BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville St. Joseph senior all-state offensive lineman Diego De la Cruz announced Monday his verbal commitment to play college football at the University of Texas at El Paso. UTEP is a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school that competes in Conference USA.

“I am honored and blessed to announce my commitment to play football and continue my studies at the University of Texas at El Paso,” De la Cruz tweeted Monday evening.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 315-pound De la Cruz is a three-year letterman with the Bloodhounds who plays on both sides of the ball as an offensive lineman and interior defensive lineman. He said he’s always had dreams of playing college ball, but midway through his junior season he started hearing from Division I programs.

“They’re going to get a driven, smart player on and off the field. They’re going to get a player that goes balls to the wall,” he said. “I’m going to be all-in to the program, to the place I’m at, to the people that care for me, and I’m going to do whatever’s asked of me to do.”

De la Cruz said he took two visits to UTEP and that it felt like a place he could connect with the campus and community as he begins his college football career in 2025 following his senior season at Brownsville St. Joseph.

“What made me decide that’s where I wanted to go is the people there, the environment, how the coaches treat their players and how the coaches treat each other. It made me feel welcome,” he said. “It’s a new culture because the coaches are new there and I feel they’re doing a good job.”

De la Cruz and the Brownsville St. Joseph Bloodhounds are scheduled to kick off the 2024 regular season at home against Raymondville on Aug. 30.

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ALAMO — PSJA Memorial, the No. 6 team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A Preseason Top 10 Poll, took a large step forward in 2023, the third season under head coach William Littleton.

After finishing winless in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Wolverines went 1-9 in 2021, followed by a 4-6 mark in 2022.

Last year, PSJA Memorial made a leap and went 7-4 to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2011 and tied the program’s best start in program history at 7-0. The winning record was the program’s first since 2010.

Now, the Wolverines return 16 starters from last year’s playoff qualifying squad, determined to prove PSJA Memorial can play with the best South Texas has to offer.

“It’s a great group of kids. Our seniors that we have coming back have been a part of this since they were sophomores, and they’ve understood that from year to year it’s a process and understood that we had to get better,” Littleton said. “Going into last year, we had to improve to be able to get a winning record, and they’re understanding going into this year that we’re going into a completely different district. It’s a whole different grind, a whole different level of football, so they understood that they had to continue to improve and continue to rely on that process to get our program to where it’s respectful to now take our program to the next level.”

PSJA Memorial will have to fight in one of South Texas’ toughest districts in 15-5A DI, which features seven playoff teams from 2023, including the Wolverines. With a loaded district and only four postseason spots up for grabs, PSJA Memorial will have to fight every step of the way to put itself in contention.

PSJA Memorial brings back nine of its 11 starters on offense, a unit that proved it can pound the rock and take advantage of opportunities through the air. Senior quarterback Ryan Reyna is a three-year starter who threw for 525 yards and ran for 888 more last season with 25 total touchdowns. He has size and strength at the position to move piles in the short-yardage game.

“It’s been special the way Littleton has been able to work with us since our freshman year. Our class, we want to do something special to keep up this culture,” Reyna said. “Teams don’t see us as a homecoming team. We put in work, we bought in, and now we’re putting in that extra effort to keep it up.”

Senior running back Emi Colunga is a big play waiting to happen in the Wolverines’ backfield after rushing for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games. Senior lineman Jose Vigil and fullback Viktor Rodriguez will help make room for Colunga and PSJA Memorial’s rushing attack.

The Wolverines’ defense features playmakers in its secondary with seniors Thomas Lopez and Exzayveon Banks and junior Nolan Ramirez. Senior linebacker Diego Villegas led Memorial in tackles last season and returns as the quarterback of the defense.

The Wolverines start the season against Brownsville Veterans on Aug. 29 at home and visit McAllen High on Sept. 5 in non-district play. PSJA Memorial then opens District 15-5A DI competition against Weslaco East in Week 4 and closes against Donna High in Week 11.

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McALLEN — McAllen Memorial has won eight district championships dating back to 2010 and has the potential to add to that number this season.

The Mustangs, who start the 2024 campaign as the No. 8-ranked team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A Preseason Poll, return 13 starters from last year’s playoff squad ready to fight for the top spot in a new look District 16-5A DI with familiar rivals.

