Top performers from the 2023 Texas state championships

samspiegs

ARLINGTON, Texas — Championship weekend returned to AT&T Stadium over the weekend as some of the best teams around the state of Texas gathered under one roof to decide 12 state champions. The future stars of Saturday and even Sunday were also in attendance.

Talented players from the 2024, 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes and beyond showed out in Jerry’s World over the weekend. On3 was on hand for all of the action throughout.

Here are On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman’s top performers:

On3 MVP: ATH Terry Bussey – Texas A&M

Five-star ATH Terry Bussey set three records en route to lifting Timpson (Texas) High to its first-ever state championship on Wednesday night. The electric do-it-all playmaker split action at quarterback and safety, and in the process ripped off new marks for longest TD pass (92 yards), longest TD run (93 yards) and most passing TD in a game (4) while also totaling 466 total yards of offense.

Bussey was dynamic with the ball in his hands and flashed the speed and quickness on offense. He also covered a good amount of real estate in coverage and was a more than willing tackler. Bussey’s storied high school run has defensive backs coach nationwide in pursuit of the longtime Texas A&M commit.

2. RB Caden Durham – LSU

Four-star RB Caden Durham pieced together a scorching first half in which he netted more than 200 yards and averaged north of 21 yards per carry. The speedy LSU-committed back with blazing 10.2 speed broke off several long runs to the perimeter. Durham, a one-cut-and-go sort of runner, came downhill in several long bursts in the first half and also made several plays out of the backfield, breaking tackles in space and also consistently pushing the pile forward.

After several live evaluations of Durham the past two seasons, he is a force running through contact and provides big splash runs as well as critical carries between the tackles, too. In his final game at Duncanville, Durham totaled 243 yards and 3 TD with an impressive 10.5 YPC average.

3. WR Daylon Singleton – SMU

Four-star 2025 WR Daylon Singleton could not be contained in the first half of DeSoto’s offensive onslaught in the opening half of the 6A Division II title game. The 6-foot, 175-pound speedster came away with three long touchdown receptions of 26, 55 and 52 yards — all in the first quarter.

Singleton, an early SMU commitment, finished the game with five catches for 136 yards and a whopping 27.2 YPC average. Not only was he able to separate downfield, but Singleton can accelerate in a flash and has a smoothness to his game. He’s also a burner to account for after the catch.

4. EDGE Colin Simmons – Texas

Five-Star Plus+ EDGE Colin Simmons played with authority off the edge of the Duncanville defensive front. Simmons, a Texas commitments, was a force applying pressure off the edge and mustered a handful of splash plays behind the line of scrimmage stopping the run and getting after the quarterback.

Simmons finished the contest with a game-high 3 sacks, as well as 8 total tackles and a massive forced fumble that led to points for the Duncanville offense. His third-quarter pressures and colossal second half was a carbon copy of his stellar finish this time a year ago — and the results were also the same.

5. LB Davhon Keys – LSU

LSU-committed LB Davhon Keys was a force on both sides of the ball last year at UIL state championships. As a senior, the four-star from Aledo made his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball.

Keys piled up a dozen tackles, including 6 solo stops and 2 more TFL, to go along with a critical, timely third-down sack en route to earning MVP honors in the 5A Division I title game. The LSU commitment has a fantastic feel for the position. He plays low, plugs in running lanes and is very reactive. Keys takes direct paths to the football with speed to roam sideline to sideline and is a fantastic tackler in space.

6. CB Brendan Webb – 2025

2025 DB Brendan Webb filled up the stat sheet and made an impact on both sides of the ball for East Texas-based state champion Gilmer. The long 6-foot, 170-pounder came away with an interception and a timely strip, adding in another two more tackles.

Webb is sticky in coverage and constantly around the football. On offense, he barreled his way into the end zone after a screen pass and dragged a defender to the paint. He’s a playmaker and made his dent in the biggest game of Gilmer’s season.

7. DL Alex January – Texas

On3 four-star DL Alex January is a nimble big man that has been a force in the middle of the stout Duncanville front all season. The 6-foot-5, 320-plus pounder is light on his feet and bouncy, and has a track record of being disruptive behind the line of scrimmage.

The Texas legacy commitment totaled 9 tackles, including 2 TFL on top of a sack in the title game. He forced the issue slowing down North Shore’s inside run game and provides some interior pass rush.

8. QB Keelon Russell – SMU

Keelon Russell made his name on this stage a year ago at this time. This time around, the On300 2025 quarterback came out firing behind center making big plays through the air to ignite the Duncanville offense. Russell showcased the deep ball on several occasions and finished the game 14-of-20 for 288 yards and 3 TD with a fourth TD rushing.

The SMU-committed QB distributes the ball and sees the field at a high level. His deciison-making and ability to scramble and make off-schedule plays adds another dimension to his game. Russell finished the state title game with a QBR north of 240.

