Texas Longhorns four-star signee WR Kohen Brown was the star at Waxahachie in the Class of 2026, but this is a program that is full of up-and-coming stars making their return to build off of an 11-6A crown that included wins over Duncanville, North Forney and Cypress Ranch.  

With this type of talent, you can put the Indians firmly in the state title contender category. 

2027

S Jayquan Snell (6'2, 195): Snell was one of the most sought-after safeties in the country before making his commitment to Texas A&M and is rated as a DCTX four-star and is a strong contender to be rated as one of the state’s Top 10 prospects. He burst onto the national radar with a tone-setting hit late in the Duncanville game that sealed the win and helped propel his team to the 11-6A title. Snell comes from a football family as the younger brother of former TCU signee Kenedy Snell and the older brother of 2028 DT Aaron Snell. On the field, he is a true enforcer who plays downhill with violence while using his size and range to control the middle of the field. Snell earned First-Team 11-6A All-District honors.

LB Kaden Tolleson (5’11, 200): If you love football, you will love Kaden Tolleson’s game. Back in the days when Joey McGuire was at Cedar Hill and Kenny Perry was at Arlington Bowie, we would affectionately label him as “football playin’ dude,” and Tolleson fits that mold perfectly. Feral is a fitting way to describe his style. He plays with relentless effort and is always around the ball. The son of head coach Shane Tolleson, he is a student of the game who arrives prepared, but once the whistle blows, he throws caution to the wind and plays with an aggressive edge that defines his nature. Tolleson holds offers from Arkansas State and Southern Miss, was the Next Level Athlete Texas Top 100 linebacker MVP, and earned First-Team 11-6A All-District honors.

DE Sedrick Marsh Jr. (6'4, 235): You are hard-pressed to find another defensive end in the state with as much upside and frame potential as Marsh, who looks much bigger than his listed measurables because of his long arms that are built to drag down ball carriers. He is a traditional hand-in-the-dirt defensive end who can consistently get into the backfield. As he continues to mature through the offseason and into college, he is expected to add the strength needed to shed blocks and become a reliable run stopper. Colleges are lining up for his signature, beginning with his first offer from LSU, followed by in-state programs such as Baylor, Houston, SMU, Texas and Texas A&M. Marsh earned First-Team 11-6A All-District honors.

ATH Jordan Smith (5'9, 170): After two years of dominating 3A competition at Groesbeck, Smith moved to Waxahachie and, after settling in and adjusting to the speed of the game, picked up right where he left off. He is a versatile offensive weapon and return man who can line up in the backfield or split out wide in the slot. He earned First-Team All-District honors as an inside receiver. Smith holds 17 scholarship offers, including Baylor and Utah, validating his production with major opportunities beyond high school. He is willing and able to do anything asked of him on the field and plays with quick-twitch athleticism. He finished his junior season with over 800 yards and seven scores.

QB Jerry Meyer III (6'1, 175): Meyer moved to Texas after a record-breaking freshman season in Nevada, where he threw for 2,711 yards and 58 touchdowns. He has since stacked two consecutive seasons against 6A competition, totaling 5,793 yards and 62 touchdowns while completing 60% of his passes. The TCU commit orchestrated an offense that captured the 11-6A crown and earned First-Team All-District honors. He was also named to the 2027 DCTX Five-Star Watchlist prior to his junior season. Meyer is at his best picking defenses apart in the short- and intermediate-passing game and has begun adding mass, which should help him continue developing his all-around game heading into his senior year.

OL Grant Gonzales (6’6, 280): The blindside protector of the offensive front is a powerhouse who could also kick inside at the next level, but he has been a consistent force in keeping his quarterback’s jersey clean against some of the nation’s best competition. He recently attended the Navy All-American Combine and earned First-Team 11-6A All-District honors. Delaware State was his first offer, and more colleges are expected to join during the spring evaluation period.

EDGE Carmelo Clawson (6'1, 215): An edge presence who can stand up or play with his hand in the dirt, he is known for consistently applying pressure. He appeared in only five games as a junior after his season was cut short by injury, but he was already firmly established on the Division I radar with offers from Ole Miss, UNLV, Colorado State, Southern Miss and more. As a sophomore, he racked up 77 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 11.5 sacks, so he is a proven commodity who will get after it and make plays behind the. line of scrimmage.

More Names to Know: WR Zaeden Smith (5'8, 175), DT Talyn Pierce (6'0, 280), CB Braylon Davis (5'9, 155), OL Malik Dismuke (6’3, 285, S Mark Piper Jr. (5'11, 175), LB Anthony Newton Jr. (5'10, 185)

2028

DT Aaron Snell (6'0, 270): Snell earned 11-6A Defensive District Newcomer of the Year honors after a stellar sophomore season in which he emerged as an interior enforcer. He is the type of player who straps his helmet and goes to war up front on every snap, making an impact whether he makes the play or not. The younger brother of Jayquan Snell and Kenedy Snell, he may be the “baby” of the family, but he is fully grown under the Friday night lights, and colleges have taken notice. He picked up his first offer from Southern Miss before dipping his toes into Power Four waters with in-state offers from SMU and Texas A&M. He is one of the state’s true breakout stars, and by the time he graduates, everyone will know his name.

RB Taylen Strange (5'8, 190): Strange was a consistent producer in the Waxahachie ground game, using his size and power to rack up 1,112 yards and 12 TDs to earn 11-6A First-Team All-District honors. His selection to the all-district squad was unanimous, making him the only sophomore to earn that distinction in the ‘District of Doom.’ He’s picked up early offers from Lamar, SMU and UNLV.

OL Carson Mansfield (6'5, 310): Mansfield, who is listed with early offers from SMU, Texas Tech and Jacksonville State, manned the right guard spot as a sophomore and opened up plenty of holes for the ground attack that racked up over 2,000 rushing yards throughout the course of the season.

WR Jordan Thompson-Woods (5'11, 170): Thompson-Woods had a breakout sophomore campaign after moving in from Nevada, playing a complementary role alongside four-star Texas WR signee Kohen Brown. Now, the future of the Waxahachie passing attack literally rests in his hands. Last season, he recorded 57 receptions for 658 yards and seven touchdowns, showcasing his ability to drive defenders off the line of scrimmage with quick acceleration and to beat them deep. His game continued to evolve, particularly his route tree. Colorado State, Delaware State and Sacramento State are his first three offers, and more are expected soon, as he has standout tape against elite-level defensive backs.

More Names to Know: S Jadynn Johnson (5'9, 185), WR Matthew Scott II (5'11, 155), WR Camden Singleton (6'2, 180), S P.J. Birdow (5'11, 165), LB Cayden Starr (6'0, 190), C Liam Anderson (6'0, 285),  DT Ju'Lee Gee (6'3, 270), K Jayse Camacho (5'10, 150)

2029

The coaches at Waxahachie are excited about the future of the program, powered by 2029 prospects like Dwayne Benjamin (6’2, 280), QB/ATH R’Mani Benjamin (5’11, 180) and DB Billy Hyder (5’9, 165). DT Benjamin is definitely a name to file away, as he already has the size and will be playing with a handful of DL mates who will push him to compete and have bright futures at the collegiate level. Iron sharpens iron.