“I think we’re going to have a great season because our whole team is competitive, so throughout the whole summer, throughout every drill, we’re just fighting to be the best, working hard every day and never taking our foot off the gas,” senior running back JP Garza said. “Our expectation is to win every game and we’re going to compete in every game.”

The Mustangs finished 7-4 a season ago but went toe-to-toe against Valley powers Edinburg Vela and PSJA North to place third in 15-5A DI.

Now in District 16-5A DI along with Vela, McAllen High, McAllen Rowe, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, La Joya Palmview, Mission High and Rio Grande City, the Mustangs should be considered a top two favorite to win district along with the SaberCats.

The Memorial offense brings back six starters led by returning leading rusher JP Garza and last year’s district newcomer of the year winner in junior quarterback Kane Coy.

The senior Garza ran for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2023 and is ready to handle plenty of touches after bulking up over the offseason. He’ll share the load with junior Jaydin Soliz, junior Christian Little, and potentially sophomore Braxton Speights, the younger brother of former Memorial greats Trevor and Campbell Speights.

Coy showed consistency during his first year as a starter in 2023, delivering some big time throws while also displaying running ability with 4.51 speed. Coy threw for 703 yards and seven touchdowns on 78 attempts last season and added 267 yards and one touchdown on 56 carries.

Coy and Garza are set to lead the Memorial offense along with returning offensive linemen Zeke Ozuna and Shawn Reyes.

Defensively, the Mustangs have experience at every level. Senior defensive end Erick Guajardo is a force up front after recording 44 stops, seven tackles for loss and four sacks, while safeties Nick Luna (50 tackles, two INTs) and Nehemiah Adebowale (22 tackles) provide athleticism and smarts in run support and in the passing game.

Memorial’s strongest position group on defense, however, is its linebacking corps of junior Dalton Keller (57 tackles), senior Adrian Garza (47 tackles, one INT) and senior Nico Lara (74 tackles, TFL). The trio will be leaned upon heavily to lead the Mustangs in 2024.

Memorial starts its season against Brownsville Hanna, Weslaco High and San Antonio Johnson in non-district action before opening 16-5A DI play on the road against Rio Grande City on Sept. 20. The Mustangs will also circle a few matchups on their calendar with a Week 7 matchup against McAllen High, Week 9 against Edinburg Vela and Week 10 against McAllen Rowe.

“It’s open season. We have a tough non-district schedule to get us ready for district,” Garza said. “I think going into district we’re going to be ready to play our hearts out and compete with every team.”

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The Monitor’s 2024 All-Area Baseball Teams and Superlatives

THE MONITOR’S ALL-AREA PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Vinny Cano, PSJA High

PSJA High’s senior left-handed pitcher and first baseman Cano produced on the mound and at the plate during his senior season to earn The Monitor’s 2024 All-Area Baseball Player of the Year honors. Cano led PSJA High to win the District 31-6A title by batting .464 with 40 hits, 25 RBI, and 12 runs, while also serving as the Bears’ ace with an 8-2 record, a 1.84 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched for a 29-9 overall team.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR – Andy Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer and Homer Munoz, La Joya High

Sharyland Pioneer’s Chapa and La Joya’s Munoz were both problems at the plate for opposing pitchers during the 2024 season to split All-Area Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Sharyland Pioneer’s senior shortstop Chapa posted a team-high .440 batting average with 27 hits, 27 RBI, 20 runs and one home run to lead the Diamondbacks to a District 31-5A championship and area round playoff appearance. 

The senior catcher Munoz, meanwhile, led La Joya offensively with a .400 batting average, 50 hits, 30 RBI, 12 runs and six home runs. He came through when the Coyotes needed him most to lead La Joya into the fourth round of the state playoffs for the third time in four seasons.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jose Rivera, McAllen Memorial

McAllen Memorial junior shortstop Jose Rivera was a model of consistency up the middle of the Mustangs defense. His play helped McAllen Memorial make program history with their first playoff win since 1997 and deepest playoff run in program history that reached the regional final round of the Class 5A playoffs. Rivera also batted .372 with 25 RBI, 24 runs and one home run.

PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Jaime Palacios, McAllen High and Mateo Garcia, La Joya Palmview

McHi’s Palacios, District 31-5A’s Pitcher of the Year, went 3-0 as a starter during the playoffs by recording Game 1 shutout victories against Harlingen South and La Joya Palmview, then limited crosstown rival McAllen Memorial to two runs in Game 1 of their third round playoff series. He was dominant all season as the Bulldog’s No. 1.

