Yodice: A memorable and historic day for three athletes, for La Cueva and for New Mexico

They put pen to paper, and in a melancholy sort of way, they ceased to be La Cueva Bears anymore.

They became a Sun Devil, a Badger, a Golden Gopher.

Before Christmas arrives, Cam Dyer will have graduated La Cueva. He’ll be on Arizona State’s campus next month.

Ditto for Mark Handy, who like Dyer is graduating early and will be at the University of Minnesota in a few weeks.

Mason Posa will continue on at La Cueva as a wrestler this winter, but he’s already got one eye on the University of Wisconsin.

The three football players from La Cueva signed Wednesday with their schools on the first day of the early signing period for Division I programs.

La Cueva became the first Albuquerque school, as far as anyone knows, to send three players from the same team to power conference college programs in the same season. Probably the first school anywhere in New Mexico to have achieved this, making it a historic day for prep football in the state.

Of course, Albuquerque has produced a handful of elite D-1 signees in recent memory. Alan Branch from Cibola and Zach Gentry from Eldorado signed (separately, of course) with Michigan. La Cueva’s Aaron Lewis went to Texas. The Bears’ Connor O’Toole to Utah. Highland’s Bobby Newcombe went to Nebraska. Henry Hattis of Cleveland signed with Stanford.

This Wednesday afternoon ceremony at La Cueva marked both an end and a beginning.

An end? That’s what this was, officially, for Handy, Posa and Dyer. The segue to college athletics has begun.

A beginning? Well who knows? Perhaps some day another New Mexico high school, maybe even La Cueva, will have a three-player signing bonanza like this one.

And to that end, there is an underlying message here.

“The best players in the state of New Mexico can play at the next level,” La Cueva coach Brandon Back said. “I’m hoping things like this open doors. This is a unique opportunity. And I don’t think it’ll come around that many times.”

Dyer on Wednesday was named MaxPreps Player of the Year for New Mexico, as he combined for 51 passing and rushing touchdowns. He played through a right knee injury in last Saturday’s 26-8 state championship game loss to Cleveland.

Arizona State recruited the 6-foot-4 Dyer as a receiver.

However, ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said this on Wednesday: “He’s a stud and we will give him a chance to practice at quarterback in the spring.”

Dyer is the top-rated recruit in this class for the Sun Devils, who are in the Big 12 championship game Saturday against Iowa State.

“We’ve grinded these last four years, and everything that’s happened has been a blessing,” Dyer said, reflecting on his prep career. “It’s all a testament to La Cueva High School. I feel we produce the best athletes, the best students in the state. Those guys (Mark and Mason) are my brothers for life.”

Dyer was asked about what type of college players Handy and Posa will become.

“I think they’re gonna be great college players,” he said. “I’m excited to see what each of our journeys hold.”

As for his own, Dyer said: “Can’t come fast enough. I’m so excited.”

Posa, who soon embarks on a quest for a fourth state wrestling title — which would break a tie he shares with his father, Javier, La Cueva’s coach, and don’t imagine for a minute that this won’t be one of the most entertaining story lines of the winter — said he believes he can contribute immediately for Wisconsin at linebacker, where he wreaked havoc during his La Cueva career.

“I feel like we’re all gonna be studs,” Posa said. “We’re all gonna make big impacts on our team.”

Posa has huge ambitions. Three stellar seasons at Wisconsin, and then a jump to the NFL. “Be a first-round pick,” he said. That’s the plan.

But he, like his two teammates, also had a genuine appreciation for the rarity of this day, and this moment.

“We all soaked it in,” Posa said. “We talk all the time on group chats. We’re really honored and we’re really blessed.”

And he echoed what Back said about New Mexico’s talent.

“I feel like everyone looks at New Mexico as a poor and crappy state, but we have ballers here, everywhere,” Posa said. “Me, Cam and Mark, we’re gonna prove to everyone that New Mexico can play some ball.”

Posa and Handy will face off regularly in conference games in the years to come. I had to ask, and I started with Handy. When the time comes, could you block Posa?

“I can definitely block him,” Handy said. “I’ll be able to stop him for sure.”

I relayed that response to Posa.

“Hell no,” Mason said, smiling. “Ask him about our 1 on 1s. I win every time.”

Handy played offensive tackle for La Cueva.

“It’s the most star-studded La Cueva team ever. … Just to be part of this group is a big deal,” Handy said. “To be part of that is special to me for sure.”

On a more immediate front, Handy — like Posa eventually — is gonna have to see about adding gear to prepare for the harshness of an upper Midwest winter. He was in a maroon Minnesota T-shirt Wednesday.

“I’m hoping they give me some,” he said, “but I might need to stock up.”

Handy also has dreams of playing in the NFL. It would certainly enhance New Mexico’s reputation if he, or Posa, or Dyer, or all three, eventually wear an NFL uniform.

“There’s a lot of talent here that is unknown,” Handy said.

Several hundred people, including La Cueva teammates and classmates, families and faculty gathered Wednesday as the three Bears, each wearing their college gear, signed. Another New Mexico athlete, the fantastic Centennial quarterback Zaiden Davis, signed Wednesday to play linebacker for New Mexico State.

“We’re getting the recognition that New Mexico finally deserves,” Dyer said. “We get slighted a lot. People tend to overlook us.”

Their fellow New Mexicans didn’t overlook them. This quote from Back was the perfect transition.

“It’ll be a sad time to watch them go,” Back said, “but we’re excited to watch them grow and see the new steps they get to take.”