Top performers from the Texas state championships
ARLINGTON, Texas — Championship weekend returned to the Dallas Metroplex last week as some of the best teams from around Texas gathered under one roof to decide a dozen state champions. There were plenty of future Saturday stars also on hand.
Talented players from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 recruiting classes and beyond showed out in AT&T Stadium over the course of the week. On3 was on hand for all of the action throughout. Here are On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman’s top performers headlined by Consensus five-star Duncanville (Texas) EDGE Colin Simmons.
On3 MVP: EDGE Colin Simmons – 2024
The annual clash between Houston and Dallas powerhouses North Shore and Duncanville has routinely boiled down to a handful of key plays. In this year’s installment, Colin Simmons took over in crunch time.
The Consensus’ No. 5 player in the 2024 class capped a brilliant season with a dominant fourth-quarter takeover flying off the edge. Simmons, who already broke Duncanville’s single-season sack record, added two more in the fourth quarter — against elusive WR turned QB David Amador, who has been as dynamic in small as any player in the state the past month-plus.
Simmons, who finished with three more TFL and two QB hurries, was exceptional beating linemen with speed and power, and effectively chopping away would-be blockers. He turns the corner in a hurry and has exceptional closing speed. Simmons finds ways to impact the play, and in this one, multiple plays behind the line of scrimmage, generating pressure as well as a critical pass swatted down in the second half.
The Duncanville coaches shifted their junior ace before the snap. Simmons was impactful tackling out in space and setting the edge, while also containing Amador, who has the suddenness to take off in a flash and caught the eyes of college coaches all over the state in recent weeks.
Simmons flashed in this same setting a year ago and has dominated as a junior — battling double teams; defending against the run; pressuring the quarterback, and everything in between. Simmons is no longer in the five-star conversation; it has shifted to whether he is the best non-quarterback in the class of 2024.
2. RB Tre Wisner – Texas
Three-star DeSoto (Texas) RB Tre Wisner may not have captured MVP honors in the Eagles’ title game win, but the versatile Longhorns verbal was dynamic with the ball in his hands not only out of the backfield with two touchdowns but also as a receiver as a key cog in this fast-paced spread offensive attack.
Wisner was a Swiss Army Knife operating out of the backfield with five carries for 79 yards and then receiving touchdowns. Wisner finished as DeSoto’s leading receiver with 135 yards on six catches, including a 62-yarder where he separated from the defense in a hurry. Wisner, who is formidable working out of the slot and catching the ball in the middle of the field and on the perimeter, is explosive out of his breaks and able to break tackles consistently. He piled up 210 all-purpose yards and is going to be a cheat code out of the backfield in Steve Sarkisian’s offense.
3. CB Malik Muhammad – Texas
Cornerback is a premium position and four-star CB Malik Muhammad gave a taste of why in a fantastic effort in Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff’s rally back in a heavyweight fight with Port Neches-Grove. Muhammad came into the box to lower his shoulder on a handful of occasions.
Muhammad was sound in coverage on the night and keyed South Oak Cliff’s second-half shoutout. His discipline paid off when he sat and caught the opposing quarterback attempting to throw across his chest. Muhammad’s third-quarter 41-yard pick-six fueled the team’s historic comeback and was an exclamation point on a strong showing at cornerback all fall. On3 is higher on the Longhorns commitment than the rest of the industry.
4. WR Jalen Pope – Air Force
Multiple receivers etched their names in the UIL record books this December at AT&T, and Aledo (Texas) WR Jalen Pope certainly led the way in that category. The dynamic 2023 Air Force verbal has been junior QB Hauss Hejny’s go-to target for the length of the season, and in his final game turned eight catches into a UIL 5A record 228 yards, along with three touchdowns, in Aledo’s runaway win.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Pope has been impactful making catches in the middle of the field and effectively extending plays after the catch. Aledo’s offense is built around the short, quick-passing game, and Pope has been excellent at churning out chunk gains. He has 4.5 speed and is equally as impactful as a return specialist. Air Force is getting a steal.
