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 true vintage linebacker out of Harlingen, two TAPPS all-state selections and a pair of dual-threat quarterbacks from District 32-6A.

The reveal of the top five players will come in the 2024 RGVSports.com Football Tab on Aug. 28.

Check out the rest of our list below: 

No. 11-15

No. 16-20

No. 21-25

No. 26-30

No. 6: LB Sterling Tomlin, Senior, Harlingen High

2023 Stats: 139 total tckls, 11 TFL, 10 QB hurries, 1 INT, 1 FR

Notes: A true old-school linebacker, Tomlin is a physical, hard-nosed presence in the middle for Harlingen High’s dominant defense. The three-year starter is almost always involved in a play when Harlingen is on defense, averaging 11.6 tackles per game last year. Don’t let his physical play fool you, however, with the 5-foot-11, 210-pound linebacker able to drop back into coverage if needed. Harlingen High’s defense will be its strength this season, with Tomlin serving as the unit’s leader once again.

No. 7: OL Diego De La Cruz, Senior, Brownsville St. Joseph

2023 Stats: TAPPS first-team all-state

Notes: A dominating presence in the trenches, De La Cruz is arguably the top lineman in the area heading into this year. His 6-foot-4, 315-pound frame isn’t just for intimidation, with De La Cruz able to dominate anybody who lines up across from him. The senior tackle recently announced his verbal commitment to UTEP.

No. 8: QB Storm Montoya, Senior, Brownsville Veterans

2023 Stats: 58/110, 1106 yds, 16 TD, 3 INT; 114 car, 650 yds, 16 TD

Notes: A four-year letterwinner, Montoya spent his first two seasons with the Chargers at fullback before shifting back to his natural QB position last year. The move paid dividends for the Chargers, with Montoya evolving into a star behind center en route to a Class 5A DI state semifinal berth. Though not asked to throw often, Montoya kept defenses honest with his arm and diced them up with his legs. The senior dual-threat could be in for an even bigger year this season, with the playbook wide open after one season as QB1.

No. 9: ATH Claudio Torres, Senior, Brownsville St. Joseph

2023 Stats: 61 rec, 793 yds, 5 TD; 39 car, 352 yds, 7 TD; 3/4, 73 yds, 2 TD; 58 total tckls, 7 TFL, 8 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 DEF TD, 1 KR TD

Notes: Torres is a force no matter where he lines up, taking on multiple roles for the Bloodhounds during the past two years. Last year, the do-it-all athlete was a receiver, running back, return man and defensive back for St. Joseph due to injuries on the team, leaving his stamp at each position. Torres should move primarily to WR and DB this season, but don’t be surprised to see him on the field at other positions once again as the Bloodhounds will look for any way to get their star playmaker involved.

No. 10: QB Robert Pineda, Junior, Los Fresnos

2023 Stats: 133/229, 1916, 20 TD, 6 INT; 116 car, 659 yds, 6 TD

Notes: Pineda enters Year 3 at the helm in Los Fresnos as one of the top signal callers in the RGV. The junior athlete is as electric as they come behind center, able to terrorize defenses with his arm or legs. In two years with the Falcons, Pineda has thrown for more than 3,500 yards and rushed for more than 1,500, accounting for 51 total touchdowns. The third-year starter should continue to trend upward as he gets even more comfortable in the Falcons’ offensive system.

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BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville Veterans joined elite company last season, becoming just the 16th Rio Grande Valley football team to reach the Texas high school football state semifinals.

Their historic playoff run also marked the first time since 2003 that a Valley team advanced to the final four of the UIL football playoffs.

The 2023 season is behind them, but the Chargers aren’t going anywhere, opening the 2024 season as the No. 2 team in the RGVSports.com 5A/6A preseason poll.

“The expectations stay the same this year,” Brownsville Veterans senior quarterback Storm Montoya said. “We have a standard at Brownsville Veterans now. Coming off of this past season, we already forgot about it. It was a great run, but we have to move on to this season and prove we can do it again.”

Repeating last year’s success won’t be an easy task, with the Chargers returning just nine starters from their Region IV-5A DI championship team. Among the group of starters lost was a group of four athletes all playing at the collegiate level this fall.

The Chargers aren’t making excuses, however, with the next set of players ready to step into starting roles this season.

“Just wait for us,” Montoya said. “We’re working hard right now, like everybody else, but we’re going to come out that first game and show our heart.”

