My social media timelines quickly shifted toward focusing on the 2025 class of high school recruits after National Signing Day last week. The immediate switch to a new recruiting year left my head spinning as we’re now getting our first looks at some FCS and all the NCAA Division II classes.
Before we move full steam into the 2025 recruits, let’s look at some of the players who signed on NSD last week. We have one recruit for every FCS and DII team in Texas. You can find the notable TXHSFB players who signed back in December by clicking this link.
Damien Johnson, Midland Legacy
College: Abilene Christian
A two-time all-district performer, Johnson was named District 2-6A MVP after gaining 1,817 yards and 31 touchdowns as a running back. Johnson is expected to play cornerback for ACU and was named to the Texas High School Coaches Association Class 6A Elite Team.
Tyran Chappell, Denton Ryan
College: Houston Christian
Houston Christian received accolades as the top-ranked recruiting class, according to 247Sports.com. Standing at 6-foot-3, Chappell possesses height rarely seen in FCS defensive backs. A first-team 3-5A Division I All-District selection, he was credited with 17 pass breakups and three interceptions. Chappell could contribute to HCU’s special teams during his freshman season after he blocked five kicks last season.
Dillon Dixon, North Shore
College: Lamar
The 3-Star prospect was ranked 73rd-best on VYPE Houston’s Hot 100 and was named Houston Defensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club. A linebacker with decent size at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds, Dixon was a first-team selection to the 21-6A All-District team and held offers from UIW, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Timothy “Deuce” Barrington, Fulshear
College: Prairie View A&M
Barrington is considered undersized, but the 6-foot-0, 180-pound quarterback completed 63.8 percent of his pass attempts last season for 1,459 yards with 22 touchdowns and only one interception. He held offers from Grambling and Midwestern State.
Cody Ford, George Ranch
College: Stephen F. Austin
Many pundits in the recruiting industry loved SFA’s recruiting class, and the 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive lineman is one reason for the appreciation. The two-time District 20-6A MVP has “all the tools and tangible traits you look for in a defensive lineman,” defensive line coach and run game coordinator Ty Warren said in the school’s release.
Koby Dickens, Paradise
College: Tarleton
The Texans also signed a sneaky good recruiting class, and the linebacker from Paradise has tremendous upside. Dickens registered a remarkable 191 tackles, 62 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, and blocked six field goals. A three-year captain, Dickens was twice named to the All-State and the THSCA Super Elite teams and District 4-3A Division I MVP last year.
Kaleb Coleman, Byron Nelson
College: Texas A&M-Commerce
A dynamic athlete who can play at the edge position or linebacker, Coleman saw his senior season derailed by an injury. Lions head coach Clint Dolezel won’t apologize for signing a player who recorded 10 tackles for loss, four sacks, three fumble recoveries, one interception, and forced one fumble last season. Coleman also played tight end on the offense last year while battling an injury throughout the campaign.
Danny Green Jr., South Oak Cliff
College: Texas Southern
The first Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 3-star prospect to appear on this list, Green received first-team 6-5A Division II All-District honors and joined high school teammate Rickey Evans at TSU. Green gained 2,518 yards and 41 touchdowns rushing while leading the Bears to a state title in 2022 and the state championship game in 2023.
Patrick Bridges, Pearland
College: UIW
Information on the Cardinals 2024 recruiting class is scarce, but Bridges immediately stands out as one of the top additions to the roster. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound wide receiver caught 60 passes for 859 yards with 12 touchdowns last year. He’s also a force in the rushing attack, recording 14 pancake blocks last season. Bridges held offers from Army, Louisiana-Monroe, and Central Arkansas.
Zion Brown, Atascocita
College: UTRGV
The excitement around the Vaqueros football program grew after the DCTF 3-star quarterback signed. Brown has an incredible family lineage. His father, Wilbert, played with four NFL teams and was a member of the New England Patriots 2003 Super Bowl champion. Brown has two NFL veteran uncles, with Jeremiah Trotter in the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame and Cornelius Anthony, currently the head coach at Fort Bend Hightower following a career with the San Francisco 49ers. Brown tied the Atascocita school record with 83 career passing touchdowns while adding 30 rushing touchdowns last season to earn 23-6A District MVP.
Logan Thomas, Wall
College: Angelo State
A two-time District 4-3A Division II MVP, Thomas was a force on the Hawks defensive line, registering 103 tackles (75 solo), with 26 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and 21 hurries. Listed at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, Thomas fits the profile of a hybrid player who can play along the defensive line or at linebacker.
Pelumi Olanipekun, Denton Guyer
College: Midwestern State
The 6-foot, 275-pound defensive tackle will be a trouble for Lone Star Conference offensive linemen over the next four years. Olanipekun recorded 66 tackles (50 solo) with 22 tackles for loss, four sacks, and 10 hurries last season. He held offers from Ole Miss, Colorado-State Pueblo, East Central, Adams State, Eastern New Mexico, and multiple junior colleges.
Caleb Jones, L.D. Bell
College: Sul Ross State
The Lobos coaching staff is very excited about the talent signed as part of the program’s first NCAA Division II signing class. Jones is one reason for the optimism around the recruiting class after registering 180 tackles (101 solo) with 10 tackles for loss, nine hurries, and one sack over the last two seasons.
Tyvone Whitehead, Columbus
College: Texas A&M-Kingsville
The Javelinas recruiting class is highlighted by the dynamic Whitehead, who one FCS coach described as “electric with elite speed.” Whitehead initially committed to Texas Southern. However, he decommitted at the end of December during TSU’s dysfunctional search for a head coach. He also held offers from Angelo State, East Central, Minot State, and Texas Wesleyan.
Logan Cundiff, Fossil Ridge
College: UTPB
The Falcons signed another impressive class this cycle, led by the dual-threat quarterback, a three-year starter for Fossil Ridge. Cundiff completed 57.8 percent of his pass attempts for 4,351 yards and 40 touchdowns while adding 853 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing during his high school career. He held offers from UTSA, Texas A&M-Commerce, Austin Peay, Colorado State-Pueblo, and multiple junior colleges.
Knox Porter, Celina
College: West Texas A&M
WT head coach Josh Lynn’s first full recruiting class for the Buffs heavily focused on the state's Panhandle and West Texas regions. However, the best prospect may come from DFW. Porter earned first-team honors on the 7-4A Division I All-District team and was named team MVP after completing 61.1 percent of his passes for 1,800 yards and 28 touchdowns last season.
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