2016 Texas Preseason Football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

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1. Cedar Hill
Head coach: Joey McGuire
2015 record: 9-2
Team preview

The three-time state champions have never been more talented or experienced. Of their 58 seniors, 10 have been offered Division 1 scholarships and seven others have paths to lower-level rides. On top of that, four incoming juniors have been offered full Division 1 rides. They return 16 starters from last season, 10 on offense.

"This team has a chance to be pretty special," said McGuire, entering his 20th season at Cedar Hill and 14th as head coach. "We learned the hard way last year that you better play hungry. I'm confident in this group that they will."

Dual threat 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback Avery Davis is licking his chops to play his senior year with this group. The Notre Dame-bound standout has what McGuire believes is the best tandem receivers in the country in Charleston Rambo and Camron Buckley. A third receiver, Colorado commit Jaylon Jackson (5-10, 180), played on the 2013 and 2014 state title teams but is out until midseason with a knee injury. Some believe that senior Kaegun Williams (5-10, 190) is the best all-round back in the state.

The Longhorns have plenty of size and skill up front with center Zion Byrd (6-3, 315), tackles Donovan Runnels (6-4, 280) and Dylan Taylor (6-4, 290) and guard Glen Waters (6-1, 265). Tight end Parker Cupp (6-4, 250) is strong catching and blocking.



On defense, Cedar Hill features future college players Shabazz Dotson (6-4, 265) and Deven Lamp (6-5, 230) on the line and linebackers Dimitri Moore (6-3, 210), Devin Rader (6-0, 205) and Greg Jackson (6-1, 210). The secondary, a possible area of concern early, is led by safety Josh Newman (6-1, 190).

The Longhorns will need to be hitting full stride right away in their season opener Aug. 27 at home against national No. 3 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), winners of 39 straight.

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2. DeSoto
Head coach: Todd Peterman
2015 record: 6-6
Team preview

With 425 kids in the program and 66 seniors among about 100 players on the varsity team, Peterman has plenty of personnel to work with. Seventeen of the 21 scholarship offers are at the Division 1 FBS level.

"We got the numbers and we got the kids, now it's just a matter of getting it done," said second-year head coach Peterman, whose team struggled last season despite high acclaim. 



The addition of dual threat quarterback Shawn Robinson certainly propelled the Eagles from another team of promise to legitimate state title contender. The nation's No. 81 recruit overall and No. 4 dual-threat QB according to 247Sports Composite, Robinson and his family moved from Denton in the spring, giving DeSoto another piece to its already abundant puzzle.

The Eagles already return talented junior dual threat quarterback Courtney Douglas (6-2, 215), but TCU commit Robinson, who tallied 7,216 yards of offense and accounted for 81 touchdowns in two seasons at Guyer (Denton), will be hard to keep out of the lineup.

Junior running back Kelan Walker (6-1, 205) already has multiple Division 1 offers and he, along with Jamonne Williams and Richie Washington, will get the brunt of the carries. The receiving threats are many, with Colorado-bound Laviska Shenault and Tennessee-bound KD Nixon leading the way, along with junior Byron Hanspard jr and seniors Emmet Perry and Samuel Hunter, all future college players.

The offensive line is loaded with size and talent, led by Texas-bound Xavier Newman (6-4, 285), Missouri commit Hyrin White (6-6, 295) and LSU-bound Edward Ingram (6-3, 315).

The defensive front is led by third-year starting tackle Wesley Green (6-0, 315) and linebacker Kemonte Yow (6-1, 230) is the defense's heart and soul. Kolby Watts is another stout inside linebacker. The defensive backfield is another team strength, with safeties Mike Singleton (6-0, 200) and German Green (6-2, 171) and cornerbacks Isaiah Stewart (6-0, 180) and German's twin brother Gemon Green (6-2, 170).

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3. Steele (Cibolo)
Head coach: Scott Lehnhoff
2015 record: 14-1
Team preview Fourth-year coach Lehnoff likes the team's cohesion, but there is plenty of talent and experience, too.

The Knights return 11 starters — seven on defense — from a squad that won 14 straight games before losing in the state 6A Division II semifinals to eventual nation champion Katy. The 2010 state champions have won at least 12 games in six straight seasons.