While Brownsville Veterans loses several key players, they do return several big names ready to carry the mantle this season, including Montoya. The fourth-year letterwinner enters his second season at the helm for the Chargers after spending his first two years primarily at fullback.

The dual-threat signal caller established himself as one the area’s top players a season ago, throwing for 1,106 yards and 16 touchdowns, and adding 650 yards and 15 scores on the ground.

“I’ve had pressure since middle school, so I don’t think anything of it now,” Montoya said. “Its just another game. If they come at me, they come at me. If I had to rank myself among other players in the Valley, obviously I want to put myself at No. 1. I’m going to be confident in that. That’s what I am about.”

Senior running back Alvin Trevillion also returns after earning Herald/Star tri-newcomer of the year honors a season ago. The physical fullback bullied his way to 1,497 yards and 10 touchdowns on 221 carries last year.

Defensive back Eroz Pineda and defensive lineman Andrew Quintero bring back veteran experience on the defense. Do-it-all athlete Sergio Sosa is back, too, and should make an impact on both sides of the ball once again this season.

Junior slot receiver Calvin Trevillion and sophomore fullback Maddox Bond both saw varsity action last year as well and likely will be called on to step into more prominent roles in 2024.

“We lost a good amount of core guys on offense and defense, but these guys filling in those spots, I have full confidence in them,” Montoya said. “They know their plays. They know their assignments. I think we’re going to be OK.”

The Chargers’ new season begins Aug. 29 on the road against the PSJA Memorial Wolverines, followed by a home game against intracity rival Brownsville St. Joseph. They’ll close out non-district play with a pair of contests against 2023 playoff teams PSJA High and Sharyland High.

They’ll kick off their return to District 32-6A with a bang, hosting RGV powerhouse Harlingen High on Oct. 10. They’ll close out the regular season Nov. 1 against another RGV power, hosting San Benito at Sams Memorial Stadium in Brownsville.

“A lot of people are still going to doubt us a little bit,” Montoya said. “We just have to come like we did this past season, just a bit stronger. We’re prepared for this moment. We faced some 6A teams last year, so I think we’re prepared for this season.”

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The 2024 high school football season is officially underway, with several programs starting practice this past Monday and the rest set to join in a few days.

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.

We kick off our list with a hard-nosed linebacker from PSJA High, a dual-threat gunslinger from Brownsville St. Joseph, a do-it-all playmaker from Santa Rosa and more.

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. 26: LB Cody Longoria, sr., PSJA High

2023 Stats: 150 total tackles, 16 TFL, four QB hurries, two sacks, FF

Notes: A three-year starter, Longoria is the heartbeat of PSJA High’s defense. The senior middle linebacker has a nose for the football, racking up 239 total tackles during the past two years. Once again, Longoria should hear his name called often on Friday nights this upcoming season.

No. 27: QB Gavin Cisneros, jr., Brownsville St. Joseph

2023 Stats: 144/226, 2001 yds, 17 TDs, five INTs; 113 carries, 825 yds, five TDs

Notes: Cisneros established himself as one of the RGV’s top dual-threat quarterbacks last season, slicing up defenses with his arm and legs. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound gunslinger possesses the elusiveness to extend plays and the arm to blow the top off defenses. A bigger year could be in store as Cisneros gets even more comfortable with the Bloodhounds’ offense.

No. 28: ATH JJ Anaya, sr., Santa Rosa

2023 Stats: 158 car, 784 yds, 11 TDs; 82 total tackles, four TFL, two sacks, three FR, FF

Notes: Anaya made a huge jump from Year 2 to 3 last season, evolving from a contributor on the Warriors to the team’s top player on both sides of the ball. The do-it-all athlete will be tasked with leading the offense and defense again, slated to start at RB and MLB for Santa Rosa in 2024.

No. 29: QB Ryan Reyna, sr., PSJA Memorial

2023 Stats: 525 passing yds, 888 rushing yds, 25 total TDs

Notes: Reyna continued to grow in Coach Littleton’s offense during his second year at the helm last season, leading the Wolverines to their first playoff appearance since 2011. The dual-threat QB could be in for an MVP-caliber campaign during his third and final year at the helm, with a 1K passing and rushing season not out of the question.

