PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Shadow Creek Sharks
Pearland Oilers
Dawson Eagles
Manvel Mavericks
Dobie Longhorns
Pasadena Memorial Mavs
South Houston Trojans
Alvin Yellowjackets
(Bold Denotes Playoffs)
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VYPE'S PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Cam Matthews, Dobie
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jacorey Watson, Shadow Creek
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Anthony Williams, Shadow Creek
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Xavier Muhammad, South Houston
ON THE CUSP: Dobie Longhorns
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Pearland Oilers
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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Dawson Eagles
Doug Brown (VYPE)
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Manvel Mavericks
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Dobie Longhorns
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
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Tyrone Green takes over Shadow Creek following Brad Butler’s retirement. This team brings back plenty of talent with 16 starters (9 on offense, 7 on defense) returning to the huddle. Texas A&M-commit Cobey Sellers anchors the Sharks defense at cornerback. Sellers had 25 tackles and six pass breakups a year ago. He also took snaps at quarterback with 17 touchdowns and more than 900 yards passing. Texas-commit Chris Stewart racked up 680 yards receiving and eight scores, while earning first-team, all-district honors. Athlete Cameron Jamerson is verballed to TCU. Another key returner includes Baylor-commit Jacorey Watson (850 yards passing, 12 TDs) and WR Rahim Hutchins (400 rec. Yards, 7 TDs), who has 11 offers. Also back is RB Alex Kirkland (first-team, all-district), DB Kyle Peterson (6 INTs), LB Anthony “Deuce” Williams (56 tackles, 10 TFL), LB Tommy Baker (65 tackles, 3 INT) and DT Donovan Rogers McNeil (45 tackles, 16 TFL, 5 sacks).
Pearland enters year three of the B.J. Gotte-era, which they have gone 15-8 in thus far. Last year, the Oilers went 9-3 overall and reached the Area Round. An impressive 10 starters return for the Oilers, including first-team, all-district picks Tate Chisolm (FB), Jaylen Stewart (DE) and Logan Johnson (TE). Other key returners include second-team, all-district selections Jaison Law (DB), Charles Gooden (OLB), Joseph Credit (LB) and Jordan Hernandez (WR). Keys to success for Gotte include the defensive playing up to expectations, the offense growing and young players stepping up to fill areas of need.
Mike Allison enters his sixth season leading Pearland Dawson. The Eagles return eight starters off a team that went 6-5 overall a year ago. The offensive line will be anchored by first-team, all-district picks Jaden Rodriguez and Benji Vasquez and second-teamer Jake Reynolds. Wide receiver Rodney Bonham (14 rec, 211 yds, 4 TDS) is a threat on the kick return game as well having two punt returns for touchdowns in 2023. Defensive lineman Chris Smith (20 tackles) will anchor the line, while LB/Ath Jerimiah Treadway (44 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 blocked punts) and DB/Ath Chase Davis (14 tackles, 2 INTs, 7 pass breakups) anchor the defensive unit. Air Force-commit Ayden Treadaway is a weapon in the kicking game. Treadaway nailed 22 of 24 PATs a year ago, while kicking three field goals (long of 44 yards) and averaging 38 yards per punt. A lot of new faces will take the field, so Allison says being unselfish and playing together will be key to their success.
Kirk Martin enters year two in his return tour to Manvel Maverick country. The Mavericks were bit by the injury bug a year ago, losing two starting quarterbacks and a starting center, defensive end and defensive back all to injury. Martin hopes they will stay healthy this year. If they do, Manvel will surely improve on its 5-5 mark from a year ago. Nine starters return (four on offense, five on defense) and Jackson Hamilton and Cam Renfro will battle it out for QB1. Other key returners include Antoine Wilder (WR), Jayce Blaylock (WR), Shaun Williams (center), Grant Stewart (DB), Champ Robinson (DB) and O’Marian Fuller (LB). Stewart is verbally committed to UTEP. Key to success for Manvel is simple this year – stay healthy.
An alum has come home to take over the Dobie Longhorns as Danny Fitzmorris takes the reins as head coach in 2024. Fitzmorris inherits a roster that has 12 starters returning off an 8-3 squad. District MVP Cam Matthews returns at running back for the Longhorns. Newcomer of the Year Demarcus Hodges returns to the backfield as well. The running combo of Matthews and Hodges will be dynamic for the Dobie offense. First-team, all-district picks Markel Terry (OL), Bryce Evans (FB) and Desmond Talib (OLB) return to the mix along with second-teamers Adam Perez (TE), Michael Williams (LB) and Jaylon Broussard (CB). Keys to success for the Longhorns include quarterback play, staying healthy on offense and finding answers at the safety position. The senior leadership will be key as Fitzmorris enters his first year of leading his alma mater.
James Crocker enters his sixth season of leading Pasadena Memorial. The Mavericks are looking to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2016-2017. Last year, Pasadena Memorial went 5-6 overall and reached the Bi-District round. The Mavericks bring back 11 starters, including six on offense and five on defense. Key returners for Pasadena Memorial include first-team, all-district picks Lorenzo Delgado (RB), Devan Robinson (OT) and D’Vaughn Roberts (LB). Second-teamer Kaiden Stewart (DE) and dual-threat quarterback Logan Johnson also are set to return. Keys to success for the Mavericks, according to Crocker, include replacing seniors on defense, especially in the secondary; maturing at wide receiver and being experienced on the offensive and defensive line, at running back and quarterback.
The South Houston Trojans are coming off a 4-6 campaign in 2023 and will look to get back into the playoff picture this fall under sixth-year coach Patrick Longstreet (24-37). South Houston returns 14 starters (eight offense, six defense) off last year’s team. Key returners include Robert McKinney (WR/DB), Ralph Osborne (WR/DB), Aaron Escareno (Ath) and Braden Mayberry (OL/DL). Longstreet says Escareno will step into the quarterback role in 2024. A rising star at South Houston is sophomore tight end/defensive end Xavier Muhammad, who already holds two Division I offers from Texas Tech and UTSA. Muhammad is a part of an emerging sophomore class that Longstreet hopes will fill in the gaps and will learn from a solid senior group.
Sergio Gonzalez enters his third year leading the Sam Rayburn Texans and looks to build off a 2-8 year in 2023. Twelve starters return for Gonzalez, led by first-team, all-district running back Haven Livingston, who has an offer from Howard Payne University. Luciano Morales is coming off a second-team, all-district campaign at cornerback, while Jaquan Bell was an honorable mention at middle linebacker. H’Rei Jones is also getting some play in the recruiting ranks with an offer from North Texas already on the books. Keys to success for Gonzalez’s crew in 2024 include running the ball, playing solid defense, controlling the pace of the game and being physical.
The Alvin Yellowjackets is coming off a 2-8 campaign in 2023 and is looking for a bounce-back season under fourth-year coach James Gage. Health will be a key factor for the Yellowjackets this year with 14 starters set to return. Key returners include Drew Bingham (QB), who played both ways before being injured in 2023. Kadyn Hodson is a three-year starter returning at linebacker. Hodson led the team in tackles a year ago. Aydn Villaloboz and Jacob Baez will anchor the offensive line, Jaylen Peterson will hold down the back end of the defense at safety and Zane Bailey stars at tight end and defensive end and is a three-year starter. Other key returners include Kash Powledge (Safety) and Chuk Phillips (WR/DB). Gage is hoping that the experience of the youngsters playing up a year ago due to injuries will pay off in 2024.