Palmview’s Garcia put together a 9-0 record as a starter to finish with a 0.67 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched. He pitched six complete games, three of which were shutouts. Garcia also hit .358 with 27 RBI, 29 runs and two home runs to lead Palmview to the District 30-5A championship.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – John Reyna, Weslaco High

Reyna burst onto the scene with an outstanding debut season at the varsity level with the Panthers to earn All-Area Newcomer of the Year honors. The freshman posted a .386 average with 27 hits, 13 RBI, 13 runs and one home run, while also going 10-2 on the mound with a 1.25 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 61.2 innings pitched. Reyna played a key role in helping Weslaco reach the regional quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.

SUB-5A PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ian Szczuroski, Hidalgo

Hidalgo’s Szczuroski was productive at the plate all season long to lead the Pirates to win a share of the District 32-4A championship. The junior pitcher and middle infielder was a dominant force near the top of the Pirates’ lineup and displayed power with three home runs on the year.

COACH OF THE YEAR – Roque Cortinas, McAllen Memorial

Cortinas took over head coaching duties at his alma mater in 2022 and turned the McAllen Memorial baseball program around in short order. He coached the Mustangs to reach the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, win their first playoff series since 1997 and reach the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in program history. The Mustangs finished as the No. 3 seed in District 31-5A, one of the toughest districts in all of Texas, and posted a 26-16 overall record with playoff series wins over Brownsville Porter, Corpus Christi Veterans, McAllen High and Kerrville Tivy.

The Monitor’s All-Area First Team

P – David An, McAllen Memorial

P – Santiago Tijerina, La Joya High

C – Jacob Delgadillo, PSJA High

1B – Ryan Everitt, Weslaco High

2B – Alec Salazar, Edcouch-Elsa

SS – Stone Gomez, Weslaco High

3B – Emilio Preza, McAllen Memorial

IF – Lucas Zambrano, La Joya High

IF – Branden Leon, McAllen Rowe

OF – Nyles Alvarez, PSJA High

OF – David Cavazos, Sharyland Pioneer

OF – Jorge Garza, La Joya Palmview

OF – Alejandro Islas, Sharyland High

DH – Josiah Gonzalez, La Joya Palmview

Util – Chris Ramos, Mission Veterans

The Monitor’s All-Area Second Team

P – Ruben Lopez, Sharyland Pioneer

P – Rene Vela, Sharyland Pioneer

C – Deandre Rodriguez, Rio Grande City

1B – Juan Castillo, Valley View

2B – Jayden Martinez, Edinburg Vela

SS – Jaime Lopez, PSJA High

3B – Tony Solis, Weslaco East

IF – Raul Prishker, Hidalgo

IF – Andy Rodriguez, Weslaco East

OF – Diego Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer

OF – Homer Garcia, Sharyland High

OF – Sean Lara, McAllen High

DH – Santiago Soto, Sharyland High

Utility – Eric Alonzo, McAllen High

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The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star’s 2024 All-Area Baseball Teams and Superlatives

THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD/VALLEY MORNING STAR’S ALL-AREA BASEBALL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER – Carlos Garza, Brownsville Veterans

Garza earned The Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star’s All-Area Baseball Most Valuable Player honor after putting together a dominant and record-breaking season as a pitcher and shortstop for the District 32-5A champion Chargers. Garza led Brownsville Veterans with 47 hits, a .465 batting average, 22 RBI and 29 runs scored. He also posted a 10-2 record as a starter with 0.92 ERA with 136 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. His 136 strikeouts broke a school record previously held by Fred Villarreal.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR – Tristan Garcia, Port Isabel and Oscar Rodriguez, Brownsville Veterans

Port Isabel’s Garcia and Brownsville Veterans’ Rodriguez split offensive player of the year honors after lighting it up at the plate during their senior seasons. The Tarpons’ catcher Garcia batted .673 with 33 hits, 14 RBI and 16 runs on the year. Garcia is set to play college baseball at Texas Southern in 2025. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ catcher Rodriguez hit a team-high .493 with 37 hits, 28 RBI and four runs to lead Brownsville Veterans. He also had a .974 fielding percentage for the 32-5A champion Chargers.

CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR – Derek Garcia, Los Fresnos and Josh Ruiz, Harlingen South

Los Fresnos’ shortstop Garcia handled everything hit his way to finish with a .972 fielding percentage. He also held a .372 batting average with 34 runs, 21 RBI and 22 stolen bases as the Falcons went on to win the District 32-6A title.

Harlingen South’s Ruiz recorded a .964 fielding percentage at catcher and a 9-2 record as a starting pitcher with a 0.84 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 58 innings. Ruiz also batted .426 with 18 RBI and 18 runs. 

PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Joaquin Cavazos, Los Fresnos

THe Falcons’ right-hander Cavazos had one of the top arms in South Texas to finish as the Herald/Star’s All-Area Pitcher of the Year. He posted an 11-1 record for the District 32-6A champion Falcons with a 0.52 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 67.1 innings of work. Cavazos helped lead Los Fresnos to a 27-8-1 record overall.

SUB-5A PLAYERS OF THE YEAR – Christopher Galvan and Joshua Laster, Rio Hondo

Galvan and Laster teamed up to form the top tandem at the sub-5A level. They were the No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers for a Bobcats team that went 25-6 overall and 8-1 in district to win the 32-3A championship, the program’s first since 2008. Galvan finished with a 12-2 record, a 1.16 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched, while also batting .413 with 31 hits, 26 RBI and 18 runs. Laster held down the hot corner with a .616 batting average, 45 hits, 37 RBI and 31 runs to go with a 9-2 record on the mound, a 1.29 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 48.2 innings.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – Sebastian Vela, Brownsville Veterans

The sophomore Vela made an immediate impact for the Chargers with a .376 batting average, 19 RBI 16 runs and 38 hits, which ranked second on the team. He stepped in and played a key role for the Chargers all season as Brownsville Veterans captured the District 32-5A championship with a 25-6-2 overall record. Expect Vela to lead the Chargers the next two seasons.

COACH OF THE YEAR – Adam Vera, Brownsville Veterans

Brownsville Veterans was one of the Valley’s top teams from start to finish and fourth-year head coach Adam Vera led them there. Brownsville Veterans won the District 32-5A championship with a 16-2 record in league play, the program’s first in four seasons. Vera coached the Chargers to a 25-6-2 record overall and went on to reach the regional quarterfinal round of the 5A state playoffs.

Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star All-Area First Team

P – Omar Banda, Brownsville Porter

P – Bryan Galvan, Brownsville Porter

C – Nehemiah Garcia, Brownsville Lopez

1B – Joaquin Torralba, Harlingen South

2B – Aleck Rodriguez, Los Fresnos

SS – Colby Martinez, Harlingen South

3B – Gael Silva, Lyford

IF – Alejandro Torres, Brownsville Porter

OF – Hector Arellano, Brownsville Lopez

OF – Aiden Olivas-Romo, Lyford

OF – JustinRay Pena, Harlingen South

DH – Jose Jimenez, Brownsville Veterans

Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning StarAll-Area Second Team

P – Mauro Arizpe, San Benito

P – Jace Kushner, Harlingen High

C – Vincent Gonzalez, Brownsville Rivera

1B – John Reyna, Lyford

2B – Christian Lozano, Rio Hondo

SS – Caleb Sandoval, Rio Hondo

3B – Alejandro Rodriguez, Los Fresnos

IF – Mando San Miguel, Brownsville Lopez

OF – Andre Guadarrama, Harlingen South

OF – Aiden Douglas, Los Fresnos

OF – Angelo Villarreal, San Benito

DH – Ruben Castellanos, Rio Hondo

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The 2024 high school football season is officially underway, with teams hitting the practice field across the Rio Grande Valley.

With Week 1 of the regular season looming, the RGVSports.com staff compiled a list of the top 30 returning RGV football players for the 2024 season.

Our list continues with two of the area’s top linebackers leading the Mission Veterans and PSJA North defenses, two breakout weapons primed for big seasons offensively at Donna High and PSJA Memorial and a receiver-turned-quarterback in Lyford.

Be sure to check back every Wednesday and Saturday as we announce more players from the list leading up to the reveal of the top five players in the 2024 RGVSports.com Football Tab on Aug. 28.

No. 16: WR Xavier Rodriguez, sr., Donna High

2023 Stats: 73 receptions, 1,143 yards, seven touchdowns; 13 carries, 106 yards, one touchdown

Notes: Rodriguez is a big-play waiting to happen as the receiver possesses 4.4 40-speed and the ability to turn WR screens and deep balls into touchdowns. Donna is creative in the ways it schemes touches for Rodriguez, and the senior has shown a tendency to make the most of his opportunities.