No. 30: WR Gabriel Rios, sr., Brownsville Lopez

2023 Stats: 55 rec, 915 yds, five TDs

Notes: Rios isn’t the biggest on the field, measuring in at just 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds. Don’t let his small frame fool you, however, with the wideout establishing him as one of the top players in the area last season. With blazing 4.6 speed at his disposal, Rios is a threat to break free for a touchdown any time he touches the ball.

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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) head football coach Travis Bush announced on Thursday the addition of two graduate student coaches, including Gunnar Henderson, who will work with the offense, and Brandon Palomares, who will work with the defense.

Gunnar Henderson

A graduate of McAllen High School, Henderson comes to UTRGV after playing in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship game with TCU.

“We’re extremely excited about the addition of Gunnar Henderson to our staff,” Bush said. “Gunnar will be a big-time coach one day and his experiences from McAllen High School all the way to the CFP National Championship game will add great value to our staff.  Gunnar also played wide receiver in our offensive system and will be a great mentor to our young student-athletes.”

In two seasons at TCU, Henderson saw time at wide receiver and on special teams, making 13 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns in 26 games. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree, Henderson averaged a team-best 20.3 yards per completion as a senior before competing in the New Orleans Saints’ 2023 rookie minicamp.

Henderson began his collegiate career at Incarnate Word, helping his team to the 2018 Southland Conference Championship. He was elevated to team captain as a sophomore while earning Academic All-Southland Conference honors.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity Coach Bush and the rest of the staff have given me,” Henderson said. “It is truly a blessing to start my college coaching career in the Valley. I am going to work extremely hard and do my part so the product we put on the field in 2025 is something the Valley is proud of.”

While at McAllen, Henderson was an offensive most valuable player, all-region and all-district wide receiver as a junior and senior. He was also a three-time all-district return specialist and, as a sophomore, an all-district defensive back.

Henderson graduated from TCU in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies.

Brandon Palomares

Palomares played football at Seguin High School from 2014-17, including his final two years for Bush, who was the head coach, and UTRGV Defensive Line Coach Nathan Langford, who was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

“Words can’t describe how proud I am of Brandon and how happy we are to have him on staff,” Bush said. “I sat in his living room on a home visit in Seguin in 2016 when he was a junior in high school, and now I look down the staff room table to see him as a grown man and a coach.  He understands the culture of toughness and competitiveness we will build here and will be a great role model for our young student-athletes.”

As a student-athlete at Seguin, Palomares rushed for 1,573 yards on 231 carries while scoring 15 touchdowns in 29 games across three varsity seasons. He also caught 37 passes for 479 yards over his final two seasons after passing for 331 yards on 38 completions as a sophomore.

Palomares returned to Seguin full-time in 2022-23, coaching three varsity sports, including football, over the last two years.

“I’m incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to attend UTRGV and work under Coach Bush and alongside Coach Langford,” Palomares said. “They have not only served as my coaches but have also been mentors who have poured into me and inspired me to pursue a career in coaching. I look forward to being a part of history and serving the Rio Grande Valley. I’m excited to be a Vaquero. V’s up!”

Palomares graduated from Texas A&M in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management.

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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) head football coach Travis Bush announced on Thursday the addition of two graduate student coaches, including Gunnar Henderson, who will work with the offense, and Brandon Palomares, who will work with the defense.

Gunnar Henderson

A graduate of McAllen High School, Henderson comes to UTRGV after playing in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship game with TCU.

“We’re extremely excited about the addition of Gunnar Henderson to our staff,” Bush said. “Gunnar will be a big-time coach one day and his experiences from McAllen High School all the way to the CFP National Championship game will add great value to our staff.  Gunnar also played wide receiver in our offensive system and will be a great mentor to our young student-athletes.”

In two seasons at TCU, Henderson saw time at wide receiver and on special teams, making 13 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns in 26 games. A two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree, Henderson averaged a team-best 20.3 yards per completion as a senior before competing in the New Orleans Saints’ 2023 rookie minicamp.

Henderson began his collegiate career at Incarnate Word, helping his team to the 2018 Southland Conference Championship. He was elevated to team captain as a sophomore while earning Academic All-Southland Conference honors.

“I’m very thankful for the opportunity Coach Bush and the rest of the staff have given me,” Henderson said. “It is truly a blessing to start my college coaching career in the Valley. I am going to work extremely hard and do my part so the product we put on the field in 2025 is something the Valley is proud of.”

