Texas High School Football Preview: Best teams, sleepers, impact transfers, key sophomores

NCAAF College Football
August 10, 2026
Aaron Snell (28 - Waxahachie), Aden Starling (27 - Shadow Creek), Aiden Williams (27 - Duncanville), Ake O'Neal (27 - Argyle), All Saints Saints (Fort Worth, Allen Eagles (Allen, Argyle Eagles (Argyle, Atascocita Eagles (Humble, Barbers Hill Eagles (MONT BELVIEU, BJ LaFell (29 - Shadow Creek), Blake Gunter (27 - Southlake Carroll), Braelyn Allen (29 - Johnson), Brandon Sherrard (27 - Shadow Creek), Braylen Cunningham, Brian Manuel (27 - Atascocita), Brian Swanson (27 - South Oak Cliff), Brock Lacy (28 - North Crowley), Brody Knowles (27 - Southlake Carroll), Bryce Coleman (27 - Shadow Creek), Carson White (27 - Hightower), Chris Clark (28 - Barbers Hill), David Dotson (28 - Atascocita), DeSoto Eagles (DeSoto, Dez Bryant Jr. (28 - Southlake Carroll), Dhillon McGee (27 - Red Oak), Duncanville Panthers (Duncanville, Elijajuan Houston (27 - North Crowley), Ezarian Fields (29 - North Shore), Hayes Hackney (28 - Argyle), High School Football, high-school, Hightower Hurricanes (Missouri City, Hudson Tomcheck (28 - Southlake Carroll), Isaiah Rasheed (27 - Atascocita), Isaiah Udom (27 - South Oak Cliff), Jacoby Thomas (29 - Shadow Creek), Jaderian Jones (27 - South Oak Cliff), Jason Johnson (27 - Atascocita), Jaylen Addai (28 - Shadow Creek), JayQuan Snell (27 - Waxahachie), Jerry Meyer III (27 - Waxahachie), Jerry Outhouse (27 - North Crowley), John Meredith (27 - North Crowley), Johnson Jaguars (San Antonio, Joshua Banks (27 - Atascocita), Juan Hernandez (28 - North Shore), Julian Caldwell (27 - Argyle), K'Adrian Redmond (27 - Lake Dallas), Kaegan Morton (27 - Barbers Hill), Katy Jordan Warriors (Fulshear, Kendrick Harris (28 - Duncanville), Kevin Jackson (27 - Shadow Creek), Khing Thibodeaux (27 - DeSoto), Landan Adams (28 - DeSoto), Linc Frazier (29 - Willis), Logan Lucero (29 - Parish Episcopal School), Luke Babin (27 - Barbers Hill), Luke Wilson (27 - Southlake Carroll), Maximus The Great Denson (27 - Duncanville), Noah Tarrant (29 - All Saints), North Crowley Panthers (Fort Worth, North Shore Mustangs (Houston, On The Pony Express, On The Pony Express Football Recruiting, On3, Panther Creek Panthers (Frisco, Parish Episcopal School Panthers (Dallas, Princeton Callaway Jr (28 - Shadow Creek), Raiden Cook (27 - Barbers Hill), Rivals, Rush Williams (29 - Katy Jordan), SaRod Baker (27 - DeSoto), Sedrick Marsh (27 - Waxahachie), Sip Cooper (29 - Panther Creek), South Oak Cliff Golden Bears (Dallas, Southlake Carroll Dragons (Southlake, Sports, Summer Creek Bulldogs (Humble, Tavon Bolden (27 - Atascocita), Tony Guillory (27 - North Shore), Travis Norris (28 - Duncanville), Trenton Blaylock (27 - Atascocita), Trenton Yancey (27 - Duncanville), Tristan Dare (27 - Southlake Carroll), TX), Ty McCurry (28 - Southlake Carroll), Ty Snell (29 - Allen), Waxahachie Indians (Waxahachie, Willis Wildkats (Willis, Xavier Muhammad (27 - South Houston), Zach Williams (29 - Allen)

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High school football in Texas is right around the corner.

As kickoff in the Lone Star State approaches, we take a closer look at some of the top teams for the 2026 season, some of the biggest games on the schedule, sleepers, impact transfers, and more.

