Carlsbad Linebacker Gathering Lots Of Attention
MaxPreps recently put out a list of the best high school football player in each state heading into the 2025 season. MaxPreps writer Zack Poff listed Carlsbad linebacker Colton McKibben as the best in the Land of Enchantment. “Since I was a freshman, that’s what I’ve dreamed of, being the top player in New Mexico. I saw that and it felt like a dream,” McKibben said.
The junior racked up 95 tackles last season and 2.5 sacks for the Cavemen. “I’m glad he’s on our team, I definitely wouldn’t want to game plan against him,” said Carlsbad head coach Cale Sanders. “When I’m talking to (college) scouts, the word competitor comes out. He refuses to lose. All the stuff that’s coming his way, he deserves it.”
McKibben has over a dozen scholarship offers from major college football programs. He currently has offers from North Carolina, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Mexico State, Arizona, Arizona State, Wisconsin, Washington, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Texas Tech, TCU, Auburn, and Michigan. “To say that it’s crazy would be an understatement,” said McKibben about all the offers. “It really blew up, from talking to no one to hearing from someone almost every single day.”
So, what flipped the switch? How did he go from zero scholarship offers to 15? Colton credits a social media post to lighting the fuse of sudden interest. “I posted a video of me with a 300-pound power clean, and I don’t know if that’s what did it, but after that Arizona State called and said they liked my film and it blew up from there.”
“You name ‘em, I have a phone call or text from everybody,” said Sanders about the flood of interest from college coaches. McKibben heads into his junior season listed at 6’3” and 225 pounds.
He started playing football when he was six years old. “I was set on playing baseball and soccer, I thought that was my thing,” he explained. “But then my stepmom talked me into playing football and I loved it. I was tackling kids at flag football, it was fun.”
Speaking of tackling, Colton wants to lead the state in tackles this upcoming season. “I’m also trying to go for more takeaways,” he added.
With all these suitors, what is Colton looking for in a college program? “My biggest thing is a consistent coaching staff,” he said. “I couldn’t handle coaches constantly coming in and out. I don’t want the guy who recruited me half of my high school career to leave when I get there to college.”
Colton says all the attention puts a target on him when it comes to gameday. “When the moment comes, I think I will shut it all out and just play my game,” McKibben said.
Carlsbad will open the season at home against Artesia on August 22nd.
*photos courtesy Carlsbad High School
