25 for 25: Journal begins ambitious prep football project

The best of the best.

Of the best.

This is our pursuit.

The Albuquerque Journal is working on a project in which it will announce — during the upcoming prep football season — its choices for the top 25 high school football players of the first 25 seasons (2000-2024) of the 21st century.

And if you are looking to throw a name into the hat, now is your chance.

The only real criteria: they have to have played at least one season in 2000 or beyond, through the 2024 season. Well, that, and they need to have been a transcendent talent, not just for their high school, but a name immediately recognizable to all of New Mexico.

What they did beyond their high school is largely irrelevant to our selection process. What they accomplished with their high school program is what is relevant. The number of championship rings is also not important here, nor even the prestige of their program.

Of course, we’ve already jotted down a good number of the top names, so you won’t need to submit nominees like Zach Gentry from Eldorado, or Alan Branch from Cibola, or Jordan Byrd from Manzano, to cite just three examples.

But we also want to make sure we do our due diligence, and be certain we don’t overlook anyone.

The top 25 will be revealed — the plan is to do this in five parts — during the regular season. We will even attempt to rank them 1-25, which is not only impossible, but sure to generate healthy debate.

This question has already been posted on social media, and there has been a fantastic response, but we are now expanding the audience. Give us your feedback, and email jyodice@abqjournal.com.

Have fun with it. That’s what we’re doing.