Five Best Teams

1. DeSotoEagles: The defending state champions returned a bevy of talent from last year’s squad that closed the season on a 10-game winning streak. Head coach Claude Mathis has lauded bellcow RB SaRod Baker as the best player in Texas and even the country after his breakout junior campaign, and he’ll be the driving force of the Eagles’ offense. DeSoto also added DL Khing Thibodeaux and Penn State CB commit Dhillon McGee to bolster a defense that returns Texas Tech commit K’Adrian Remond and 2028 LB Landan Adams.

2. North ShoreMustangs: One of the state’s perennial powers from Houston knocked off Duncanville in a defensive slugfest to capture another state championship game last December. A good chunk of North Shore’s firepower on defense will return, including S Tony Guillory, the Defensive MVP honor in the title game last year. Class of 2028 CB Juan Hernandez and 2029 EDGE Ezarian Fields are other notable contributors on defense.

3. Duncanville Panthers: Duncanville came up 3 points shy of another state title after another outstanding season last fall. The Panthers return 2027 QB Maximus Denson to an offense featuring versatile Purdue-bound playmaker Trenton Yancey. Duncanville is always strong in the trenches and the same goes for this year’s team. Texas State OL commit Aiden Williams, No. 2 interior OL Kendrix Harris, and 2028 IOL Travis Norris are starters up front.

4. Southlake Carroll Dragons: 2028 QB Hudson Tomcheck takes over for Pitt freshman Angelo Renda for one of the state’s powers — and a squad that was on the cusp of advancing to AT&T Stadium last year and returns a ton of firepower. That includes a fantastic offensive line headed by Oklahoma OL commit Luke Wilson, Mizzou OL commit Tristan Dare, and touted 2028 OT Ty McCurry. Receivers returning include Illinois commit Brody Knowles and Cal commit Blake Gunter. The Dragons will also welcome Dez Bryant Jr. to the rotation.

5. North Crowley Panthers: The Panthers aren’t even two years removed from a state championship run. John Meredith’s transfer fell through, but North Crowley boasts top-end talent across the roster on offense and especially defense. That includes a stout secondary headlined by defensive backs Jerry Outhouse Jr. (UCLA) and Elijajuan Houston (Arizona State), along with 2028 S Brock Lacy and 2029 CB Braylen Cunningham.

Game of the Year

DeSotoEaglesvs.Duncanville Panthers — Sept. 12 (Cotton Bowl)

DeSoto vs. Duncanville is always a heavyweight fight between South Dallas rivals and many players that grew up playing on the same pee wee and little league teams. This year’s installment comes after both Dallas Metroplex powerhouses played for state titles in December. It will be held in the historic Cotton Bowl, amplifying the intensity and crowd for this early-season slugfest.

Sleeper Teams to Watch

1. South Oak Cliff Golden Bears: South Oak Cliff is ranked outside the top 10 (Rivals Composite) and top 20 (Massey), but can’t be discounted as contenders to repeat as state champions. OL Brian Swanson (Texas) is a tone-setter for the Bears’ rushing game. DL Jaderian Jones (Cal) and S Isaiah Udom are also impact defenders.

2. Waxahachie Indians: Waxahachie captured some signature wins last season and advanced to the state quarterfinals. South Carolina QB commit Jerry Meyer is one of the most productive at the position in the state. Safety Jay’Quann Snell (Texas A&M), Sedrick Marsh (Kansas State), and 2028 DL Aaron Snell are difference-makers on defense.

3. Atascocita Eagles: Kyle Coats is at the helm of Atascocita, one of the most talented rosters in the state. The Eagles have a formidable defense featuring Texas DL commit Jason Johnson and 2028 EDGE David Dotson, along with defensive backs Trenton Blaylock (Oklahoma), Tavon Bolden (Houston), and Joshua Banks (Texas Tech). They also boast speed on offense in Isaiah Rasheed (North Texas) and Brian Manuel (Texas State).

