PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Randle Lions
Iowa Colony Pioneers
Fort Bend Marshall Buffaloes
Texas City Stingarees
Baytown Lee Ganders
Santa Fe Indians
Terry Rangers
Lamar Consolidated Mustangs
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
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VYPE's PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Landen Williams-Callis, Randle
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Carson White, Iowa Colony
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Caleb Chester, FB Marshall
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maurice Burton, Texas City
ON THE CUSP: Baytown Lee Ganders
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Iowa Colony Pioneers
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Fort Bend Marshall Buffs
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Texas City Stingarees
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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Baytown Lee Ganders
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Randle returns to the turf on the heels of taking silver within District 10-5A-II, before subsequently reaching the Regional round of the playoffs. Though they would ultimately be defeated in a 14-13 heart-breaker against Huntsville, the amount of standouts returning for the Lions could indicate a different result ensuing this Fall. The reigning District MVP Landen Williams-Callis is coming off an absolute monster of an introduction, having combined for north of 2,100 all-purpose yards and a whopping 27 touchdowns, as a freshman. The 5-foot-7 running back already holds well over 30 collegiate offers – Georgia, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio State, Baylor, and TCU among them making him one of the most elite athletes in the state, much less in Class 5A. Tyler Skrabanek enters his junior year as the team’s signal-caller, and will have weapons such as Jaxon Montelongo (Sr. WR/second-team), behind an O-Line anchored by Chris Taylor (first-team), Chance Hernandez (second-team), and Mason Mixon (second-team). On the defensive side of the ball, the major headliners for coach Brian Randle will include first-teamers Chace Sims (DL/Texas A&M-commit), Erick Strickland Jr. (DL), Ja’Quin Parker (LB), and Sh’rhod Revis (DB). Expect transfer Keilan Sweeney Sr, (ATH), and national recruit Noriel 'Pacman' Dominguez Jr. (LB) to play key roles for the Lions Offense and Defense this fall as well.
Iowa Colony wasted no time introducing themselves on the Houston high school football scene. In their second year as a varsity program, coach Ray Garza and company went undefeated in District 12-4A-I before advancing three rounds deep in the playoffs. Now that they move up a class in the UIL realignment, the Pioneers are unlikely to take their foot off the gas. Garza’s defense will be the team’s greatest asset, as their previous district’s Defensive MVP Haydon Caston (Sr. DB/LB) looks to cap off his career with style before taking his talents to Hawaii next Fall. Baylor-commit Chris Johnson (12-4A DL of the Year) will be a force of the edge, while first-team honorees Jarvis Solomon (DB), Joseph Mosely (Jr. DL), Treshaun O’Neal (LB), Adrian Porter Jr. (LB) and Jeremy Garner (Jr. DB) round out what could be the top defense in the district. Offensively, Colorado State-commit Antoine Martin Jr. returns for his senior year at the WR spot, opposite of the 12-4A Utility Player of the Year Jacody Miles (Sr. ATH), which bodes well for incoming sophomore QB Carson White, who’s coming off a breakout performance. Also, expect junior RB Aaron Tenner (second-team) to have a big year, after racking up over 1,000 all-purpose yards (7 TDs) in 2023.
After finishing third in the district a year ago, Fort Bend Marshall (8-3) proceeded to make a postseason appearance, which should likely be the case, once again, this Fall. With coach James Williams back at the helm, the Buffs will seek to re-establish themselves as a bona fide title-contender in Region III. The offense is absolutely stacked with next-level talent, starting with the dangerous receiving duo of Ja’Kayden Ferguson (first-team) and Andre Feast (second-team). Ferguson is a four-star athlete committed to Kentucky, while Feast announced his commitment to Arkansas State in June. With Chaz Oliver (Jr. OL) and sophomore Blake Chacier shoring up the offensive line, 6-foot-6 QB Kaeden Johnson should have a genuine chance to shine. Junior RB Peyton Long (second-team) is also in for a big-year, after rushing for over 800 yards and 10 scores in 2023. Furthermore, Texas-commit Caleb Chester (DB) and junior Isaiah Williams (first-team) headline a relentless Marshall secondary, while senior DL Jakobi Davis (second-team), Durell Taylor (ATH), Lonnie Feagins (DL) and Terrion Bailey-Speights (DL) should also be serviceable weapons.
