Takeaways from Week 1 of high school football around Texas
Football season is back. Week 1 got underway around the great state of Texzas this week and On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman attended three marquee games around the state, including action featuring five-star DL David Hicks Jr., talented 2025 QB Kaleb Bailey and the star-studded clash between South Oak Cliff and Duncanville highlighted by 2024 EDGE Colin Simmons
Here are some takeaways from Week 1 in Texas:
North Shore (re)stocked at QB
North Shore defended its state title at home against fellow Houston-area power The Woodlands and flexed the makings of an even more explosive offense matched with a suffocating defensive effort. Alabama State QB Dematrius Davis turned heads with his debut over the weekend and his successor, Kaleb Bailey, is adding even more firepower to the Mustangs’ attack.
Bailey, who engineered North Shore’s fourth-quarter surge last season in the title game against Duncanville with a timely dime to UTSA commit David Amador, looks even more comfortable as the established QB1 as a sophomore. Bailey can put some zip on his passes, but impressed more so with his poise and decision-making. He let it rip as he grew more comfortable and showcased the deep-ball ability as well as accuracy underneath. Bailey is also a headache for opposing coordinators. He’s twitchy in space and a tough-enough runner to break a few tackles along the way. UTSA, TCU and Auburn are among Bailey’s early overtures, but he’s going to be a 2025 quarterback the country will be buzzing over soon.
Stock up for Anderson, secondary
The North Shore front seven applied pressure consistently in the season opener, which opened the door for several members of the secondary to make plays on the ball. That includes three-star safety Jayven Anderson, who was excellent patrolling the back end of the defense in coverage as well in slot duties. Anderson is also a superb run defender with outstanding range and a true see-ball, get-ball type of player. The Cougars have emerged as favorites on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine.
With Denver Harris now expected to see the field early in College Station, 2025 CB Devin Sanchez assumed a starting spot outside at corner. The four-star cornerback is an early member of On3’s top-100 watch list for the cycle and is a first-off-the-bus kind of defensive back at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds. Playing in the same spot as his predecessor Harris, Sanchez was equally as sound in his first varsity start. He possesses all of the tools to be a special boundary corner.
Lagway leads the way
Asked about his goals for his junior season, On300 No. 18 QB DJ Lagway kept it simple. “Win,” because as he put it, “if you win, the rest takes care of itself.”
Hours later, the Willis (Texas) passer orchestrated an extraordinary season debut with more than 445 yards of total offense (343 yards, 6 TD passing and 102 yards, 1 TD rushing). Lagway completed 75 percent of his attempts — his first time playing in a new offensive scheme that was installed late in the spring. He’s immensely talented with a live arm and the ability to attack vertically, but Lagway impressed his poise and command of the offense, the ability to extend plays and navigate through his reads and execute exceptionally. He threaded the needle a few times, to a tee. He’s different and putting himself in five-star consideration.
Hicks opens senior season with fireworks
Five-star defensive lineman David Hicks Jr. made his Houston return on Friday and didn’t waste any time finding his form. Playing off the edge and inside, Hicks dominated in the trenches with superb first-step quickness and an array of different moves. He ripped linemen, moved them at will, and often drove through them en route to multiple sacks and several more hits on the quarterback.
The nation’s No. 9 overall player is an unstoppable force that also out-physicaled defenders playing tight end and showed off the athleticism with a touchdown reception. Hicks has a compelling case as the most polished and most college-ready DL in the country. The Sooners are trending on the RPM.
Stock up for Sanford
Daymion Sanford was one of the camp-season standouts after clocking a 4.55-second 40 time in Tuscaloosa and then among the top performers from LSU’s elite camp in June. Sanford, who also collected an offer from the Longhorns over the summer, is locked in with Texas A&M.
If not for the presence of a five-star difference-maker like Hicks on the Paetow defense, Sanford could’ve went off in the opener against Conroe. He was in the backfield early and often, opening the game with a sack, finishing unofficially with two, and putting countless pops on the quarterback or defending the line of scrimmage. That 4.5 speed is wildly evident flying off the edge or countering outside runs.
Simmons surges in debut
On300 No. 38 Colin Simmons was brilliant in his junior season debut. One of the more athletic defenders in the nation in next year’s cycle, the On3 Consensus’ No. 1 EDGE flew off the ball and came away with a handful of key plays behind the line of scrimmage, including multiple sacks, quarterbacks hits and even a safety in this rivalry game.
Simmons is explosive and hasn’t lost a second on his fastball after adding some weight to his frame in the offseason. He is quick and also able to win with power and finesse. His length is pesky and athleticism is in a different category. Simmons flashed in his final game last December and looks primed to make another leap this fall, and so far the production against top competition proves it. LSU leads the way for the elite EDGE on the RPM.
Dotson-Walker shines at nickel
On300 DB Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker was a top performer in the Duncanville-South Oak Cliff clash. The four-star safety is a Swiss Army Knife capable of making plays all over the secondary and shined against the run. Dotson-Walker darts to the football and can lower his shoulder. He’s also reliable in mop-up duty and came up with several difference-making stops along the way covering a ton of real estate in the process. LSU has the early nod on the RPM.
Additional notes
- DB Jacoby Davis came away with an acrobatic interception Week 1 and was steadily good in coverage throughout the game. He’s very competitive and showed well playing in the slot, too. The Cougars lead on the RPM.
- CB Evan Jackson is another big corner for North Shore north of 6 feet. He also had a pick in the opening win.
- SMU linebacker commit Alex Kilgore is one of the sleepers at this position in the 2023 cycle. He’s long (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and fits that hybrid STAR role perfectly. He’s rangy and also had moments toting the rock and isn’t afraid of contact.
- 2026 South Oak Cliff DL Bryant McKinney is a massive-sized freshman that cracked the starting lineup for the defending champs. He’s got size and moves well for a big man and hustled to make tackles down the line and generate some pressure.
- 2023 Duncanville CB Deldrick Madison shined in both phases. The On3 Consensus’ No. 63-rated CB contained speedy Malik Muhammad and was a willing tackler and lowered his shoulder more than once. SMU leads on the RPM.
- 2025 Duncanville WR Dakorien Moore made it to the top-100 watch list for sophomores this fall. The elusive pass-catcher made the most of a few receptions, able to make defenders miss with speed to burn.
- 2024 Caden Durham had a statement opening night at Kinkaide Stadium. He piled up nearly 150 yards on two carries, including the go-ahead 99-yard dash against a stout South Oak Cliff defense that kept the rushing attack in check for the majority of the center. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder has fantastic speed around the edge and a stock-up candidate in next year’s cycle.
- 2023 DB Lamodrick Spencer saw action at corner and had a strong outing. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder is built well to play on the perimeter and doesn’t lack physicality in coverage or elsewhere.
- 2024 QB Jameir Willis was at his best with the ball in his hands and came up with a few decisive runs in this one that ultimately were the difference. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Willis has good stop-start quickness and runs through tackles. I like his upside.