North Crowley High School stars Chris Jimerson Jr. and Quentin Gibson headline the 2024 Sporting News Texas All-State High School Football Team.
The Sporting News Texas All-State Team spans all regions of the state and includes first and second-team selections.
Among the criteria considered included individual production and the success of each player’s respective team.
First-team offense
QB: Chris Jimerson Jr. - North Crowley - Sr.
Jimerson was at the controls of one of the best teams in the modern history of Texas high school football. He threw for 3,769 yards and 58 TDs along with rushing for 777 yards and six TDs to help the Panthers to a perfect 16-0 season, beating heavyweights such as DeSoto, Duncanville and Austin Westlake en route to the 6A-I title, their first championship in more than 20 years.
QB: Keelon Russell - Duncanville - Sr.
Though Duncanville fell short of winning its third straight 6A-I title, Russell still turned in an outstanding season. The Alabama signee threw for 4,177 yards and 55 TDs.
RB: Kelvin Washington - Longview - Sr.
The Lobos lost one of the nation’s premier tailbacks (Taylor Tatum, now at Oklahoma) a year ago to graduation, but Washington definitely stepped up to fill that void, rushing for a school-record 2,571 yards and 34 TDs while adding six more TDs receiving. But by far his most impactful game was in the regional finals against two-time defending 6A-II DeSoto, when Washington ran for 277 yards and five TDs in a decisive Longview win.
RB: Tory Blaylock - Humble Atascocita - Sr.
Blaylock rushed for 1,262 yards and 26 TDs for Atascocita this past season, helping the Eagles reach the regional finals. The Oklahoma signee was also a solid pass-catcher, averaging 13.8 yards a catch as he snagged 22 passes while scoring three TDs.
WR: Quentin Gibson - North Crowley - Sr.
A Colorado signee, Gibson was the main target of Panther QB Chris Jimerson Jr. Gibson caught 93 passes for 2,009 yards and 36 TDs for the 6A-I state champs. Those 36 TDs put him fourth all-time in state history in that category.
WR: Dakorien Moore - Duncanville - Sr.
Considered the No. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation, the Oregon signee proved worthy of that distinction. Moore caught 74 passes for 1,460 yards and found the end zone 19 times for the Panthers.
TE: Kiotti Armstrong - Jasper - Sr.
Though the Bulldogs didn’t make the playoffs, Armstrong proved his worth as one of the top tight ends in the nation. He caught 36 passes for 683 yards and scored seven TDs, two coming in his final game, a decisive win against Tarkington. Armstrong is now headed to play at Texas A&M.
OL: Michael Fasusi - Lewisville - Sr.
Considered one of the premier offensive tackles in the country, Fasusi kept his commitment to Oklahoma, signing with the Sooners after holding off late overtures from Texas and Texas A&M.
OL: Jonte Newman - Cypress Bridgeland - Sr.
Newman was selected as a unanimous All-District offensive lineman for the third consecutive year. The Texas A&M signee was instrumental in helping the Bears achieve a perfect district record, a 12-win season and a trip to the regional finals.
OL: Henry Fenuku - North Crowley - Sr.
Fenuku helped start the plays that the Panthers’ talented array of skill players finished off by snapping the ball from his center position. The Missouri signee was part of a high-octane offense that averaged 54 points a game.
OL: Ty Haywood - Denton Ryan - Sr.
A five-star recruit at guard, Haywood has committed to Alabama. He helped Ryan achieve a spectacular season, which included a trip to the 5A-I semifinals highlighted by the Raiders knocking off two-time defending 5A-I champion Aledo in the regional finals.
OL: Lamont Rogers - Mesquite Horn - Sr.
A 6-foot-7 tackle, Rogers was one of the premier players at his position. He was a unanimous selection as a first-team All-District 11-6A offensive tackle. Originally a Missouri commit, Rogers instead switched and signed instead with Texas A&M.
First-team defense
DL: Daeshon Morgan - Austin Vandegrift - Sr.
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An Arizona State signee, Morgan helped wreak havoc up front and played a huge role in leading the Vipers to the first state title in program history. He finished with 84 tackles, 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles.
DL: Chace Sims - Richmond Randle - Sr.
Sims helped spearhead the Lions’ defense, and became a state champion as Randle - in just its third season of varsity football - captured the 5A-II title. On the season, the Texas A&M signee had 96 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 11 hurries and also forced three fumbles.
DL: Landon Rink - Cypress Fair - Sr.