Following the departure of numerous stars from last season – namely Offensive MVP Joey Duran and unanimous first-team WR Clyde Bruton – Texas City will have some work to do if they wish to improve upon their second-place finish from a year ago. However, that could be an attainable goal for the Stingarees, with the level of production that coach Shone Evans has come to expect. Arizona State-commit Xavier Skowron (Sr. WR) will be the driving force on offense, while also leading the secondary on the other side of the ball. Senior Maurice Burton takes on the role of the lead-back for Texas City, which should only improve his numbers (467 rushing yards, 6 TDs) from last year. On defense, Kaden Clay (LB) will hold down the middle of the field, while being one of the team’s top run-stoppers. He’ll be joined by Michael Saltz (DB), Royal Mack (LB), and Tristen Blackmon (DB) as the key figures in stifling opposing offenses.
Baytown Lee moves over from District 8-5A-I, in which they most recently finished just outside of the playoff picture, with a record of 4-6. The Ganders bid farewell to QB Levay Duncan, who moves onto Southeastern Oklahoma State, which now gives former first-team WR/DB Josiah Joseph his turn as the signal-caller. Senior Ricarri Blow (first-team) will run the offensive line. John Thompson enters his senior year at the linebacker position and should only elevate the defense for head coach Tim Finn. Other names to remember for Lee will include Zavion Turner (DB), Elijah Brown (WR/DB), Joseph Turner-Hall (DL), Reymundo Navarro (OL/DL) and Rylan Barrientos (DL).
Santa Fe went through their fair share of ups and downs a year ago, as they wound up going 4-6 and placing seventh overall in the district. Things won’t get any easier for the Indians, as they lost a significant amount of their starters from last season to graduation. But, there still should be some talent remaining for coach Blake Ryder to utilize. Second-teamer Kaden Schirk headlines the team’s O-Line, alongside Gavin Guillen and Brendon Forsell, which should provide Cade O’Neal (QB/DB) ample time to run the offense. His top targets will likely be Justin Beard (WR/DB) and Jackson Smith (WR/DB). Meanwhile, senior LB/RB Darius Herbert will command the defense, after registering over 100 tackles in 2023.
After ending up in the No. 7 spot in District 10-5A-I with a record of 2-8, Terry prepares to match up against some newer competition this Fall. Defense will be the calling-card for the coach Darnell Jackson-led Rangers, as he brings back a dynamic trio of seniors in the trenches – Jordan Randle, Dameon Sims and Angel Shimkus-Aguillon – who each earned second-team, all-district nominations last season. Additionally, fellow second-teamer Kevin Handy (DB) should be the top guy in the secondary. On offense, expect Jamarion Blaine (RB) and Everett Gary (QB), as well junior WRs Robert Shaw and Mathew Eben to continue honing their skills.
Lamar Consolidated is another new face in the district, traversing over from 10-5A-II. Coach Kiah Johnson enters his fourth year with the program, as he and the Mustangs look to right the ship after going 2-8 a year ago. He’ll likely lean on the talents of second-team WR Hunter Perry on offense, as well as Jordan Waddle (WR), who returns from an injury that sidelined him all of last season. Dre’Sean Cobbin (DL) is also back after being named the district Defensive Newcomer of the Year, which should keep things optimistic on defense. Additionally, keep an eye out for Dustin Rodgers (DB), Julius Brown (Jr. WR), Trevor Onuegbu (DL), Quentin Woods (LB), and Simon Fernando (DB).