While at McAllen, Henderson was an offensive most valuable player, all-region and all-district wide receiver as a junior and senior. He was also a three-time all-district return specialist and, as a sophomore, an all-district defensive back.

Henderson graduated from TCU in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies.

Brandon Palomares

Palomares played football at Seguin High School from 2014-17, including his final two years for Bush, who was the head coach, and UTRGV Defensive Line Coach Nathan Langford, who was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.

“Words can’t describe how proud I am of Brandon and how happy we are to have him on staff,” Bush said. “I sat in his living room on a home visit in Seguin in 2016 when he was a junior in high school, and now I look down the staff room table to see him as a grown man and a coach.  He understands the culture of toughness and competitiveness we will build here and will be a great role model for our young student-athletes.”

As a student-athlete at Seguin, Palomares rushed for 1,573 yards on 231 carries while scoring 15 touchdowns in 29 games across three varsity seasons. He also caught 37 passes for 479 yards over his final two seasons after passing for 331 yards on 38 completions as a sophomore.

Palomares returned to Seguin full-time in 2022-23, coaching three varsity sports, including football, over the last two years.

“I’m incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to attend UTRGV and work under Coach Bush and alongside Coach Langford,” Palomares said. “They have not only served as my coaches but have also been mentors who have poured into me and inspired me to pursue a career in coaching. I look forward to being a part of history and serving the Rio Grande Valley. I’m excited to be a Vaquero. V’s up!”

Palomares graduated from Texas A&M in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management.

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SAN ANTONIO — UTRGV’s first football game is a little over a year away, but the Vaqueros took center stage Monday at Southland Conference Football Media Day at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.

Head coach Travis Bush was flanked by freshman running back Brennan Carroll and freshman linebacker Jaxson Maynard as the trio shared their excitement on their upcoming practice season and becoming the newest Division I football program scheduled to hit the field Aug. 30, 2025, at home against Sul Ross State.

“We’re excited to have these two men with us here, two hometown guys from San Antonio,” Bush said. “The main thing (in Year 1) is setting the foundation and culture for the team. We have to build that from the ground up, and as far as practice, everyone’s going to be a true freshman, everyone’s going to redshirt. Anywhere else in the nation, they’re just playing scout team, but they’re going to have the opportunity to get every rep, learn the offense, learn the defense, compete for spots, and really have that practice season to really develop. Coming in from August 18 to the end of the season on November 28, they are going to develop more than any other redshirt freshman in the nation, so really making sure we maximize that time and our efforts to develop them the best we can.”

The Southland Conference is composed of 12 full-time members — Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese, New Orleans, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern, Texas A&M-Commerce,Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV.

Carroll and Maynard, who attended high school at San Antonio Roosevelt and Smithson Valley, respectively, spoke on what swayed them to commit to play college football for UTRGV, the challenge of building something new and how the Vaqueros will approach the 2024 practice season, set to begin with practice in early September.

“It means a lot for Coach Bush to have trust in both of us to come in here as freshmen and represent the Valley. We’re just excited to get down there,” Carroll said. “I’m ready for it, ready to get down there and hopefully win some games for the Valley. … I had never really been down to the Valley, but Coach Bush had a vision and he showed me his vision and I fully believed in it and trusted him, so I told him I’m ready to be a part of this first class. Seeing the school, seeing everything around there definitely played a big part in my decision.”

“We’re definitely going to try and set the tone in Year 1,” Maynard said. “It’s going to be a different environment. Having that extra year is going to make us get a lot closer, especially on defense. We’re going to have a whole year to get bigger, stronger, faster and just smarter on the field, which will help us develop on the field.”

The UTRGV football team will arrive on campus on Aug. 18 and begin strength and conditioning two days later. The Vaqueros won’t hold their first official football practice until after Labor Day in early September. The Vaqueros will then spend the entire 2024 season preparing for their Division I Football Championship Series debut on Aug. 30, 2025 at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.

“I know we’ll enjoy watching the battles, too,” Bush said. “They (Carroll and Maynard) played against each other in an all-star game, just those battles at running back and linebacker, those will develop all through the season. As coaches, it’s about understanding the process, seeing who the guys that are going to come in and grow and develop, who’s going to take over what spot, that’s the fun part for us, just watching that competition everyday and those battles on the field.”

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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday that the UTRGV football team will host Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sept. 4, 2027.