No. 17: LB Aiden Uribe, sr., Mission Veterans

2023 Stats: 165 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception

Notes: Uribe is the latest of a lineage of standout linebackers in the middle of the Mission Veterans defense. He’s an instinctual player in finding the football and laying the hammer when he gets there. His toughness and leadership as a three-year letterman will be leaned upon to set the tone for the Patriots’ “Blue Dawg Defense.”

No. 18: LB Jesse Montez, sr., PSJA North

2023 Stats: 114 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, one interception

Notes: Montez is a tackling machine that flies to the ball from sideline to sideline. He’s racked up more than 100 total tackles each year with 343 stops across his first three seasons. Montez is a disruptive force that plays every snap full speed as a mainstay in PSJA North’s “Blackshirt Defense.”

No. 19 ATH Adrian Chavez, sr., Lyford

2023 Stats: 45 receptions, 858 yards, five TDs, 26 carries, 188 yards, 10 TDs, 43 total tackles, one interception

Notes: Chavez was a stud at receiver and safety last season, but he’ll make the transition to quarterback his senior year while still seeing some time defensively. The athleticism that made him one of the top pass catchers in the RGV and a lethal rusher will allow him to hurt defenses through the air and on the ground while leading the Bulldogs’ offense.

No. 20 Emiliano Colunga, sr., PSJA Memorial

2023 Stats: 139 carries, 1,305 yards, 12 TDs

Notes: PSJA Memorial relied heavily on its rushing attack to move the ball, and Colunga was at the center of it. He averaged nearly 10 yards per carry and displayed the ability to turn any touch into six. He’ll be the primary ball-carrier again for the Wolverines and is set up for a big senior campaign.

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HARLINGEN — Harlingen South starts the season ranked No. 9 in the RGVSports.com 5A-6A Top 10 Poll after breaking through with playoff success to end its 2023 campaign.

The Hawks finished last season 8-4 overall with a bi-district playoff victory over McAllen Memorial, the program’s first postseason win in 11 years. Now, the Hawks are hungry for more entering 2024.

“We’re just excited to get on the field with a new roster and see what we can do this year,” senior running back Alvin Edwards said.

The Hawks return 12 starters, with seven on offense and five on defense, giving fourth-year head coach Israel Gonzalez a good group to work with.

The South offense will revolve around its lead back, Alvin Edwards, a senior rusher who ran for 576 yards and seven touchdowns on 86 carries in 2023. He shared the load last season but is ready to handle the majority of the touches out of the South backfield.

“It’s a big moment for me because I’m finally stepping up and being the main running back,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but after your first Bird Bowl, all the pressure is off you. We got some new up and comers that I’m excited about, too.”

The Hawks also return two options at quarterback with senior Dylan Anaya (436 passing yards, five touchdowns; 610 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and junior Austen Shroyer (546 passing yards, seven touchdowns; 161 rushing yards), both of whom have shown they can move the ball through the air and on the ground.

Junior linebacker Marcus Garza (102 total tackles, two interceptions) will man the middle of the South defense, and senior defensive backs Luis Orozco (29 tackles, one interception) and Joaquin Romero (46 tackles, one interception) patrol the secondary.

South will be in a tougher district in 2024 thanks to the latest UIL realignment, however. The Hawks have their work cut out for them with 15-5A DI matchups against Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi Veterans, Donna High, PSJA Memorial, PSJA North and Weslaco East — all playoff teams from a season ago.

“I think a team can only get better by playing tougher teams,” Edwards said. “I’m excited to play against those teams that people consider harder teams. I think it’s going to be different because now we’re going in as underdogs and I think it’s going to change their perspective in how they try to play us, but I think we can stick with them either way.”

South is slated to open the regular season Aug. 29 at McAllen Rowe before playing host to crosstown rival Harlingen High in the Bird Bowl on Sept. 6. The Hawks then kick off District 15-5A DI action in Week 3 on the road against Flour Bluff.

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EDINBURG — The Vaqueros Performance Center, the on-campus home of UTRGV football, is currently under construction with plans to finish in time for the 2025 season, when the Vaqueros kick off Division I Football Championship Series action in the Rio Grande Valley.

