With high school football season right around the corner, here are some players to watch throughout the area.
Class 6A
Duncanville defensive end Colin Simmons
Simmons is one of the highest-rated recruits in the country and recently committed to the University of Texas over LSU and Miami (FL). He is the top prospect in the area, a leader for the Panthers’ defense, and has a bright future at the next level.
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McKinney safety Xavier Filsaime
The Florida commit ranks as the state’s No.2 safety and No.8 overall recruit. He finished last season with 76 tackles and was a District 5-6A first-team selection.
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Lewisville defensive back Jaydan Hardy
The son of former University of Tennesse linebacker Darryl Hardy has been a standout player for the Farmers since his freshman season when he earned District 6-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year. After only playing in five games as a sophomore, he rebounded with a big season that ended with being named District 6-6A Co-MVP. The Oklahoma commit returns to lead the defense one final time in 2023.
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Duncanville running back Caden Durham
Durham also recently announced his college commitment, choosing LSU in a joint ceremony with Simmons. The senior brings plenty of speed and even qualified for the AAU Junior Olympics in the 100-meter. On the football field, he has rushed for more than 2,600 yards and 43 touchdowns in three years.
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Sachse defensive end Cheta Ofili
The Texas Tech commit is still undersized at this point but makes up for it with his play on the field. While not overpowering, he is able to close quickly, has high potential heading to the next level, and will be the headliner of the Sachse defense.
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Honorable Mention: Prosper offensive lineman Ellis Davis (Texas Tech), Allen defensive end Zina Umeozulu (uncommitted), DeSoto quarterback DJ Bailey (Sam Houston State), DeSoto linebacker Brandon Booker (Stanford), Denton Guyer defensive back Eli Bowen (uncommitted), Waxahachie defensive lineman Jermy Jackson (Texas State)
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5A DI
Midlothian wide receiver Bryant Wesco
The Clemson commit amassed 1,160 yards and caught 17 touchdown passes as a junior and enters his senior season as a five-star recruit and one of the top high school players in the state. Thanks to a background in track, he has a great blend of size and speed that allows the offense to stretch the field with relative ease.
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Longview running back Taylor Tatum
Tatum will be the featured player on offense for Longview this season. The Oklahoma commit enters the season as a high four-star recruit after rushing for 1,891 yards and 33 touchdowns while being named District 7-5A D-I Overall MVP last year.
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Forney safety Aaron Flowers
The Oregon commit is a top-25 prospect among Texas high school football players entering the season. He is a back-to-back All-District player who shows excellent instincts and speed on the back end of the defense.
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Lancaster defensive back Corian Gipson
Gipson is one of the bigger high school corners you will find and committed to Clemson last month. He has the ability to play multiple positions in the secondary and is currently a top-30 player in the state.
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Aledo quarterback Hauss Hejny
Hejny is a slightly undersized dual-threat quarterback who committed to TCU in April. He earned District 5-5A D-I Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore in 2021 and followed it up with a District MVP and state championship as a junior. He enters his final year of high school with 317 total yards and 46 total touchdowns.
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Honorable Mention: Frisco Reedy offensive lineman Max Anderson (Tennessee), Aledo linebacker Dahvon Keys (LSU), Lancaster defensive back Gerald Lacy (Stephen F. Austin), Longview defensive back Willie Nelson (Oklahoma State)
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5A DII
Longview Pine Tree defensive lineman Dealyn Evans
The Texas A&M commit is a top-15 player in the state and anchors the defensive front. A four-star recruit, Evans has made 93 tackles over the last two seasons and earned other offers from the likes of TCU, Florida, and Alabama, among others.
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Lucas Lovejoy linebacker Peyton Pierce
Pierce transferred to Lovejoy after spending his freshman year at Allen and earned District 7-5A-II Defensive Newcomer of the Year in his first season with the Leopards. He is committed to Ohio State and ranks nationally as a top 200 prospect.