Instant Impact Transfers

1. Luke Babin, Barbers Hill: The four-star Baylor QB commit will play his senior season at Barbers Hill. As a two-year starter for Woodville, Babin passed for almost 5,200 yards with 63 passing TDs and another 12 TDs rushing. He’ll join a contender featuring elite DL Raiden Cook (Houston), WR Kaegan Morton (UTSA), and 2028 CB Chris Clark.

2. Xavier Muhammad, Summer Creek: The four-star Michigan DL commit will join a state championship contender that is already stacked on both sides of the ball. Muhammad joins 2029 DL Jacoby Thomas in the trenches and a defense featuring CB Brandon Sherrard (Texas) and S Kevin Jackson (Maryland). Offensively, the Sharks feature 2029 ATH BJ LaFell, 2028 WR Jaylen Addai, 2028 RB Princeton Callaway, 2027 TE Bryce Coleman (Louisiana), and 2027 WR Aden Starling.

3.Carson White, Fort Bend Hightower: The three-star Oklahoma State QB verbal will play his senior season for Hightower. White piled up 7,500 total yards and 123 TDs during his three-year run as a starter for Rosharon (Texas) Iowa Colony. White is a dynamic dual-threat playmaker at a premium position capable of elevating a Hightower team that captured seven wins last year.

4.Hayes Hackney, Argyle: Hackney, a productive two-year starter from Walnut Grove, has taken over for longtime starter Maguire Gasperson at Argyle. Hackney totaled 6,810 yards passing with 77 pass TDs and now anchors an offense featuring playmaking Big 12-bound WRs Julian Caldwell (Texas Tech) and Ake O’Neal (Oklahoma State).

Super Sophomores

1. Noah Tarrant, All Saints: One of the best tight ends in the country, Tarrant transferred from Pebble Hills to All Saints for his sophomore season. Last year, Tarrant had 484 yards and six TD receptions. He also was exceptional during Rivals Camp Houston as one of the best pure pass-catchers in attendance regardless of class or position.

2. Sip Cooper, Panther Creek: The early SMU verbal from the Dallas Metroplex has been generating buzz for years. He’ll suit up for Panther Creek this fall after totaling 2,100 yards and 25 TDs as a freshman. Cooper is a big-time playmaker and one of the most gifted prospects in DFW regardless of classification.

3. Linc Frazier, Willis: In his first varsity season, Frazier broke the Texas state mark with 4,232 yards passing and 47 total TDs. Frazier has immense arm talent and can rip the ball across the yard. The young QB can blend throws with touch and zip, and sees the field very well. Frazier is also dynamic with the ball in his hands.

4.Ty Snell, Allen: In five games as a freshman (2025), Snell passed for 1,030 yards and 10 TDs with 3 INTs. He added another 161 yards and 2 TDs rushing, elevating Allen’s offense to new heights. One of the top passers in the country, Snell has enjoyed a fantastic offseason and is bracing for a breakout campaign. He should be excellent with weapons around him like 2029 speedster Zach Williams

5.Logan Lucero, Parish: As a freshman (2025), Lucero passed for 2,478 yards with a 63% completion rate. He tossed 227 TDs compared to 3 INTs while leading Parish to another TAPPs state championship. Oklahoma, Notre Dame, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Indiana are among the programs battling for Lucero, one of the best QB prospects to come through the storied program.

6.Braelyn Allen, Johnson: The playmaking WR from Johnson tallied almost 1,600 all-purpose yards last season, including 1,280 yards receiving and 20 TDs. Allen’s blazing 4.6 speed showed on kickoff returns and gadget plays and on snaps at multuple positions. Allen is a big-play threat waiting to happen with speed and a dynamic running style.

7.Rush Williams, Katy Jordan: Williams was among the top performers at Rivals Camp Houston regardless of class. Rush is the son of former NFL and Washington Huskies WR Reggie Williams. Like dad, Rush is a big-framed WR capable of making big plays outside the numbers and stretch the field.

8.Ezakarian Fields, North Shore: Fields was an eye-catcher at the Rivals Houston Camp and is a prospect with enormous side. He has elite explosiveness off the line and excellent length to give opposing tackles problems. Fields is very traitsy and is a menace as a pure pass-rusher, and is pacing to be one of the nation’s best at a premium position.

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