The turf practice field outside the Vaqueros Performance Center is ready to roll right now, however, and so are the 75-plus UTRGV football players that make up the first signing class in program history.

Move-in day and meetings begin Sunday for UTRGV’s football student-athletes, followed by more of the same Monday.

On Tuesday, the work begins.

The Vaqueros will hit the turf practice field for conditioning tests and ramp up leading into Sept. 9, the first full-padded practice for UTRGV football.

“It’s definitely still a work in progress, but super excited. We’re two days away from our young men being here, and everything’s kind of falling into place,” UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said. “Practice facility is ready, we walked through the pavilion where we’ll house out in Year 1, so for us, to have this advantage to bring these guys in with these facilities is phenomenal.”

Bush guided the media through a walkthrough tour of the Athletics Pavilion, which will house UTRGV football temporarily in 2024 while construction continues on the VPC. The Athletics Pavilion features locker, meeting, training and weight rooms, and a path leading to two practice fields — one of turf and one of natural grass from the King Ranch that was just laid down and needs time to settle before the Vaqueros can practice on it.

The Athletics Pavilion is lined with motivational phrases including “Win Today,” which Bush and the UTRGV coaching staff use to push stacking wins daily to lead to positive results.

Bush said his time as an assistant at UTSA, when the Roadrunners launched their football program, was much different than the turf and natural grass practice fields and Athletics Pavilion UTRGV football is starting off with.

“We lived this life before (at UTSA), starting a program in the past in the exact same scenario, but we were in a little gym with everything in the same gym,” Bush said. “We had to drive to a high school field several miles away to practice every single day, so to have our own facilities at home and to come out here and practice and see the VPC being built on a daily basis and being able to move into that next year is big time.”

While the current UTRGV football team will begin conditioning tests and work leading up to its first official practice, aspiring college football players will have a chance to earn a spot alongside the current players.

UTRGV football plans to hold walk-on tryouts for current UTRGV students who meet a list of requirements. Bush said the intent is to add multiple players following the Aug. 26 tryouts, and he’s seen players make the most of these kinds of opportunities in the coaching past.

“We got some low numbers at certain positions, so we’re hoping to find some guys that can help. There’s some requirements they have to do, eligibility, age, etc., so if we can take about 10-12, that can help us out then it’s a success,” Bush said. “We did the same thing at UTSA and we had an open tryout, a young man came off the street and tried out, and ended up earning a starting position and a scholarship and he ended up in camp with the Chicago Bears after he graduated, so you never know when someone gets an opportunity. There could be a great story that starts here on Aug. 26, here to tryout, that’s the exciting piece, too.”

Those interested in trying out for the UTRGV football team must meet the following requirements: be a full-time UTRGV student enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours for the fall semester, have an NCAA ID number from the NCAA eligibility center, must have played high school football within the past two years, completed and submitted a physical form, tryout form, participation waiver form, tryout questionnaire and proof of insurance. More information can be found at GoUTRGV.com.

All necessary forms and proof of insurance are due to UTRGV director of football operations and administration John Simmons via email at [email protected] before 5 p.m. Aug. 21.

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The 2024 high school football season is officially underway, with teams hitting the practice field across the Rio Grande Valley.

With Week 1 of the regular season looming, the RGVSports.com staff compiled a list of the top 30 returning RGV football players for the 2024 season.

Our list continues with a pair of powerful ball-carriers from the Lower Valley, a defensive duo from the Mid-Valley and an experienced signal-caller from Mission, the quarterback capital of the RGV.

Be sure to check back every Wednesday and Saturday as we announce more players from the list leading up to the reveal of the top five players in the 2024 RGVSports.com Football Tab on Aug. 28.

No. 21: LB Matthew Cano, sr., Edcouch-Elsa

2023 Stats: 134 total tackles, 22 TFL, 13.5 sacks, 11 QB hurries, two interceptions, four forced fumbles

Notes: Leading the Yellow Jackets’ “Thunder Defense” is Cano, a versatile outside linebacker who leaves his fingerprints all over the game. He can blow up running plays in the backfield and apply non-stop pressure on passing downs to slow opposing offenses. Cano gives Edcouch-Elsa the top returning defensive standout in a wide open District 16-5A DII.

