2016 NFL Draft: New Mexico's four draftees since 2006 had big impacts

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New Mexico high schools have produced four NFL Draft picks since 2006 - two of them brothers and three of the four all from Cibola (Albuquerque). The most interesting one is Cibola graduate Ryan Cook, who was drafted No. 51 during the second round in 2006 by the Minnesota Vikings.

Former coach Ben Shultz told MaxPreps, "The second practice during his freshman year he came to our office with tears in his eyes and said he wanted to quit. He was soft - a little butterball. His nickname was Cookie and he had it all the way through high school. We couldn't even get him to move his feet. The coaches wouldn't let him quit."

Ryan played center and was a true late bloomer. He grew to 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds and started his junior and senior years. He continued his football growth by walking on at the University of New Mexico and earning a scholarship before heading to the pros.



Ryan's brother, Erik, was taken No. 229 during the seventh round in 2010 by the Washington Redskins. He also played for the University of New Mexico.  He was around 6-3 and 250 and, like Ryan, grew more after high school. He played center, too, but also was used at tackle and guard. He was more advanced than Ryan, but it also took him some time to develop.

Shultz called Erik "just solid. Wherever we put him, that was where we were going to run the football. We built our line around him. He could do it all and had great feet. He threw the shot put and discus." 

The third Cibola graduate, Alan Branch, was drafted No. 33 in the second round during 2007 by the Arizona Cardinals. He played his college ball at the University of Michigan.

Shultz quipped that Branch's position was "wherever he wanted to play. He was such a talented athlete. He could do it all. He could throw 50 or 60 yards in the air, punt and kick. He was mainly a running back, played quarterback a few times and anywhere on the line, offensively or defensively."

At Cibola, Branch was 6-6 and 315, ran 40 yards in 5.0 seconds and had a great vertical jump.

Shultz added, "We tried to get him out for track and field, because he could throw the shot put out of the stadium. He is probably the most successful athlete in the history of our school."



The fourth New Mexico draft was Artesia quarterback Landry Jones, who was chosen No. 115 during the fourth round in 2013 by the Pittsburgh Steelers after an outstanding career at the University of Oklahoma.

The lanky signal caller probably is most remembered by his coach, Cooper Henderson, because of his attitude. First of all, freshmen were not eligible for varsity competition and when he was a sophomore Jones had to play behind a senior quarterback. He did start at quarterback on the JV team, but played a lot of slot receiver on the varsity squad.

"He showed a lot about being a team player," Henderson praised. "A lot of parents these days get upset when you don't start a kid all the time with that type of ability. He loved to play. He had a great attitude - one of the best we've had. He would come in at 6:30 in the morning and work on footwork. He inspired a lot of other kids to work hard. He was a great leader."

Jones still holds school records for touchdown passes in a game (7), season (45) and career (96). He also had a record 480 completions during his career. As a junior and senior he paced the Bulldogs to a 24-2 record and two state championships.

Indicating that Jones' records could have been much greater, Henderson noted with some irony that, "When you're good, you get taken out (early). He has done more with his football career than anyone else from Artesia."

Henderson was quick to add that his former star also has done many good things outside of football since his days at Artesia, like taking groups of athletes on missionary trips.