PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Lamar Texans
Heights Bulldogs
Bellaire Cardinals
Sam Houston Tigers
Westside Wolves
Wisdom Generals
Chavez Lobos
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
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VYPE's PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Trevan Williams, Sam Houston
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Zaylen Cormier, Heights
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Chance Bloodsaw, Lamar
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cole McLean, Bellaire
ON THE CUSP: Sam Houston Tigers
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The Lamar Texans went an impressive 12-1 a year ago and reached the Regional Quarterfinals before bowing out of the playoffs. Four starters return for seventh-year coach Michael Lindsey (48-18) in 2024. The group will be led by SMU-commit Dramodd Odoms, who will anchor the offensive line. Odoms is ranked in the Top 10 among offensive tackles in the nation. Danny Stein will also help up front at center. Wide receiver Enrico Moore earned District 18-6A Newcomer of the Year honors a year ago after racking up 372 yards and five scores on 18 grabs. Trey Douglas (8 rec. 121 yards, 2 TDs) will be another one to watch at wideout. In the backfield, Chaseston Guidry will tote the rock after averaging nearly 10-yards per carry a year ago. Guidry finished with 620 yards and 10 touchdowns on 64 carries. Others to watch include Chance Bloodsaw (DT - 35 tackles, 3 sacks, 8 TFL) and Erik Peters(K/P - 7 for 8 field goal, 41 PAT, 19 touchbacks). Peters is ranked in the Top 10 amongst kickers in the nation. Lamar has some pieces, but Lindsey will have to decide on a QB1 come fall camp.
Every year except for one that Stephen Dixon has been the head coach at Heights High School, the Bulldogs have been a playoff-caliber team. This year marks the 21st year and 16th as a head coach at Dixon has led this program. Heights has been a playoff team for the past 15 of those. Coming off an 8-4 campaign, the Bulldogs return 15 starters, including University of Houston-commit Zaylen Cormier and SMU-commit Devinn Farris. At receiver Cormier was first-team, all-district after racking up 763 yards and 12 scores on just 34 catches. Farris earned first-team, all-district honors on the offensive line. Other players to watch include Dylan Ray (LB - 65 tackles, 4 sacks), Jordan Clavelle (DL/LB - 43 tackles, 11.5 sacks) and Broderick Brown (CB - 26 tackles, 2 INTs). All three players – Ray, Clavelle and Brown – earned first-team, all-district nods. This Heights team has talent and plenty of it to try and get back atop of the district for the first time since 2020.
The Bellaire Cardinals are coming off their best season since 2020. Last year, Bellaire went 4-7 and reached the playoffs. Quarterback Will Hazen is coming off a year where he passed for 688 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 304 yards and four scores on the way to earning second-team, all-district honors. Bellaire kicker Cole McLean earned a nod as the District 18-6A Special Teams MVP along with being a first-team, all-district pick. Other key returners include second-teamers Chris Wilson (LB/TE/HB) and Chance Diebner (All-Purpose Back). Wilson plays on both sides of the ball and led the Cardinals in tackles with 69. This Bellaire squad was young last year but found success. Look for them to build on that.
Sam Houston is coming off a 3-7 season in 2023. The Tigers haven’t made the playoffs since 2003 and enter year four of Charles Brown III at the helm as they look to build off of last year. First-team, all-district quarterback Trevan Williams is set to return as the signal-caller for the Tigers. Rodrick Scott, who was second-team, all-district a year ago, returns at running back for Sam Houston. Other key returners include Johnny Lazcano (OL) and Steven Warren (OLB), who were first and second-team, all-district picks, respectively.
Westside will look to bounce back from a 2-8 campaign in 2024 that caused them to miss the playoffs for the first time in 12 years. The Wolves enter year two under Cedric Allen at the helm of the program. Westside returns second-team, all-district picks Ethan Barbosa (OL) and Justin Nwoko (safety).
The 2024 season brings some new things to Wisdom High School. First, the Generals make the jump from Class 5A Division I to now competing with the big boys in Class 6A football. Welcome to District 18-6A. The second thing is Jamarkus Branch takes over as the head coach of the Generals, which was announced in July. Branch served as the assistant coach for the Generals. Wisdom is coming off a 7-3 season, which is the program’s best record since 1983. A key returner for Wisdom is junior receiver Ajani Mayeux, who was named the District 9-5A-DI Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Mayeux finished last year with 517 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. Now, can Wisdom build off their season and make the playoffs in 2024?
Louie Rodriguez enters his second season leading Chavez. This is a nice sign for the Lobos as after last season, Rodriguez was the third different coach in three years. Now, the players don’t have to learn a new system or coach as they head into 2024. The Lobos went winless a year ago and bring back a lot of young pieces who gained invaluable experience a year ago. First-team, all-district receiver Johntta Thomas is back for second-team, all-district signal-caller Chris Cabrero to hit with his passes. Another weapon for Cabrero will be second-team tight end Carlos Santos. Defensively, Maniel Miller Jr (DT) and Jaden Glass (LB) are back after a second-team, all-district pick. Chavez hasn’t made the playoffs since 2018 and looks to get back to some winning in 2024.