Texas Tech-bound dual threat quarterback Xavier Martin is a State Player of the Year possibility after he accounted for more than 2,700 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. He's happy to hand the ball to senior running back Travell Lumpkin, who rushed for 1,007 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games.

The team's top prospect is actually a junior and also plays on both sides of the ball. Caden Sterns, a 6-3, 195-pound safety and wide receiver, is "as good a prospect as we've ever had go through here," Lehnhoff said.

Defense is where Steele figures to excel. It is led up front by Joshua Croslen, a 6-2, 275-pound tackle, who has 11 offers. Other stalwarts are linebackers Terron Morris, Jacy Ivory and Jayden Jackson and defensive end Quincey Williams (6-2, 295). Cornerbacks Jayveon Cardwell and Tavian Carter along with Sterns make up perhaps the state's best secondary.

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4. Katy
Head coach: Gary Joseph
2015 record: 16-0
Team preview



No one is expecting the 2016 football team at Katy to repeat 2015, when it won its eighth state title and finished No. 1 in the country. The Tigers are 142-11 over the last decade and have been to four straight state title games.

"It's going to be a challenge for sure," coach Gary Joseph said. "Last year was special. But some of these seniors will be trying to get to their third-straight title. They know what it takes. They're playing for themselves and the tradition."

Defensive tackle Corey Bethley (6-1, 270) leads the Tigers defensively and he's received 14 college offers. Linebacker Breydon Boyd (6-3, 210), a Boise State commit, improved perhaps more than anyone else on the defensive side last year.

Leading the offense is actually a player on the line, 6-4, 255-pound tackle Hayden Howerton, who has committed to Rice. He started his Katy career as a defensive end, but last year was asked to move to offense.

Perhaps the player with most upside is sophomore running back Deondrick Glass, a first team freshman all-American last year. The 5-10, 185-pounder has a chance to be one of the best in school – and some think – state history.

Senior Rocky Emery, Sterling Sine and Cooper Calland along with Austin Marshall are vying for the quarterback job. Whoever gets the job has some strong receivers to throw at, including J.C. Santana (12 college offers) and tight end Parker Eichenberger (Houston commit).



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5. Lake Travis (Austin)
Head coach: Hank Carter
2015 record: 15-1
Team preview

The numbers are undeniable. Over the last decade, the football team at Lake Travis has racked up 131 wins and just 14 losses, including 15-1 last season, and won five state titles. The Cavaliers have 14 returning starters, their JV team went 10-0 and they've gone 76-8 since Carter took over as head coach in 2010.

Their most important returner is quarterback Charlie Brewer (6-1, 190), who threw for 3,421 yards and 42 touchdowns last season while completing 68 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 584 yards and nine scores.

"He's poised, even-keeled, you can't get him too high or too low," assistant coach Antonio Wiley said. "His ability to move the pocket gives defenses something else to deal with. As far as we're concerned, Charlie is underrated."

He'll have plenty of targets, including another SMU commit in Cade Brewer (no relation), a 6-3, 215-pound tight end. Cade was a first team all-district and all-state selection last year after averaging 15.9 yards per his 51 catches along with 14 touchdowns.



When the ball gets to Cade Green (5-11, 190) often, the Cavs often win. With superb speed, excellent hands and the ability to run great routes, Green finished 2015 with 72 catches for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns. Wisconsin and Illinois are among seven schools that have offered him scholarships.

The team's top (Santiago Villegas) and third-leading rusher (Maleek Barkley) return to help offset the potent passing game. Barkley, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, was especially effective in the postseason last year and can really scoot. The Arkansas commit rushed 11 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-14 playoff win over Midway. He's also considered a top receiving threat after hauling in 55 passes last year for 693 yards and 10 scores.

Lake Travis is huge up front with Brenden Jaimes (6-6, 270), a first team all-district standout, and Tyler Barrett (6-5, 265). Jaimes has committed to Nebraska. Austin Hiller, a 6-3, 210-pound safety who has committed to Northwestern, leads a defense that includes lineman Sammy Ochoa (6-2, 260) and linebackers Aidan Estrada (5-10, 185) and Mateo Lopez (6-1, 200). Hiller had 123 tackles last season and seven interceptions.

"He's a big, fast kid and great open-field tackler," Wiley said of the third-year starter.