Rink was a disruptive force in the interior front. The Texas A&M signee ended his senior year with 73 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 29 hurries and six pass breakups.
DL: Lance Jackson - Texarkana Pleasant Grove - Sr.
Jackson, a Texas signee, is one of the top edge rushers not only in the state but the entire country.
LB: Elliott Schaper - Austin Westlake - Sr.
Schaper was the heart and soul of the Chaparrals’ defense, and helped get Westlake to the 6A-I title game. On the season, the Duke signee registered 128 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. He had 16 tackles and a pair of sacks in Westlake's state semifinal win against North Shore.
LB: Riley Pettijohn - McKinney - Sr.
Pettijohn ended an outstanding career for the Lions by getting 136 tackles as a senior, along with 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He is now headed to play at Ohio State.
LB: Nehemiah Borner - Duncanville - Sr.
While the Panthers are known for their high-flying offense, their defense was able to slow down opposing defenses. Case in point with Borner, a Lamar University signee, who had a whopping 163 tackles, which led the team. He also led the Panthers in sacks (8) and tackles for loss (21.5).
DB: Devin Sanchez - Galena Park North Shore - Sr.
One of the premier cornerbacks in the nation, Sanchez is bound for Ohio State. He helped the Mustangs win their first 14 games of the season and was a first-team All-District 23-6A choice.
DB: Colin Peacock - Gunter - Sr.
Peacock was named the District 7-3A MVP and will be playing at Baylor. He had three interceptions, returning one for a TD, in the Tigers’ second-round playoff win, though Peacock missed Gunter’s third straight 3A-II championship game win after being injured in the regional final. On the season, Peacock had 39 tackles, five interceptions and 11 pass breakups.
DB: Kade Phillips - Fort Bend Hightower - Sr.
Phillips was listed as one of the top 10 cornerbacks in the nation by ESPN. Originally committed to LSU, he flipped to Texas right before National Signing Day. He was named his district’s defensive MVP at the conclusion of this season.
DB: Brandon Jones - Humble Summer Creek - Sr.
A free safety, Jones turned in a phenomenal senior season. He led the state with 10 interceptions, and also returned seven of those for TDs, setting a national single-season record. Jones had a team-high 110 total tackles and led District 23-6A with 13 pass breakups.
First-team all-purpose
RB/ATH: Grayson Rigdon - Columbus - Sr.
Rigdon completed his career with a rare feat, winning four state championships. Even rarer is that he did so with three different schools, the latest with the Cardinals, as Rigdon helped give them their first-ever state title. The Wyoming signee had more than 2,000 yards, and in the 3A-I title game win scored four TDs as Columbus defeated defending champion Malakoff.
WR/ATH: Tristian Gentry - Stephenville - Sr.
A Texas Tech signee, Gentry caught 93 passes for 1,778 yards and scored 22 TDs on the season. Perhaps his biggest game was a 14-catch, 312-yard effort in a playoff win against Hereford, in which he also had two TDs.
WR/DB: Jermaine Bishop - Willis - Jr.
Bishop is one of the more dynamic talents in Texas, and could very well be the state’s premier athlete in the Class of 2026. This past season, Bishop caught 83 passes for 1,565 yards and 18 TDs for a Willis squad that won its first 12 ballgames. He also intercepted three passes, broke up six more and finished with 2,009 all-purpose yards and 20 total TDs.
ATH: Michael Terry III - San Antonio Alamo Heights - Sr.
Considered the top all-around athlete in the state, Terry is taking his talents to Texas. He was the unanimous choice as the MVP in District 13-5A-II. In the Mules’ first seven ballgames, Terry rushed for nearly 700 yards and 11 TDs, had almost 200 yards receiving and three scores and even threw two TD passes. He also returned kicks and even punted, averaging 38.9 yards in a four-game span.
QB/LB: Cade Spradling - Smithson Valley - Sr.
Spradling was a versatile player on both sides of the ball for a Smithson Valley squad that claimed the 5A-I championship. He passed for 1,390 yards and 20 TDs, while rushing for 1,107 yards and 20 more scores. Then on defense, as a starting linebacker, Spradling registered 112 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups and two defensive TDs.
K: Diego Frausto - El Paso Del Valle - Sr.
Frausto was one of the more consistent kickers in the state. Through his team’s first 11 ballgames, he was a perfect 31-of-31 in PAT’s, including 9-of-9 in an opening-round playoff win against Abilene Cooper. He also was 10-of-11 in field goals, including 6-of-6 in a regular-season win against city rival Horizon.