5. ATH Jayden Jackson – 2025
2025 ATH Jayden Jackson has been building a strong case as one of the best in-state in the 2025 class after back-to-back trips to AT&T by Franklin (Texas) High School. The 6-foot-1, 200-plus-pounder had was a force playing on both sides of the ball — toting the rock and also starting as an off-ball linebacker.
Jackson runs with commanding authority and also boasts fantastic balance. He runs through contact and is built to power the downhill rushing attack, and consistently propelled forward for large gains to the tune of 148 yards and a TD and better than 5 YPC.
The sophomore from Central Texas was equally as menacing on the defensive side of the ball. Near the line, Jackson is a sound tackler that wraps up quickly and has more than enough juice to defend sideline to sideline. Expect this recruitment to bud sooner rather later.
6. QB Hauss Hejny – 2024
The driving force of the Aledo offense has been and was MVP Hauss Hejny, who works at quarterback and is an impact weapon with the ball in his hands. Hejny, who clocked a 10.8-second 100-meter time this spring and also competes on the Bearcats’ 4×100 relay team, put his speed to work with 143 yards on the ground.
Hejny opened the game with a 30-yard burst around the edge and kept that pace throughout Aledo’s runaway win. He helped the offense score touchdowns on the first five series and piled up 318 total yards, including an impressive 14.3 YPC on 10 carries from the QB spot. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see teams buying in on Hejny for a role on their offense.
7. RB Deondrae Riden – 2025
The buzz out of DeSoto since the spring has centered on the talented young back to compliment their high-octane passing game. 2025 RB Deondrae Riden had his biggest varsity outing yet with 188 yards and three rushing TD and being crowned the MVP in his first game in Jerry’s World.
Riden, built like a senior already at 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, runs through contact and is has excellent speed and balance to propel forward. DeSoto gave the sophomore 30-plus carries and in the second half, could not be slowed down. He’s explosive out of his cuts and can accelerate in a hurry. Riden also was impactful over and over converting on goal-line and short-yardage carries.
8. LB Davhon Keys – 2024
On300 LB Davhon Keys came out on fire in Aledo’s 5A state title game playing a key role on both sides of the ball. In the first quarter alone, the junior linebacker forced an incompletion on a QB hurry, then recovered a fumble. Keys also works as the team’s goal-line back and effortlessly powered his way to two TD on five touches.
Keys is an absolutely steady presence in the middle of the defense. He isn’t overwhelming in stature but packs a real punch and fills gaps and is always near the ball. Keys is really sound solving opposing team’s rushing attacks and can thump inside and also defend to the sideline. He reminds me a lot of former Miami Hurricane Jonathan Vilma. On3 is higher on Keys than the rest of the industry.
9. WR Johntay Cook – Texas
On300 Texas Johntay Cook needed only three catches to eclipse 100 yards with a TD in his final game at DeSoto. Cook is lightning in the bottle with the rock in his hands in space and the speed to get downfield was complimented by a great adjustment to the ball, too.
Throughout the offseason and under the lights in AT&T, Cook was highly efficient cashing in on his targets in what was a long list of contributors. He’s prolific and able to work so well in tight spaces, and accelerates instantly. That’s been a theme for this DeSoto standout for years.
10. OL Ian Reed – Clemson
There were quite a few offensive linemen who shined under the lights at AT&T, and Ian Reed headlined that talented group. The On300 Clemson commit boasts a background playing rugby and there are certainly traits from that sport that have translated into Reed’s play style.
Reed gets the nod at left tackle for Austin (Texas) Vandegrift and also shifts around to both sides of the formation. At 6-foot-5 and just under 300 pounds, Reed displays a ton that points to a promising role as an interior lineman at Clemson. Reed is a massive presence, but light on his feet and was effective blocking in space. He bent well in pass pro, and while there’s room to grow, he recovered well.
On the bubble
- WR Noah Paddie was the other receiver to set a UIL 4A record with 191 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns. The Texas A&M baseball commit has serious speed to burn and was excellent tracking the ball downfield.
