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Former El Campo star Rueben Owens could steal the show for Aggies at Tax Act Texas Bowl
Former Texas HS Stars Plan To Show Out In Tax Act Texas Bowl
The 2023 Tax Act Texas Bowl kicks off Wednesday at 8 pm at NRG Stadium on ESPN as Texas A&M faces off against No. 20 Oklahoma State.
The game has an old Southwest Conference feel as dozens of Texas High School stars will headline the end of year contest for the pair of programs.
Leading up to the game, Texas A&M has been in the headlines as Duke coach Mike Elko has taken over the Aggie program. Elijah Robinson will serve as the interim coach for Texas A&M, before taking his new defensive coordinator job at Syracuse University.
The portal has also been a huge storyline leading up to the game. The Aggies have had 18 players from this season’s roster enter the portal since September. Oklahoma State has eight athletes in the portal to date.
One of the most tenured coaches in college football is Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, who enters his 19th bowl game. Gundy has been a constant for the Cowboys having also played QB for the Pokes.
The state of Texas will be well represented in the game.
The most prolific is Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon III from Euless Trinity High School. The sophomore rushed for over 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns and won the Doak Walker Award – given to the top RB in college football. QB Alan Bowman of Grapevine High, threw for over 3,000 yards and 15 scores.
Katy’s Cole Birmingham, Austin Kawecki of Frisco Lebanon Trail and Argyle’s Preston Wilson anchor the OL, while SA Roosevelt’s Rashod Owens was the team’s leading WR.
On defense, DBs Cam Smith (Braswell High) and Korie Black (Waco Connally) patrol the secondary, while Kody Walterscheid of Muenster and Nickolas Martin of Pleasant Grove anchors the front seven.
For the Aggies, Noah Thomas of Clear Springs will be heavily featured with the departures, while Rueben Owens of El Campo could have a break-out bowl game as a freshman. Katy Taylor’s Bryce Foster and Max Wright start up front at OL and TE. Layden Robinson of Manvel also stars on the OL. Brothers Dametrious Crownover and Earnest Crownover of Grandview High will also have their names called on the broadcast.
The defense is loaded with Texans. Albert Regis of LaPorte High and DJ Hicks of Paetow will lead the way up front. Shemar Turner of DeSoto and Katy’s Malick Sylla come off the edge. Taurean York of Temple had a massive season as a freshman this season. The secondary is led by Jayvon Thomas of South Oak Cliff, Bryce Anderson of Beaumont Westbrook and Shiner’s Dalton Brooks. The Woodlands’ Martrell Harris could get some snaps.
Stay tuned as some of Texas' finest show out Wednesday night back in the Lone Star State.
THIS JUST IN: DFW's Sheriff of High School Football Has Arrived
That's right. You didn't read the title wrong. There's a new sheriff in town, and he's here to show the state of Texas what the Dallas-Fort Worth area is made of. With some of the fastest wheels and top stats in the area, who's more deserving of this title than Euless Trinity running back Ollie Gordon?
In 2020, the two-year varsity starter ran for 225 yards and averaged more than a first down on 14 yards per carry. Gordon led the Trojans to an 11-2 season record, where they fell short in the fourth round of the playoffs to the reigning 6A Division 1 State Runner-Ups, Southlake Carroll.
Gordon's recruiting process, however, has stood out among other recruits in the DFW area. The majority of his offers were given to him in the heart of his junior season. Beginning with his first offer from Iowa State in June of 2020 to following New Year's Eve, by the time Gordon's season was finished, he had already accumulated thirteen offers from Division 1 FBS schools. During that time period, many impressive football programs like BYU, TCU, and SMU were calling Gordon's name, but none of them ended up being the final spot he chose to land on. Someone else would be knocking on his door midway through the month that would really grab his attention. Once Oklahoma State University offered Gordon on January 17, it was to be a done deal soon after. He committed to the team up in Stillwater only a little over two weeks later.
When asked what played a major role in OSU being the school where he would land on in an interview with VYPE Reporter Robert Gonsoulin, Gordon talked about the attention and care he was receiving from the Cowboys. "[Oklahoma State] stayed in contact the whole time. It was never a day that they weren't talking to me. They talked to me everyday no matter what." Gordon then later expressed his liking for OSU head coach Mike Gundy's offense. "I like the way they run a two-back out of [shot]gun….The offense, I like it. I feel like it would fit me perfect when I get there."
A lot of positive things can be said about the talent this season in the DFW area, but with the recent decision by top-ranked quarterback in the nation Quinn Ewers of Southlake Carroll to forego his senior season and enroll early at Ohio State, the spotlight shines more on Gordon as being one of the more standout players in the area.
Gordon's skill set as a running back adds a great deal of talent to this year's Euless Trinity team. The Trojans are ranked by many this season in the top ten amongst 6A schools and are favorites to play for a state title. Will history sort of flip on itself in a way this year? That could likely happen if Trinity rematches against Carroll in the fourth round of the playoffs and beats them without Quinn Ewers playing.
The Trinity Trojans will also have just as big obstacles to overcome in the regular season, like facing Clemson quarterback commit Cade Klubnik and the reigning 6A State Champions, Westlake. That will be regarded as a very exciting Week Two matchup by many Texas high school football fans, as two state favorites will be showcasing their talent against each other early in the season. All Gordon wants, though, is to have him and his teammates treat this matchup no differently than any other game on their schedule. "We just go practice, play how we play, and we'll be good. I just feel like we shouldn't have to worry about one team or change our ways just because we're about to play [Westlake]," mentioned Gordon.
Robert Gonsoulin's full interview with Ollie Gordom can be played below.
Playing for Texas ICE 7v7, working on footwork throughout the offseason, and being a leader for his teammates around him, Ollie Gordon has done much more than just rising to the challenge of being a team captain for one of 2021's top ranked football teams in Texas. Euless Trinity has high potential this season to bring home a state championship, and Gordon is doing everything he can to make that hope more and more realistic. As for what lies ahead of him, he's currently focused on the first game ahead and getting to make it a memorable senior season. He and the rest of Euless Trinity will kick off their season against Arlington Lamar on August 26th in a Thursday night matchup. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the impact that Ollie Gordon will make for the Trojans this season.