P: Noah Lopez - Round Rock Stony Point - Sr.
Lopez was selected first-team All-District as both a kicker and a punter. He punted 34 times this season and averaged 49.8 yards per kick, with his longest covering 72 yards. Lopez also placed six of his punts inside his opponents’ 20-yard line.
Second-team offense
QB: Adam Schobel - Columbus - Sr.
Schobel - the son of Columbus head coach Matt Schobel - turned in a phenomenal season as the Cardinals claimed their first state title in program history. A TCU signee, Adam Schobel passed for 3,734 yards and 55 TDs, completing 74 percent of his passes, and also rushed for 575 yards and 13 scores.
QB: Sawyer Anderson - Dallas Parish Episcopal - Sr.
Anderson capped a sterling career at Parish Episcopal with 5,134 yards and 49 TDs, completing 65 percent of his passes. In his career, Anderson - who de-committed from Purdue and signed instead with Arizona - won three TAPPS state titles and became the all-time career passing leader in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with 14,683 yards.
RB: Deondrae “Tiger” Riden - DeSoto - Sr.
Riden rebounded from an injury-plagued junior year to post strong numbers as a senior. The Texas A&M signee rushed for 2,003 yards and 27 TDs, though the Eagles fell short of winning their third straight 6A-II title with a loss in the regional finals. In the two playoff games prior to that, Riden rushed for a combined 554 yards and eight TDs.
RB: Jayden Jackson - Franklin - Sr.
Jackson became the 13th player in state history to finish with more than 8,000 career rushing yards, as he ended up with 8,035 in a great career which included winning two state titles. As a senior, Jackson gained 2,386 yards and found the end zone 36 times.
WR: Brock Boyd - Southlake Carroll - Jr.
Boyd helped pick up the slack for a Dragons’ offense that lost two key running backs to season-ending injuries. He ended up with 110 receptions for 1,856 yards and 19 TDs in helping lead SLC to the 6A-II championship game.
WR: Leyton Stone - Wolfforth Frenship - Sr.
Stone, a Texas Tech signee, became Frenship’s all-time leading receiver after a senior year in which he caught 71 passes for 1,486 yards. He also had 29 TDs, scoring at least once in all 12 of his team’s games.
TE: Ryder Mix - Frisco Lone Star - Jr.
An Oklahoma commit, Mix was one of the Rangers’ go-to targets in a season in which Lone Star made the regional finals. He caught 26 passes for 446 yards and had six TDs. Following the season, Mix was named first-team All-District 5-5A.
OL: Ryan Fodje - Cypress Bridgeland - Sr.
An Oklahoma signee, Fodje is one of the top senior offensive tackles in the country. He was a first-team All-District selection as he helped lead the Bears to an undefeated district slate and a 12-2 overall record.
OL: Kash Courtney - Carthage - Sr.
Courtney - who signed with Arkansas - was one of the stalwarts of a Bulldog offense that overwhelmed a majority of their opponents and ended up winning the school’s 10th state title, all under coach Scott Surratt, when Carthage downed Waco La Vega in the 4A-II championship game.
OL: Connor Carty - Prosper - Sr.
A Texas Tech signee, Carty was part of arguably the best offensive line in the state, helping the Eagles average more than 41 points a game. He received first-team All-District honors.
OL: Brady Buchanan - Corpus Christi Calallen - Sr.
Buchanan definitely brought the size to his primary left tackle position, going 6-foot-5 and weighing nearly 300 pounds. He also had the game to go with it, as evidenced by his selection as the district’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman of the Year, helping the Wildcats reach the third round of the playoffs.
OL: Jackson Christian - Port Neches-Groves - Sr.
As a junior, the Texas signee helped lead the Indians to a state title. Though they fell short of a repeat this season, Christian still turned in a solid season, helping PNG reach the area finals and earning first-team All-District 8-5A-II honors.
Second-team defense
DL: Xavier Ukponu - Denton Guyer - Sr.
A Wisconsin signee, Ukponu finished with 64 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and four takeaways - three of those recovered fumbles.
DL: Josiah Pratt - Humble Summer Creek - Sr.
Nicknamed “Tank,” the Wake Forest signee had a huge senior season for the Bulldogs. He led the team with 22 tackles for loss and also had 80 total tackles, 57 of those solo. Pratt had six sacks and four quarterback pressures as well.
DL: Tobi Haastrup - Katy Mayde Creek - Sr.