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Melissa defensive end Nigel Smith II
Smith enters his senior season as one of the nation’s top uncommitted defensive line prospects. He is a versatile player who can be implemented in many ways on the defensive front and has earned back-to-back Defensive Lineman of the Year awards. He has offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, and many others.
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Lake Dallas wide receiver Keonde Henry
The 6-foot-2, four-star Purdue commit is a consensus top-50 prospect in the state. His speed on the field makes him a dangerous weapon, and he has more than 1,000 career receiving yards with 16 touchdown catches.
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South Oak Cliff wide receiver and defensive back Elijah Baesa
The North Mesquite transfer looks to have an impact for the Golden Bears. He is a consensus top-500 prospect nationally and committed to Arizona State over Baylor, SMU, Colorado, Kansas, and others.
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Honorable Mention: South Oak Cliff wide receiver Jamyri Cawley (SMU), South Oak Cliff linebacker Brandon Jones (North Texas), Melissa linebacker Gunnar Wilson (Oklahoma State)
4A DI
Dallas Carter running back Kaeden Landry
Landry had a breakout year last season, rushing for 2,329 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading the entire Dallas area. The senior will resume the same role in 2023 as Carter vies for a playoff spot.
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Crandall wide receiver Joshua Smith
The three-star Tulsa commit is one of the biggest receivers in the state at 6-foot-4, 200 lbs. As a junior in 2022, he more than doubled his production from his sophomore year and helped lead Crandall to the second round of the playoffs. He was also District 8-5A D-II Offensive Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-District in 2020.
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Decatur running back Nate Palmer
Palmer spent his first two high school seasons in College Station before transferring to Decatur. The TCU commit ran for 2,250 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior and should be a significant playmaker again this season.
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Kennedale safety Fredrick Dotie
The North Texas commit spent his first three seasons at North Mesquite and joins Kennedale after making 59 tackles last season.
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Anna wide receiver Jacob Emmers
Emmers returns as Anna’s top offensive weapon after putting up 1,241 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He has offers from 18 FBS schools.
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Honorable Mention: Kennedale linebacker Daniel Cooper (uncommitted), Kaufman defensive back and wide receiver Kylevon Morrow (uncommitted), Dallas Carter defensive back Brandon Bennett (uncommitted), Anna linebacker CJ Miller (uncommitted)
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Private
Parish Episcopal defensive lineman Caleb Mitchell Irving
The DeSoto transfer is one of several private school players throughout the area who have committed to Purdue. Irving ranks as the No.171 player in Texas in the 2024 recruiting class and returns to Parish after making 96 tackles for the Panthers last season.
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Parish Episcopal quarterback Sawyer Anderson
Anderson is another Purdue commit. While he’s not a nationally-heralded recruit, he ranks among the top 50 quarterbacks in the Class of 2025 and has thrown for more than 6,000 yards through his first two years of high school.
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Dallas First Baptist wide receiver Alijah Cason
Cason committed to Holy Cross in June after catching 54 passes for 1,053 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
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Dallas Christian defensive back William “Speedy” Nettles
Nettles is also a Purdue commit. He has primarily been used on defense, with over 100 tackles, eight interceptions, and four touchdowns over the last two seasons, but has also been productive as a receiver and runner on offense.
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Trinity Christian Academy offensive lineman Jaylan Beckley
A late bloomer who did not play football until high school, Beckley has gathered offers from elite programs across college football during the offseason. His background in basketball has helped him adjust to the game, and his coaches have noticed much improvement in their starting left tackle.
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Honorable Mention: Fort Worth All Saints running back Reid Watkins (uncommitted), Arlington Grace Prep defensive back Kadan Lehew (Illinois State), Plano Prestonwood linebacker Hudson Lunsford (uncommitted), Argyle Liberty Christian wide receiver and defensive back Brady Janusek (uncommitted), Dallas Bishop Dunne defensive back Ra’Von Robinson (uncommitted), Dallas Christian quarterback Luke Carney (uncommitted)
