 always that overhanging shadow of, 鈥榊ou鈥檙e in New Mexico,鈥欌�� Chavez said. 鈥淚 think everybody has that motivation to make it out. I鈥檝e always wanted to be that kid that did it for his school and made it out and just be that kid that can represent New Mexico.鈥�
