Two running backs from the Rio Grande Valley were named to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 6A All-State Team, McAllen Memorial‘s Campbell Speights and La Joya High’s Eddie Villarreal. Several football players from across the Valley were honored with recognition on the first-, second-, third- or honorable mention lists. Below is Class 6A
HS FOOTBALL ALL-STATE LISTS
TSWA Class 6A all-state football team
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Guards – Josh Bankhead, The Woodlands College Park, 6-5, 315, sr.; Logan Parr, San Antonio O’Connor, 6-4, 280, sr.
Center – Branson Hickman, Dallas Jesuit, 6-2, 280, sr.
Tackles – Andrej Karic, Southlake Carroll, 6-5, 265, sr.; (tie) Jake Majors, Prosper, 6-4, 290, sr.; Courtland Ford, Cedar Hill, 6-6, 305, sr.
Wide receivers – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rockwall, 6-1, 188, sr.; Dwight McGlothern, Klein Oak, 6-2, 185, sr.
Tight end – Grayson Sandlin, Austin Travis, 6-4, 205, sr.
Quarterback – Dematrius Davis, Galena Park North Shore, 5-11, 195, jr.
Running backs – Kaedric Cobbs, Denton Guyer, 5-10, 208, sr.; Aaron Dumas, El Paso Americas, 5-10, 190, jr.; Campbell Speights, McAllen Memorial, 5-10, 195, sr.
Fullback – Eddie Villarreal, La Joya, 5-10, 215, sr.
All-purpose back – EJ Smith, Dallas Jesuit, 6-0, 195, sr.
Place-kicker – Carter Brown, Pearland Dawson, 6-1, 175, soph.
Offensive player of the year – Smith-Njigba, Rockwall
Defense
Linemen – LB Moore, Amarillo Tascosa, 6-4, 235, sr.; Asyrus Simon, Humble Atascocita, 6-4, 261, sr.; Nicholas Booker-Brown, Spring Westfield, 6-3, 265, sr.; Caleb Fox, The Woodlands, 6-2, 307, sr.
Linebackers – Corey Flagg, North Sore, 6-0, 225, sr.; Josh White, Cypress Creek, 6-1, 220, sr.; James Douglas, Arlington Lamar, 6-1, 189, sr.; Graham Faloona, Southlake Carroll, 6-3, 215, sr.
Secondary – Upton Stout, Galena Park North Shore, 5-10, 180, sr.; Jahari Rogers, Arlington, 6-1, 180, sr.; Chris Thompson Jr., Duncanville, 6-2, 195, sr.; (tie) Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Duncanville, 6-1, 170, sr.; Sage Luther, Austin Westlake, 5-11, 185, sr.
Punter – Connor Dailey, McKinney Boyd, 5-10, 165, jr.
Utility – D.J. Graham, Keller Central, 6-2, 187, sr.
Kick returner – Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rockwall, 6-1, 188, sr.
Defensive player of the year – White, Cypress Creek
Coach of the year – (tie) Todd Dodge, Austin Westlake; Jon Kay, Galena Park North Shore
SECOND TEAM
Offense
Guards – Andrew Salem, Austin Lake Travis, 6-2, 270, sr.; Bryce Foster, Katy Taylor, 6-5, 330, jr.
Center – Addison Penn, Southlake Carroll, 6-3, 285, sr.
Tackles – Connor Halverson, Austin Westlake, 6-4, 270, sr.; Marcus Bryant, Cedar Ridge, 6-7, 270, sr.
Wide receivers – Loic Fouonji, Midland Lee, 6-4, 192, sr.; Ryan Lindley, Austin Westlake, 5-10, 170, sr.
Tight end – Blake Smith, Southlake Carroll, 6-5, 250, sr.
Quarterback – (tie) Braedyn Locke, Rockwall, 6-0, 180, soph.; Quinn Ewers, Southlake Carroll, 6-3, 195, soph.
Running backs – Braelon Bridges, Klein Collins, 5-9, 183, sr.; Zach Evans, North Shore, 6-0, 205, sr.; L.J. Johnson, Cy-Fair, 5-11, 205, jr.
Fullback – Charles Alia, Kempner, 5-10, 190, sr.
All-purpose back – Greg Eggleston, Smithson Valley, 5-11, 160, sr.
Place-kicker – Fabrizio Pinton, The Woodlands, 6-3, 200, sr.
Defense
Linemen – Carson Byrd, Midway, 6-1, 265, sr.; Austin McClendon, Austin Westlake, 6-3, 235, sr.; Brandon Brown, Katy Morton Ranch, 6-2, 290, sr.; (tie) Elijah Fisher, Allen, 6-3, 255, sr.; Marcus Brown, Houston Lamar, 6-4, 220, sr.
Linebackers – Donnie Moody, Converse Judson, 6-0, 205, jr.; Jayveion Moore, Arlington Lamar, 5-8, 196, sr.; Ethan Barr, Flower Mound Marcus, 6-3, 220, sr.; Miles Skinner, Keller Central, 6-1, 180, sr.
Secondary – Marcus Moore, Spring Westfield, 6-0, 190, sr.; Darius Snow, Hebron, 6-0, 215, sr.; Malik Cannon, Longview, 5-11, 165, sr.; (tie) Cameron Oliver, Fort Bend Travis, 6-1, 160, jr.; Tyler Ashworth, Rockwall, 5-9, 180, sr.
Punter – Robert Amador III, McAllen, 6-2, 215, sr.
Utility – Emon Allen, Vista Ridge, 5-8, 160, jr.
Kick returner – Jaime Perez Jr., Edinburg Vela, 6-0, 180, jr.
THIRD TEAM
Offense
Guards – Pedro Posadas, Weslaco East, 6-3, 315, jr.; (tie) Akinola Ogunbiyi, Fort Bend Kempner, 6-4, 331, sr.; Dawson Weiss, Austin Travis, 6-3, 255, sr.
Center – (tie) Parker Cox, Longview, 6-0, 215, sr.; Brandon Gonzalez, Amarillo Tascosa, 6-1, 295, sr.; Wesley Ndago, Waco Midway, 6-2, 300, sr.
Tackles – Chad Lindberg, Clear Creek, 6-6, 297, sr.; (tie) Gabe Blair, Denton Guyer, 6-2, 290, jr.; Damieon George, North Shore, 6-7, 345, sr.
Wide receivers – Kyle Eaves, Austin Lake Travis, 5-11, 160, sr.; Michael Phoenix, Conroe, 6-1, 180, sr.
Tight end – (tie) Donovan Green, Dickinson, 6-4, 220, soph.; Collin Sutherland, Flower Mound Marcus, 6-5, 245, sr.
Quarterback – (tie) Ja’Quinden Jackson, Duncanville, 6-2, 219, sr.; Brice Matthews, Humble Atascocita, 5-11, 175, sr.
Running backs – Brian Benavides, Laredo United South, 5-7, 160, jr.; Dylan Campbell, Houston Strake Jesuit, 5-10, 190, sr.; (tie) Deuce Vaughn, Cedar Ridge, 5-7, 175, sr.; Kendall Thomas, Round Rock Stony Point, 5-9, 180, sr.; Will Nixon, Waco Midway, 5-11, 185, sr.
Fullback – (tie) Pablo Tovar, Laredo Nixon, 5-10, 180, jr.; Mark Patton, Tyler Lee, 6-5, 220, sr.
All-purpose back – DeAndre Exford, Killeen Shoemaker, 5-4, 180, jr.
Place-kicker – David Leadbetter, Austin Westlake, 5-11, 158, jr.
Defense
Linemen – Savion Byrd, Duncanville, 6-6, 280, jr.; Tim Hardiman, Spring Westfield, 6-0, 260, sr.; Jamal Ligon, Tyler Lee, 6-2, 232, sr.; (tie) Bryson Stewart, Fort Bend Ridge Point, 6-1, 245, sr.; Ed Jones IV, Arlington Martin, 6-0, 205, sr.
Linebackers – Jadyn Landrum, Arlington Bowie, 6-2, 220, sr.; Derrick Lewis, Schertz Clemens, 6-1, 215, sr.; Dyllon Peavy, Spring Westfield, 5-10, 215, sr.; Jacob Sanchez, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, 6-1, 215, sr.
Secondary – Elliott Davison, Tyler Lee, 5-11, 170, sr.; Jaylon Jones, Cibolo Steele, 6-2, 185, sr.; Mason Chambers, Schertz Clemens, 6-0, 195, sr.; (tie) Diego Villarreal, McAllen Memorial, 5-11, 180, sr.; Savien Arnett, Dickinson, 5-10, 170, sr.
Punter – Eric Abbe, Abilene, 6-1, 197, sr.
Utility – Hector Muniz, Weslaco East, 5-11, 165, sr.
Kick returner – Micah Cox, Copperas Cove, 5-10, 175, sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Guards – Santiago Bohlmann, Katy Tompkins, 6-0, 250, sr.; Jorge Hinojosa, Edinburg Vela, 6-1, 250, sr.; Caleb Rodkey, Fort Bend Ridge Point, 6-5, 335, jr.; Mark Trujillo, Laredo United South, 5-11, 260, sr.
Centers – Eric Cisneros, Midland Lee, 6-2, 290, sr.; Landon Gibson, Rockwall, 6-1, 270, sr.; Miguel Gutierrez, Laredo United South, 6-0, 275, sr.; Braedon Nutter, Tomball Memorial, 6-3, 280, sr.; Andrew Ramos, McAllen Memorial, 6-1, 225, sr.; Robert Rigsby, Converse Judson, 6-4, 295, jr.; Harry Witt, Austin Vandegrift, 5-10, 245, sr.
Tackles – Joseph Amaro, Laredo United South, 5-10, 265, sr.; Chris Bolling, San Antonio Stevens, 6-4, 240, sr.; Canon Boone, Dickinson, 6-4, 270, jr.; Hayden Burke, Katy Tompkins, 6-3, 270, sr.; James Collyer, Austin Vandegrift, 6-5, 240, sr.; Kameron Dewberry, Humble Atascocita, 6-5, 302, soph.; John Paul Elizondo, San Benito, 6-1, 255, sr.; Angel Lopez, San Antonio Brandeis, 6-2, 270, jr.; Kevaughnte McGowan, Arlington, 6-2, 265, sr.; Hunter Smith, Rockwall-Heath, 6-5, 295, jr.; Sobhan Soleymani, Amarillo Tascosa, 6-0, 250, sr.
Wide Receivers – Amarea Bailey-Davis, Converse Judson, 6-2, 185, sr.; Charles Brown, Arlington, 5-11, 175, sr.; Justin Cantu, Edinburg Vela, 6-2, 195, sr.; Tanner Dabbert, San Angelo Central, 6-1, 185, sr.; Adam Fogg, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, 6-1, 175, sr.; Dylan Goffney, Cypress Bridgeland, 6-1, 188, jr.; Thad Johnson, Beaumont West Brook, 6-0, 190, sr.; Logan Kyle, Tomball Memorial, 6-3, 197, sr.; Joseph Manjack, Tomball Memorial, 6-4, 195, jr.; Daryn McKnight, Cibolo Steele, 5-10, 175, sr.; Seth Meador, Denton Guyer, 5-10, 180, sr.; Dylan Robinson, Humble Atascocita, 6-2, 196, sr.; Kevin Rojas, Edinburg Vela, 5-11, 175, sr.; Tanner Sanchez, Laredo United, 5-8, 155, jr.; J. Michael Sturdivant, Flower Mound Marcus, 6-3, 185, jr.; Collin Sullivan, Round Rock, sr.; Parker Washington, Fort Bend Travis, sr.; Trevon West, Arlington Lamar, 6-0, 170, sr.
Tight ends – Rey Garcia, Mission, 6-3, 240, sr.
Quarterbacks – Jordan Battles, SA Brandeis, 5-11, 182, jr.; Kyle Brown, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, 6-1, 185, jr.; Hudson Card, Austin Travis, 6-2, 170, sr.; Mike Chandler II, Converse Judson, 6-1, 190, sr.; Eduardo Huerta, Laredo United, 5-10, 180, sr.; Haynes King, Longview, 6-3, 185, sr.; Sofian Massoud, Cypress Lakes, 6-2, 190, sr.; Kirkland Michaux, Austin Westlake, 6-4, 225, sr.; Sebastian Ochoa, EP Pebble Hills, 5-11, 175, sr.; Joseph Plunk, Amarillo Tascosa, 5-10, 170, sr.; Mikey Serrano, Midland Lee, 6-0, 185, sr.; AJ Sotelo, Edinburg Vela, 5-10, 175, jr.; Eli Stowers, Denton Guyer, 6-4, 215, jr.
Running Backs – Jaydon Blue, Klein Cain, 5-11, 209, soph.; Micah Cox, Copperas Cove, 5-10, 175, sr.; Dezmond Forrest, Weatherford, 5-7, 181, jr.; Pierce Hudgens, Flower Mound, 6-1, 200, sr.; De’Anthony Lewis, Converse Judson, 6-1, 190, jr.; Julius Loughridge, Katy Mayde Creek, 6-0, 205, jr.; Peyton Knaub, Weslaco, 5-9, 155, sr.; Kaden Meredith, Longview, 5-9, 185, jr.; Rashod Owens, SA Roosevelt, 6-1, 185, sr.; Camilo Pedraza, Laredo Alexander, 5-7, 165, sr.; R.J. Smith, Katy Tompkins, 6-0, 190, sr.; Trysten Smith, Duncanville, 5-9, 203, sr.; Kendal Taylor, Spring Westfield, 5-9, 180, sr.
Fullbacks – Demarcus Jackson, DeSoto, 6-0, 210, sr.; Elias Pino, Cypress Ranch, 5-7, 165, sr.; Garrett Mack, Katy Tompkins, 6-1, 180, sr.
Place-kickers – Jose Carlo Martinez, Keller Timber Creek, sr.; Hays McCannon, Austin Lake Travis, 5-8, 165, jr.; Allen Rivera, Stony Point, soph.; Rene Rodriguez, Mission, sr.; Gilbert Garza, Weslaco East, 5-10, 205, sr.; Ethan Spearman, Rockwall, 5-8, 140, jr.
Linemen – Tunmise Adeleye, Katy Tompkins, 6-3, 265, jr.; Dajuan Carmichael, Converse Judson, 6-0, 270, sr.; Manny Castillo, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, 6-2, 238, sr.; Elijah Champaigne, Tomball Memorial, 6-3 260, sr.; Tavian Coleman, Humble, 6-3, 235, sr.; Colton David, Keller Central, 5-11, 185, sr.; Brandon Esteves, Brownsville Hanna, 5-10, 220, sr.; Sawyer Goram-Welch, Longview, 6-4, 280, sr.; Leo Guerra, Weslaco East, 6-0, 230, jr.; Sebastian Hinojosa, Rockwall, 6-2, 280, sr.; Luke Horne, Vista Ridge, 6-1, 210, sr.; Michael Ike, Pflugerville Hendrickson, 6-3, 270, sr.; Dylan Kemp, El Paso Americas, 5-11, 195, jr.; Dante Lopez, Mission, 6-0, 285, jr.; Isai Martinez, Weslaco East, 6-1 275, sr.; Trey Moore, Smithson Valley, 6-2, 240, jr.; Byron Murphy, DeSoto, 6-2, 290, jr.; Will Prendergast, Prosper, 6-2, 250, sr.; LaTrell Smith, Lake Highlands, 6-2, 285, sr.; Trey Sofia, Austin Lake Travis, 6-5, 222, sr.; Kamren Washington, Mansfield, 6-2, 240, jr.; Cameron Whitfield, Dawson Pearland, 6-3, 245, jr.
Linebackers – Luis Balderas, Mission, 5-5, 148, soph.; Giovanni Barrera, Weslaco East, 5-10, 196, jr.; McCaleb Bialeszewski, Hays Consolidated, 5-9, 175, sr.; Hector Benavides, Laredo United, 5-9, 180, sr.; Morice Blackwell, Arlington Martin, 6-2, 205, jr.; Jake Chambers, Round Rock Stony Point, 6-0, 210, soph.; Bryce Christian, Vista Ridge, 5-11, 200, sr.; Zion Fonua, Euless Trinity, 6-1, 195, sr.; Charlie Gonzales, Midland Lee, 6-2, 235, sr.; John Daniel Gonzalez, San Benito, 5-11, 210, sr.; Jonathan Hernandez, Laredo United South, 5-8, 170, sr.; Demarcus Jackson, DeSoto, 6-0, 210, sr.; Trent Low, Midland Lee, 6-2, 205, sr.; Leo Lowin, Austin Westlake, 6-1, 190, sr.; Jackson Macias, Schertz Clemens, 6-0, 200, sr.; Jax McCauley, Austin Vandegrift, 5-11, 220, sr.; Landen Nowak, Cypress Ranch, 5-10, 185, jr.; Jaylen Phillips, Katy, 6-2, 208, sr.; David Powers, El Paso Franklin, 6-0, 210, sr.; Johnny Rodriguez, San Antonio Brennan, 5-8, 190, sr.; Cristian Sanchez, McAllen Memorial, 5-11, 200, jr.; Aidan Siano, Prosper, 6-1, 225, jr.; Richard Silva, Keller, 5-10, 200, sr.; Joe Sniffin, Fort Bend Ridge Point, jr.; Brandon Stegall, Dallas Skyline, 6-2, 215, sr.; Tyshawn Taylor, Longview, 5-10, 175, sr.; Jadarius Thursby, Duncanville, 5-10, 185, jr.; Maui Trevino, Austin Lake Travis, 5-11, 205, sr.; Javius Williams, Dallas Skyline, 6-0, 195, sr.
Defensive Backs – Colton Anderson, Frenship, 6-0, 180, sr.; Justin Chairez, McAllen Memorial, 5-10, 185, sr.; Joshua Eaton, Houston MacArthur, 6-3, 175, sr.; Jayden Goodwin, Cypress Falls, 6-0, 185, sr.; Copeland Gothard, Austin Travis, 5-11, 180, sr.; Dakerric Hobbs, Conroe, 5-11, 180, sr.; Brandon Howell, Southlake Carroll, 6-1, 185, sr.; Colby Huerter, Katy Tompkins, 6-0, 180, jr.; Roman Jackson, Temple, 6-0, 175, sr.; Da’Quan Jefferson, Cypress Creek, 6-1, 165, sr.; Caleb McGarity, San Antonio Brennan, 5-9, 155, jr.; Ivan Mendoza, Edinburg Vela, 5-9, 170, jr.; Robin Neely, Cypress Ranch, 5-10, 165, jr.; Isaiah Nwokobia, Dallas Skyline, 6-0, 185, jr.; Jivon Parker, Austin Vandegrift, 5-8, 155, sr.; Jaime Perez Jr., Edinburg Vela, 6-0, 180, jr.; Eugene Robinson, Fort Bend Hightower, 5-7, 166, sr.; Christian Smith-Johnson, Richland, 6-0, 155, soph.; Johnny Smith-Rider, Haltom, 5-10, 180, jr.; Preston Steszewski, Fort Bend Ridge Point, 6-1, 175, sr.; Karl Taylor, Midland Lee, 6-1, 180, sr.; Aaron Wilson, Houston Bellaire, 6-0, 177, sr.; Ronald Wilson, North Crowley, 5-10, 180, jr.; Deonza Yoakum, Dickinson, 5-9, 170, sr.
Punters – Haynes King, Longview, 6-3, 185, sr.; Shadwell Nkuba, Lewisville, 6-0, 160, sr.; Mark Patton, Tyler Lee, 6-5, 220, sr.; Fabrizio Pinton, The Woodlands, 6-3, 200, sr.