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Strake Jesuit's Johnny Hebert is having a breakout season
OFF THE GRID: Strake Jesuit's Hebert's unconventional path to greatness
John Hebert is an anomaly.
The Strake Jesuit running back leads the state of Texas with an astounding 3,110 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns—but he has no cell phone.
Hebert has no curated social media presence, no slow-motion hype videos, and no interest in the spotlight. As one of seven siblings, he’s learned to shy away from attention.
And yet, Johnny Hebert makes perfect sense.
“My parents told all of us we couldn’t have a cell phone until our senior year,” Hebert explained, speaking via his iPad. “I’m actually grateful to them. They wanted to keep us away from what phones expose you to. At school, I see everyone glued to their screens. Not having one makes you really talk to people and stay connected to what’s happening around you—it’s a better way to live at a young age.”
His humility and discipline are as impressive as his stats. Coach Donovan Fikac and offensive coordinator Billy Noonan recognized Hebert’s potential early.
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“We walked off the field after a loss to Clear Falls last year and decided we needed to revamp our offense,” Fikac said. “We knew we had a solid offensive line and someone special at running back.
“Johnny’s vision, low center of gravity, and patience are rare. He plays behind his pads, falls forward, and knows how to avoid injury. He’s tough, fast, and humble—an old-school type of player.”
Hebert’s football roots run deep. His father, Jason Hebert, played at Rice University and had brief stints in the NFL.
“We all grew up loving football because of my dad,” John said. “He taught us the game, and with seven kids, we’ve had some epic street football games.”
Strake Jesuit, one of only two private schools competing in UIL football, is making history. With a dominant 56-36 win over Tompkins last week, the Crusaders are on the verge of reaching the third round of the playoffs for just the fourth time in school history. Their next challenge: Heights High School.
“Our district is incredibly physical,” Fikac said. “Fulshear is still undefeated, and the Alief schools have great athletes who play hard. Foster had a strong season, and George Ranch always competes. That competition has prepared us for the postseason.”
Despite Hebert’s stellar performances, he’s quick to share the credit.
“This isn’t a one-man show,” he said. “Our offensive line has been incredible, and our defense has done a great job getting us the ball back. We’re a team of competitive guys, and they push me to be better.”
The Crusaders’ offensive line, featuring Matt Devlin (son of the San Diego Chargers’ OL coach), JC Martinez, Chrysanthos Fetokakis, and Heger Davis, paves the way for Hebert, while QB Bryson Easley keeps the offense in sync.
“We need to take care of the ball and stay true to our identity,” Fikac said. “There are no egos here—this is a brotherhood, and we’re having a lot of fun.”
As for Hebert, his goals are clear and unwavering.
“Am I surprised by my rushing yards? Yes, it’s a little surreal. But I’m confident and willing to put in the work,” he said. “I want to play college ball and make it to the NFL. Once I get there, I want to be the best I can possibly be.”
With his talent, mindset, and determination, John Hebert won’t stay off the grid for long.
PEN TO PAPER: Pearland’s Mader-Cooper and Castañeda sign to Rice
It isn’t uncommon for athletes to grow up on the same field together all the way to the high school stage. After all, schools and districts are zoned for a reason.
However, it is rare for lifelong friends to take that to the next level.
Two key contributors on Pearland’s state finalist baseball team – Jake Mader-Cooper (Sr. RHP/IF) and Isaiah Castañeda (Sr. OF/RHP) – have been on the same trajectory from the beginning.
“It feels amazing to have the opportunity to play at the college level with a friend I’ve played baseball with since Little League up to high school,” said Castañeda. “Jake is a great teammate and I feel like he’s someone who really pushes me and keeps me accountable. Keeping something like that going is irreplaceable.”
Both Mader-Cooper and Castañeda recently inked their futures by signing to play for Rice University at the conclusion of their high school careers. While they didn’t coordinate their initial decisions to commit, it seems like destiny played a part in it.
“Isaiah and I go back a long way, even with the All Stars when we were eight or nine,” said Mader-Cooper. “We’ve always had a good relationship with each other, pushing each other to be better, and I’m really fortunate to have him there (Rice) with me next year. Already having someone I know as well I know him there is just a plus for my future college experience.”
Now that the two have sealed the deal on their collegiate aspirations, what’s next?
“It’s a big relief, now that I’ve signed,” said Castañeda. “I don’t have to worry about trying to get into college and whether or not I’ll get to play ball when I’m there. Now, I can just go out there and have fun once the season starts. I’m still going to work hard, of course, so I can contribute to the team and be ready for my freshman year at Rice when all is said and done.”
“The mindset now is that the work has just started,” Mader-Cooper said. “Going to play D1 baseball is a much bigger challenge, so the end goal right now is to get better every day. There are things that I need to work on, and so does everybody else – small goals at a time. Rice will take care of itself, but for now we’re looking to make it back to State.”
Great minds do think alike.
Rice will be calling in the upcoming Spring, but Mader-Cooper and Castañeda still have a job to do when they take to the diamond for Pearland one last time.