With Thanksgiving week upon us, several high school football teams across Texas have plenty to be thankful for.
They’re thankful to have their respective seasons still going on, as this is also the third week of the six-week postseason sprint toward AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
While several players on some top teams already get recognition even beyond Texas, there are also others from across the state that may not be as well known outside of their respective hometowns. Here are 20 of the more underrated players in Texas who still harbor aspirations of championship glory.
(Names are in alphabetical order.)
Corey Austin, sr., Van Vleck - RB
Austin has been instrumental in one of the biggest surprises this postseason as the Leopards - who were 4-6 in the regular season - are already in the regional semifinal round of the 3A Division II playoffs.
This season, he’s rushed for more than 2,400 yards and approximately 30 TDs. He had six TDs on 338 yards rushing in the Leopards’ stunning 48-41 bi-district playoff win against a district champion in Blanco.
Kason Brooks, sr., Longview - LB
Brooks had only six total tackles as a junior. His stats as a senior are drastically different.
Currently, Brooks has registered 132 total tackles, including a whopping 110 solo stops. He also has 31 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, and in an October contest against Rockwall Heath, returned a fumble 96 yards for the game-winning TD.
Last week, Brooks - who has committed to defending Division II national champion Harding (Ark.) University - really stood out in the Lobos’ dramatic 35-28 overtime win against Lancaster in the area round of the 6A DII playoffs. He had 10 solo tackles and five sacks while also causing a fumble.
Izaiah Cabrales, jr., Port Lavaca Calhoun - DB
Cabrales has picked off nine passes this season, including two apiece during back-to-back wins in October against La Vernia and Floresville. He also had an interception and returned it 23 yards during last week’s 4A Division I area playoff win against San Antonio Davenport.
Other stats compiled by Cabrales this season include six pass breakups, 19 solo tackles and 24 solo stops.
Eddy Carrizales, jr., Bremond - LB
Carrizales leads the Tigers in total tackles with 160. During Bremond’s first two 2A Division II playoff games, he has a total of 34, with 19 coming in the Tigers’ 34-14 area round win against Lovelady.
He’s also caused four fumbles and has recovered four fumbles, two of those coming in a 53-0 win against Frost in Bremond’s regular-season finale.
Cardea Collier, sr., Alvarado - QB
Another quarterback guiding an undefeated team entering Thanksgiving weekend, Collier has completed 75 percent of his passes (194-of-259) for 3,290 yards and 39 TDs, eight of those coming in a late October win against Life Waxahachie. He also has a whopping 29 TDs, eight of those coming in a 71-50 win against Glen Rose on Sept. 27.
However, the Indians really needed Collier last week, and he helped deliver. He completed 20-of-29 passes for 268 yards and two TDs and added two rushing TDs as Alvarado outlasted Frisco Panther Creek in double overtime, 44-41, in the area round of the 5A Division I playoffs.
Carson Darby, sr., Dallas Parish Episcopal - WR
While quarterback Sawyer Anderson (a Purdue commit) has been an integral part of the Panthers’ success, already having thrown for more than 4,500 yards, his receivers also have to get the credit. One of those is Darby.
He leads the team in receiving yards with 1,467 and also has 16 TDs. Last week, Darby - who is committed to Division II Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas - hauled in 10 passes for 279 yards and two TDs as Parish Episcopal outlasted Plano Prestonwood Christian, 61-55, in the TAPPS Division I quarterfinals.
Derrick Eddlemon, sr., La Vernia - OL
Eddlemon, who goes 6-foot-4 and weighs 275 pounds, primarily plays tackle but can also line up at guard or even take snaps at center. The Bears have won five straight games heading to the regional semifinals of the 4A Division I playoffs, scoring at least 49 points in three of those wins.
As a team, La Vernia has rushed for more than 3,500 yards and is averaging 379 yards per game.
Jayden Edwards, sr., Overton - WR
Edwards has been a big-play threat for one of the top high-octane offenses in East Texas. From his sophomore season on, he has nearly 3,500 yards receiving and 55 TDs.
This season, he has career highs in receiving yards (1,415) and TDs (22), including one that covered 97 yards against Grapeland, a game in which he hauled in 10 passes for 277 yards and four scores. In Overton’s 2A DII bi-district win against Evadale, Edwards caught four passes for 175 yards and two TDs.
Jack Emerson, sr., Willis - QB
Going into the season, Emerson had the unenviable task of taking over as the Wildkats’ starting signal-caller after the graduation of D.J. Lagway, now excelling as a true freshman at at the University of Florida.
But thus far, Emerson has crushed the assignment. He has made the seamless transition to the starting QB and the Wildkats haven’t missed a beat, going 12-0. Emerson has thrown for 3,649 yards and 46 TDs, throwing for six scores in two different games.
Last week, Emerson completed 25-of-34 passes for 283 yards and three TDs, including a late TD to lift Willis past Tomball, 28-24, in the area round of the 6A Division II playoffs. He will be tasked to produce even more heroics this week, as the Wildkats take on two-time defending 6A DII champion DeSoto in the regional semifinals.
Jonathan Hernandez, sr., Port Neches-Groves - DL
An end, Hernandez is a state champion and was a district defensive MVP. He’s doing his part to help the Indians attempt a repeat as 5A DII champs.