- 2025 Boerne OT Logan Schram is a massive 6-foot-6. 285-pound sophomore that looks like a senior. Schram is even stronger than he looks and put a number of defensive linemen on the turf at AT&T. He’s making a strong case of one of Texas’ best at a premium position in the 2025 cycle.
- Hawley 2024 ATH Chandlin Myers sees snaps out wide at receiver as well as at safety for the Class 2A program. The 6-foot-3, 170-pounder shined in the secondary. He can move extremely well in coverage and asserted himself to make a few tackles near the line of scrimmage. The early Texas Tech commit also snatched an interception, which is a theme for a speedy safety who’s surehanded and that sort of length patrolling the back end.
- UTSA commit David Amador is a magician that’s been electric the past two years in this game. Amador was on the receiving end of North Shore’s game-winning TD last season. Filling in at QB this turn, Amador’s quick feet and suddenness had him skating on ice against Duncanville in the first half. He finished with 191 yards and 3 TD.
- Vandegrift is getting a reputation for developing OL and Blake Frazier should be a fun fill-in once Reed gets to Clemson. Frazier, whose father long snapped at Michigan, checks in at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds. Frazier also long snaps and worked at RT. He bends well and is nimble, and has a prototypical frame to play left tackle.
- Jacoby Davis rebounded well with a strong showing in coverage. The 5-foot-9 corner showed great range and even better closing speed in coverage downfield. Davis also had a timely breakup in the middle of the field.
- 2023 Jayven Anderson was also outstanding roaming at safety for North Shore. As a sure tackler on defense and special teams, Anderson piled up six tackles and a TFL, and several key stops along the way. He projects well in this new wave of positionless football.
- 2024 Duncanville Caden Durham was a steady force out of the backfield. The junior back is a bowling ball at 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds. Durham had two touchdowns in the first half and 13 carries and a third score in the fourth quarter. He has outstanding burst.
- Get familiar with 2025 Port Neches-Grove OL Jackson Christian, who anchored the right side of the offensive line in a very physical tilt and 141 rushing yards vs. a stout SOC defense. Christian is a massive 6-foot-5, 290-pound sophomore that’s strong at the point of attack and could block at the second level well.
Additional Notes
- At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, 2024 DB Devyn Hidrago passes the eye test. He also moves well in coverage and his length is a major advantage. He has the tools and certainly is a junior to watch going into the spring after another championship run for Franklin.
- 2023 Baylor commit Bryson Washington was sound on both sides of the ball in Franklin’s victory on Thursday. The safety, who also gets action out of the backfield, plays downhill and can cover a lot of ground. He’s the perfect type of enforcer in a Dave Aranda defense.
- Carthage has a formidable backfield of the future in 2026 RB KJ Edwards and 2024 RB LaRandion Dowden. Edwards, who was elevated to varsity for the East Texas powerhouse midway through the fall, flashed between the tackles and running outside. He’s generating a lot of buzz around the program. So is Dowden, who averaged north of 7 YPC and is also a spark catching passes out of the backfield.
- Carthage’s front seven that helped pitch a shutout for more than three quarters returns several underclassmen. Among them: 2025 DL Colt Hodges, 2025 DL James Morrow and 2025 DL Braylin Allison. 2025 LB Klayton Ingram is also another standout in that group.
- Duncanville ATH Keelon Russell quietly piled up 103 yards and averaged 11 YPC, including an 88-yarder down the left sideline to answer a North Shore score. The Class of 2025 standout moved to quarterback midway through the season for the Panthers and at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds with long-striding speed, should begin to see his options open up.
- The Duncanville safety tandem of 2024 On300 S Ka’Davion Dotson-Walker and 2025 S Tyren Polley Jr. was clicking on Saturday. Polley, a sophomore, nabbed the pick off Simmons’ tipped pass. Dotson-Walker tacked on three tackles showing off his range from the secondary.
- Massive 2024 DL Alex January was quietly disruptive working in the middle of the Duncanville front. The 6-foot-4. 300-pounder commands multiple blockers and opens up opportunities for others. January still managed 3.5 tackles and a TFL, and is a big part of this championship unit.