22. QB Diego Salinas, sr., Mission High

2023 Stats: 2,067 passing yards, 19 TDs, 795 rushing yards, five TDs

Notes: Salinas earned his starting spot as a freshman and now enters his senior season as one of the RGV’s most experienced passers. The Mission quarterback can do damage with his arm and legs after accounting for 24 total touchdowns as a junior. With Mission moving down from Class 6A to 5A, Salinas should have the Eagles ready to soar in 2024.

23. RB Noah Huerta, jr., Harlingen High

2023 Stats: 143 carries, 942 yards, 18 TDs

Notes: Huerta exploded onto the scene as a sophomore with the Cardinals by rumbling for nearly 1,000 yards and 18 scores. With holes to fill in the passing game, expect Harlingen to rely on its lead back early and often. If Huerta can take another step forward after an offseason spent getting bigger, stronger and faster, he’s primed to be one of the area’s top rushers.

24. FB Alvin Trevillion, sr., Brownsville Veterans

2023 Stats: 221 carries, 1,497 yards, 10 TDs

Notes: The Chargers’ ground game has its leading rusher back in the fold as Trevillion and company are ready to run wild following Brownsville Veterans’ state semifinal appearance a season ago. Trevillion runs with balance, quickness, strength and a low center of gravity, making it a tough task for defenders to bring him down.

25. DB Gabriel Horta, sr., Weslaco East

2023 Stats: 53 tackles, three INTs

Notes: Horta has established himself as a shutdown corner in a strong secondary that will lead the Weslaco East defense in 2024. He’s a ballhawk that can take away receiving threats and make opposing quarterbacks pay if they throw in his direction. With few returners offensively, Weslaco East will lean on Horta and the defense to stay in the fight in a new-look District 15-5A DI.

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SANTA MARIA — Monday marked the start of the 2024 Texas high school football season and a new tradition in Santa Maria with Midnight Madness as the Cougars’ football, volleyball, and cross-country teams held their first official practices as soon as the clock hit 12 a.m.

Santa Maria head coach Israel Gracia said Santa Maria’s start of Midnight Madness was to begin the 2024-25 athletic year with a bang.

“I just wanted to kickstart the season and something new for these kids. I wanted them to feel the energy and you can feel the energy here tonight,” Gracia said.

Santa Maria is coming off a 7-4 finish in 2023 and has 13 returning starters ready to take another step forward this season. Junior quarterback Miguel Alaniz and junior running back Daniel Martinez will be key offensively, while sophomore Jason Aleman and junior Justin Martinez will play key roles on the front line.

The Cougars will be competing in a new-look District 16-2A DI this year with Freer, Premont, Refugio, Riviera-Kaufer, Skidmore-Tynan and Three Rivers, and are scheduled to open the regular season against La Villa on Aug. 30 at Cougar Stadium in Santa Maria.

Santa Maria wasn’t the only team to hit the gridiron at the strike of midnight.

Over at Elsa, the Yellow Jackets kicked off Year 2 under head coach Victor Cardenas with the return of midnight madness. Excitement was in the air as Edcouch-Elsa took the field at 12:01 a.m. for the start of what many expect to be a dominant season.

“Midnight madness is very exciting because the fans come out, the band, the cheerleaders, just everyone out there under the lights,” Edcouch-Elsa linebacker Matthew Cano said. “It’s exciting and feels great.”

Cano is one of roughly 30 seniors returning for the Yellow Jackets this year, including 18 which are slated to start. The senior is the heart and soul of Edcouch’s “Thunder Defense”, tallying 134 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks one year ago.

He’ll be joined by seven other returning starters on defense, setting them up for a potentially dominant campaign.

The offense brings back equally electric playmakers, including quarterback Elijah Trevino. The dynamic signal caller lit up the competition last year, racking up 2,250 total yards and 30 total touchdowns to lead Edcouch to their fifth straight playoff appearance.

Day 1 of practice was just the first step for the Yellow Jackets quest for their first district title since 2013, eyeing an undefeated season and a deep playoff run this season.

There is higher expectations this season,” Trevino said. “We’re expected to go deeper and have a better record. Our main goal right now is to win a district championship. With all our guys and the experience, we feel ready. This could be our season. We’re just all ready for it.”

Other teams taking the field during Monday’s return to practice included Brownsville St. Joseph and San Benito, among several others.

Some teams will have to wait until next Monday to get things started, with only sub-5A teams and 5A/6A teams who didn’t compete in spring ball able to begin practice yesterday.

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