One of the biggest overnight success stories in Texas football, Haastrup is originally from London, England, and did not play football until his senior season. But he was the Rams’ leader in tackles for loss with 20, sacks (9) and hurries (23), and parlayed that one season into getting the chance to sign to play at Oregon.
DL: D.J. Sanders - Bellville - Sr.
Sanders, a Texas A&M signee, finished a superb career with the Brahmas with a solid senior season. He recorded 72 total tackles, nine for loss, seven sacks and 13 hurries. Sanders also recovered two fumbles and even blocked a punt.
LB: Wyatt Davis - Canadian - Sr.
Davis led his team in tackles with 185 and also had 31 tackles for loss and six sacks. But he also was a walking testament to perseverance. In mid-October, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but was cleared to play in a game against Friona. Two days after being released from the hospital, Davis had 13 tackles in that contest.
LB: Jack Morse - Highland Park - Sr.
Morse was the captain of the Scots’ defense and is headed to play at Ivy League school Brown. He recorded more than 100 tackles while leading Highland Park to the 5A-I championship game, and following the season was named the MVP of District 7-5A-I. In the regional finals, Morse had 11 tackles and picked off a pass in the Scots’ win against Frisco Lone Star.
LB: Jayden Shelton - South Oak Cliff - Sr.
Shelton was a tackling machine for the Golden Bears, leading the team with 130 total stops, including 79 solo, in helping SOC reach the 5A-II title game for the fourth consecutive season. He also picked off two passes, including a pick-six in the state semifinal win against Argyle.
DB: Jayden Sanders - Kilgore - Sr.
Sanders, who is headed to Michigan, was named the District 9-4A MVP as he helped lead the Bulldogs to the 4A-I championship game. He picked off three passes and broke up 15 more.
DB: Jonah Williams - Galveston Ball - Sr.
The Texas signee - considered the top safety in the state - was named the overall MVP of District 9-5A despite missing the final few games of the Tornadoes’ season with an injury. He picked off two passes, deflected two more and was in on 28 tackles.
DB: Parker Johnson - Houston Stratford - Sr.
Johnson had a tremendous senior season, finishing with 156 sacks, eight tackles for loss and intercepting 10 passes - returning two for TDs - while knocking down seven more.
DB: Zach Parish - League City Clear Springs - Sr.
This safety finished with 135 total tackles and 13 tackles for loss. He also caused two fumbles, broke up three passes and didn’t allow a deep ball to go his way.
Second-team all-purpose
QB/ATH: Kaleb Bailey - Galena Park North Shore - Sr.
Bailey capped an outstanding run with the Mustangs, one that included a state championship, with 2,560 passing yards and 31 TDs for a team that started 14-0 and reached the state semifinals. He also added 941 yards on the ground with nine scores.
QB/DB: Bryce Ullman - Ganado - Sr.
Ullman passed for 2,779 yards and 47 TDs while adding seven rushing TDs for a Ganado squad that won state. On defense, he recorded 36 tackles, but maybe his biggest all-around play was intercepting a pass in the end zone to preserve the Indians’ 30-28 triple-overtime win against Stamford for the 2A-I title.
QB/DB: Armando Lujan - Sunray - Sr.
Lujan threw for 14,600 yards in his career, which was a UIL state record. He also set state records in TDs thrown (231) and tied for first in completions (1,047). As a senior, he threw for 3,463 yards and 34 TDs while adding 13 rushing TDs, but on defense, Lujan picked off five passes and broke up eight more.
WR/ATH: Andrew Marsh - Katy Jordan - Sr.
A Michigan signee, Marsh had 1,396 all-purpose yards - 1,172 of that on the receiving end. He had 11 TDs receiving and returned two kickoffs for additional scores.
QB/ATH: Bowe Bentley - Celina - Jr.
Bentley was a pivotal force behind the Bobcats’ run to an undefeated season and the 4A-I state championship. He passed for 3,330 yards and 47 TDs while adding 933 yards rushing and 16 more scores.
K: Cooper Ryan - Lucas Lovejoy - Jr.
Ryan tallied 17 field goals this season for the Leopards, and was a first-team All-District selection. Maybe his biggest game was against area rival Melissa, when he made all five of his PAT attempts and kicked two field goals, including a walk-off 33-yarder to help Lovejoy prevail, 41-38.
P: Ethan Guillen - Waxahachie - Jr.
Guillen punted 31 times for an average of 48.7 yards, with a long of 62. Of those 31 punts, Guillen placed 11 of those inside his opponents’ 20-yard line.