Recruiting analyst Emmanuel Charles-Lobo knows what kind of player Hernandez is, and has implored college coaches to take a look. “Strength is there, has a quick first step, reads plays well and sheds blocks and attacks the ball,” Charles-Lobo wrote on his X page.
Hunter Jones, sr., Holliday - QB
Jones started the 2024 season with a bang, throwing for five TDs apiece in wins against Breckenridge and Muenster. But he had a few more TDs in his bag in the subsequent weeks.
In wins against Valley View and Henrietta, Jones threw for six TDs. Then in the opening round of the 3A Division II playoffs, he had seven TDs on 463 yards passing in a win against Dublin.
After passing for 197 yards in an area-round win against Blue Ridge, Jones now has 3,305 yards on the season to go along with 49 TDs for the 10-2 Eagles.
Mike Jones, sr., Malakoff - QB
All he does is win. Jones led the Tigers to their first-ever state championship last season by generating nearly 3,500 yards of total offense and 45 touchdowns.
He’s having another stellar campaign in 2024, passing for more than 2,200 yards and 36 TDs while adding nearly 750 yards and eight TDs on the ground for the undefeated Tigers, who are on target for repeating as 3A Division I champs.
But despite his numbers and success, Jones remains largely under the radar of four-year colleges. On his X page, he recently reported an offer from Trinity Valley Community College in nearby Athens.
Kam Newhouse, sr., Duncanville - OL
While the undefeated Panthers are renowned for their offensive standouts, including quarterback Keelon Russell and receiver Dakorien Moore, they also have to have someone help pave the way. Newhouse does fit that bill.
The senior can play all three positions up front, part of a Panther line that has helped Duncanville compile more than 5,000 total yards this season and average 463.3 yards per contest.
Cameron Newton, jr., Prosper Walnut Grove - RB
Newton made a huge jump from his sophomore season, when he rushed for just more than 700 yards and 10 TDs, to his current junior year, as Newton has 1,913 yards and 28 TDs. He’s been a big reason in the instant success of the Wildcats, who in just their second season fielding a program is already 11-1 and in the area round of the 5A Division II playoffs.
In Walnut Grove’s playoff opener, Newton had a huge night, carrying the ball 48 times for 360 times and scoring four TDs in a 42-35 win against Sequin, all season highs in those categories.
Brian O’Neal, sr., Stafford - DB
A cornerback, O’Neal has 10 interceptions over the past three seasons, six of those coming this season, which ties a single-season school record. He had one of those picks last week as Stafford shut down a strong offense from Longview Pine Tree, 14-13, in the area round of the 4A Division I playoffs.
Also on the season, O’Neal has 37 total tackles for the Spartans, who now take on defending 4A DI runner-up Tyler Chapel Hill in the regional semifinals.
Asa Parenteau, sr., Brock - LB
This senior player leads the Eagles in total tackles with 168. But nearly 50 percent of those have been of the solo variety, as Parenteau has registered 82 solo stops, 14 of those coming in Brock’s 4A DII bi-district playoff win against Godley.
Parentau also has 27 tackles for loss, 10 of those coming over the Eagles’ last three games. He has five sacks - including one in each of Brock’s first two playoff wins - nine quarterback hurries and four pass deflections.
Cooper Ryan, jr., Lucas Lovejoy - K
Ryan has been a valuable weapon for the Leopards. He has made all 68 of his PAT attempts and is 15-of-17 in field goals, including a 36-yarder in Lovejoy’s 5A DII area playoff win against El Paso Del Valle.
On Sept. 20, Ryan made all nine of his PAT attempts and kicked a 34-yarder in Lovejoy’s wild 66-62 win against defending 4A DI champion Anna. The Leopards will play Anna again this Friday - this time in the regional semifinals of the 5A DII playoffs.
Charles Steward, sr., Buda Johnson - DL
Steward, who can play both end and linebacker, has 16 sacks on the season, three of those coming over Johnson’s two playoff wins. He had four sacks in a Nov. 1 win against Converse Judson.
Also, Steward has 63 total tackles, 34 solo, 12 tackles for loss, two caused fumbles and three pass knockdowns.
Ford Stinson, sr., Denton Guyer - K
Stinson made an immediate impact in Guyer’s 2024 opener, going 4-for-4 in field goals and 3-for-3 in PAT attempts as the Wildcats upended defending 5A DI state champion Aledo, 35-30. Thus far, Stinson has made all 58 of his PAT attempts and has converted 12 field goals.
He’s continued to post points for the Wildcats through their run in the 6A DII playoffs. In Guyer’s two playoff wins, Stinson is a combined 13-of-13 in PAT attempts and 2-for-2 in field-goal attempts, including a 43-yarder in a bi-district win against McKinney.
Kelton Williams, sr., Waskom - ATH
Someone may want to give Williams a chance to shine at the next level. In fact, Williams said so on his X page, noting he is “looking for a home” in regards to getting a college offer.
He also backed that statement up with his numbers, rushing for 1,234 yards and 20 TDs while averaging 17.1 yards a carry. He’s also caught three passes - two going for TDs - for 147 yards and also has three special teams TDs. Williams has also thrown for a TD pass for the Wildcats, who are in the regional semifinals of the 2A DI playoffs.