9. DL DJ Sanders – 2025

2025 On300 DL DJ Sanders has an explosive initial first step and comes downhill in a hurry. The 6-foot-3, 290-pounder plays a little tall at times, uses natural raw power to generate pressure. Sanders saw action playing across Bellville’s defensive front – and was an absolute mismatch working inside. He commanded the attention of multiple Gilmer blockers at times and ran away from him at others. The broad, eye-catching DL was impactful crashing in to slow down the inside run and also generating pressures. Sanders finished with 10 tackles, including 2 TFL.

The Aggies narrowly lead the Longhorns on the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine for one of the state’s top junior DL prospects.

10. TE Zachery Turner – 2026

2026 hybrid pass-catcher Zachery Turner has been Duncanville’s other weapon in the passing game throughout the season. The sophomore made his presence known in Jerry’s World with 2 catches for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Turner creates mismatches in the passing game with his size and ability to matriculate downfield quickly. The 6-fot-3, 210-pounder is dangerous working outside the numbers and also in the middle of the field with length, size, soft hands and the ability to separate against DBs. Turner was a big-play threat that couldn’t be contained for Duncanville on Saturday.

New names on the radar

2025 ATH Mike Jones: Who? This junior split action at quarterback and the defensive backfield. Jones turned 21 carries into 119 yards with two passing TD and a pass defensed late on an island in coverage. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he has a versatile skill-set.
2026 CB Dacorian Johnson saw action on both sides of the ball for Timpson and came away with a 97-yard touchdown reception, the longest in UIL state history. Johnson is already a tall corner with fast feet and straight-away speed. He’s also a playmaker after the catch.
2025 ATH DD Murray saw action on both sides of the ball for Bellville. The 6-foot, 190-pounder busted out several long runs flashing speed to get to the outside. He also ran through contact and had strength to push the pile. He finished with 81 yards and 9 YPC.
ATH Will Henderson has bonafide 10.2 speed and is a flash in the pan on the field for Gilmert. Anderson has extremely quick feet and dynamic in short spaces. He finished with 234 yards and an 8.4 YPC average.
2024 WR Ta’Erik Tate made noise at 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds. Tate showed off great hands and operated well in space. He won in contested-catch situations and flashed a tn of juice to get vertical in the passing game.
2026 OT Aaron Wolford passes the eye test. Long, broad and built to anchor an offensive line, Wolford is light on his feet and exploded from his hips.
2026 CB Marcell Gipson was electric in coverage and also as a return specialist. The sophomore from South Oak Cliff is a spark-plug in the return game and elusive in the open field, and covers a lot of ground in the secondary.
2026 Anna QB Ziondre Williams was shifty and nimble in space. The sophomore was also precise with good timing on passes underneath.

Additional notes and observations

SMU-committed RB Ricky Stewart has a violent running style. He comes downhill and runs with a ton of twitch, but was largely bottled up by a stout Anna defense.
Playing behind center, four-star SMU-committed S Demetrius Brisbon Jr. was electric with the rock in his hands. He can make you miss as a runner and is sharp in the return game. That quickness and playmaking ability should translate well to the secondary full-time.
Four-star Texas WR commit Freddie Dubose Jr. played at less than 100 percent. Nonetheless, he made tough combat catches in the middle of the field despite tight coverage. He won on vertical routes downfield and was physical churning out yards after the catch. When healthy, he should give the Longhorns a different sort of pass-catcher in the arsenal.
In his second trip to AT&T in as many seasons, QB Hauss Hejny and the Aledo offense accounted for 51 consecutive points. Hejny was fantastic throwing on the move while also maintaining accuracy throwing in and outside the pocket. The TCU commit threw for 202 yards and added another 77 rushing with 3 TD, stepping up and delivering on scheduled throws and good improvising as well. He’s an effective scrambler and attack multiple areas of the field.
2024 Baylor-committed RB Joseph Dodds fits the mold of a Bears back. He’s broad, runs tough and downhill and is a force to bring down. Dodds also showcased his balance on some long runs and the habit of falling forward with a head of steam. Dodds was also impactful as a receiver out of the backfield.
Aledo’s defensive excellence included strong performances on the outside by cornerbacks Jaden Allen (Arkansas commit), who was pesky in coverage all night, and Chris Johnson (Arizona State commit). The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Johnson is long and able to run stride for stride with receivers on the perimeter. He came away with three pass breakups in the first half in coverage, including a deflection on a route underneath where he closed in a hurry. Johnson was strong defending on the outside. He has a good closing speed and is a sure tackler in space.
2025 LB JJ Shelton: sniffed out some big runs and made a handful of splash plays behind the line of scrimmage up the gut and off the edge. Shelton also pursues well to the sideline and has a bit of thumper style of his game. He did his best working near box.
2025 IOL Jackson Christian was an enforcer anchoring the Port-Neches Grove offensive line. Christian is long, strong, broad and plays with a nastiness. He was moving defenders off the ball and a skill-set suited to be a well-rounded interior OL.
2024 SMU commit Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker capped his senior season with an INT in his final game. Dotson-Walker also flew to the football and is a sure tackler. He’s always had a nose for the ball from the secondary.