Top Secondaries in 6A and 5A for 2025
Southlake Carroll Dragons' five All-District 4-6A selections, Waco University Trojans' Davontrae Kirkland and Jeremiah Green headline best secondaries in 6A and 5A.
Senior safety Thompson Bennett (6-3, 195) and junior cornerback Wylie Nichols (6-4, 190) were part of Austin Westlake’s school record-setting 4x400-meter relay team this offseason. Coach Tony Salazar says that drive and determination translate to the football field.
Bennett was a Second-Team Padilla Poll All-State selection with 87 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. The field-side safety has the liberty to change defensive coverages pre-snap because of the preparation he puts in throughout the week. Bennett, who has offers from multiple Ivy League schools and service academies, will be the next member of his family to play college sports. His father played at Texas A&M and his sister played basketball at Texas State.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if, come November and December, Thompson Bennett is lined up on both sides of the football,” Salazar said.
Nichols started 14 of 16 games at cornerback as a sophomore. Salazar says he’s packed 10 pounds of muscle onto his 6-4 frame during a stellar offseason and could be primed for a breakout year. His long arms and legs allow him to take up passing zones.
Junior Eric Abraham (6-3, 188) is the favorite to start at weak-side safety after practicing with the varsity and playing with the JV as a sophomore. Abraham has a versatile skill set that allows him to play both high safety and hybrid linebacker depending on the offense’s strength. Salazar believes he has a college football future.
2. Allen
Allen has two First-Team All-District 6-6A cornerbacks returning in Kai Wheaton (6-0, 175) and LeBron Bauer (5-11, 170). Both are three-year starters who produce, but that’s where the similarities end.
Wheaton is a quiet personality who plays loud on the field. The Oregon State commit had 20 tackles, five pass breakups and one forced fumble. Allen coach Lee Wiginton says Wheaton attacks every day with the mentality that no one will outwork him.
“I don’t care if you have this five-star receiver or an incredible passing game, you’re never going to look out there and feel like, ‘Oh no, are they going to get us here?’” Wiginton said. “He’s always going to be right.”
Wiginton likens Bauer, meanwhile, to Deion Sanders for their confident style of play at the cornerback spot. Bauer had 37 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions last season.
At safety, senior Henson Amaechi (5-11, 175) was a first-team all-district selection with 50 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions and two tackles for loss. Wiginton credits Amaechi as the key backend communicator. Junior Trey Roberson (6-1, 197) was a second-team all-district selection with 70 tackles, four tackles for loss and an interception. Wiginton says Roberson is a great athlete with all the makings of a special player.
Look for sophomore Dominic Butler (6-0, 180), senior Jahsxiah Gibson and junior Jeremiah Hambric to battle for playing time.
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