“As we build our schedules for the next few years, it was important to us to make sure that in the spirit of camaraderie, we host the closest college football team outside the Rio Grande Valley,” UTRGV vice president and director of athletics Chasse Conque said. “I appreciate athletic director Steve Roach and his willingness to make scheduling this matchup a priority for our fans. We have a great relationship between departments and coaching staffs. [UTRGV head] coach [Travis] Bush and [Texas A&M-Kingsville head] coach [Michael] Salinas are good friends and have already worked together to host multiple camps. This should be a great contest for both our teams, our fans, students, and alumni.”

UTRGV Football currently has four nonconference football games scheduled from 2025-2030 — Sul Ross State on Aug. 30, 2025 at home, Texas A&M-Kingsville on Sept. 4, 2027 at home, Texas State on Sept. 11, 2027 on the road, and Texas State on Sept. 14, 2030.

$25 for ‘25

Fans can reserve season tickets with a $25 deposit for the inaugural season of UTRGV football in 2025 at GoUTRGV.com/Tickets. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable and will be applied toward season ticket purchases.

UTRGV Athletics is still finalizing details regarding ticket prices and will announce prices in September. The plan is to offer a variety of price points with season tickets as low as $99 to ensure there is something for everyone.

Season tickets will include games at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium. UTRGV will host one game at Sams Stadium in Brownsville every year. Season ticket holders will have the option to purchase tickets for the Brownsville game during the select-a-seat process.

UTRGV Athletics is giving priority for choosing seats to current V Club members, season ticket holders of any sport, and corporate partners as part of the Vaqueros Loyalty Points program. For more information on Vaqueros Loyalty Points, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit GoUTRGV.com/LoyaltyPoints.

Fans with questions can contact the UTRGV Athletics ticketing team of Eddie Galvan (956-665-3415) and Ryela Rodriguez (956-665-3747) over the phone or through email at [email protected].

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EDINBURG — UTRGV officially became a member of the Southland Conference on Monday with July 1 marking the turn of the NCAA athletic calendar. UTRGV athletics held a ceremony Monday afternoon to unveil new Southland Conference logos on Sam Williams Court inside the UTRGV Fieldhouse.

“Definitely woke up with a little bit different pep in my step and I think our coaches and staff and hopefully student-athletes would say the same thing,” UTRGV vice president and athletic director Chasse Conque said. “So much has transpired since we made the official announcement back in March, but going back to the reasons why, this was solely focused on our student-athletes. It was in their best interest, we felt, to put them in a league that had a regional footprint. I love the institutions that we’re going to compete against, and now with the addition of Stephen F. Austin over the last couple weeks, you’ve got seven (schools) from right here in the state of Texas, five in Louisiana, so we’re really excited about today and excited about the future of UTRGV in the Southland Conference.”

The Southland Conference is composed of 12 full-time members — Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese, New Orleans, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern, Texas A&M-Commerce,Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV.

UTRGV will compete in the Southland Conference in volleyball, women’s soccer, cross country, basketball, golf, tennis, track & field, baseball, and football beginning in 2025.

UTRGV’s men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving teams will continue to compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). UTRGV was a member of the WAC from 2013-2024.

UTRGV FOOTBALL NOTES

UTRGV football will begin fall practice at the beginning of September, UTRGV head football coach Travis Bush said Monday.

“We’re not having a training camp in August. They won’t come until school starts, we won’t practice really til September, but it’s going to be broken up like three mini spring trainings,” Bush said. “We’ll go about three weeks of good practice and give them an open week at the end of each month and do that September, October, November, so really you’re looking at about three spring balls worth of practice.”

Conque and Bush both confirmed UTRGV’s first football game in program history will be played on Aug. 30, 2025 against Sul Ross at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.

“We are going to kickoff against Sul Ross on Aug. 30, 2025 at night at Vackar Stadium. Excited about that, excited about that opponent, and we’ll have more information coming with the rest of our schedule,” Conque said. “Obviously, we’ll play a full Southland Conference schedule that first year giving us eight conference games — four at home, four on the road — so we’re getting close. It’s hard to believe we’re 420 or so days away.”

“They came up to Division II and they’ve got a good program. They’re a good quality opponent,” Bush said. “There’s a lot of Sul Ross alumni down here, a lot of coaches down here, so I think it’ll be a good game with a good fan base for them and a good opener for us.”

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