DeSoto owns talent on both sides of the ball, including players (left to right) Shaquel Jackson, Jatory Sparks-Brown, Desmon White, Chris Lacy, Bryce English and Nick Orr.
Photo by Keith Owens
raced to a 14-0 start last season but it all came to an end in
a memorable 51-36 loss to Allen in the Class 5A-I semifinals. The unfulfilled quest for the state title should have the same, if not better, shot at happening this season.
Head coach Claude Mathis' squad has improved in each of the last three seasons. Now, with a loaded defense and an always-potent offense, 2013 could be the season in which DeSoto plays for - and wins - a state title.
Mathis believes his defensive line will be the program's best ever. It features junior
Bryce English, already committed to Texas, as well as
Shaquel Jackson and
Johnavhan Grahm, all of whom started last season.
Quarterback Desmon White
Photo by Keith Owens
The linebackers will also have some inexperience. Look for
Howard Wilson and
Chris Orr to have productive seasons.
Orr's older brother,
Nick Orr, will lead the secondary. According to Mathis, he'll likely graduate as the school's all-time leader in games played.
The offense returns quarterback
Desmon White, who was wildly productive as a junior, throwing for 3,521 yards and rushing for another 1,335.
Chris Lacy is back at receiver after making 29 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
See the entire Preseason Xcellent 25The team's offensive line will be new, which will certainly be a challenge early on. But the biggest replacement will be at running back, as
Jatory Sparks-Brown takes over as the team's primary ballcarrier, stepping in for Dontre Wilson, now at Ohio State.
Local look: "Quarterback Desmon White and wide receiver Chris Lacy alongside running back Jatory Sparks-Brown will be one of the more dynamic offenses in the country. Plenty of speed on offense. Nick Orr returns for what is one of the more underrated defenses in the entire state."
- Christopher Lyke, owner/publisher, TexasHSFootball.com
