Did you take some time off from football like a well-adjusted person? Lucky for you, we at DCTX aren’t. We’ve had our finger on the pulse of TXHSFB all offseason. Here is a primer on everything you need to know before spring football starts this month.

For the Class 6A Spring Preview, Click Here.

Player of the Year Candidates

Earning Player of the Year requires that a) you’re really freaking good, and b) that your team makes a serious state championship run. With that in mind, here are some picks in no particular order.

SaRod Baker, DeSoto RB

In Class 6A football last year, Baker rushed for 3,096 yards and 45 touchdowns, while catching 22 passes for 350 yards and four scores. His playoff performance was among the best in TXHSFB history, with 1,628 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns over a six-game span. DeSoto took home its third Class 6A DII State Championship in the past four years. Now, the dynasty – and the running back whom Coach Claude Mathis describes as, “One of the best to ever play at DeSoto” – drop down to 5A.

Landen Williams-Callis, Richmond Randle RB

Williams-Callis could cement his status as the greatest TXHSFB running back of all time after this season. He enters 2026 with 7,551 career rushing yards, 728 receiving yards, and 132 touchdowns. He’ll be on a mission for his spot in history – and revenge against South Oak Cliff after falling in the Class 5A DII State Championship. Richmond Randle gets a rematch in Week 1.

Trey Wright, Frisco Lone Star QB

Before the 2025 season, Lone Star head coach Jeff Rayburn said he’d either look like the dumbest or smartest coach alive for moving all-state quarterback Karece Hoyt to an ‘athlete’ role. The verdict is in after Wright led the nation with 5,863 total yards as a sophomore, and Hoyt became a two-way First Team All-District 5-5A DI performer. Wright turned into a statewide sensation after leading a 17-point comeback with under five minutes remaining in the state semifinals against Aledo. He and Hoyt return, along with two First Team All-District 5-5A DI linemen (Brett Tompkins and Curtis Butler).

Most Intriguing New Coaches

Stephen Jackson, Lancaster

Jackson led West Mesquite to a 22-3 record in two seasons, including the program’s first third-round playoff trip since 2010. He takes over a Lancaster team at an opportune time. The Tigers are loaded with Division I talent and dropping from Class 6A to Class 5A. But don’t mistake this new district as a cakewalk. Reigning Class 6A DII State Champion DeSoto and ever-dangerous Cedar Hill also dropped with the Tigers into the same district.

Wale Okunnu, Fort Bend Marshall

Longtime Fort Bend Marshall head coach James Wilson departed this offseason to start Tomball West’s football program. His tenure was highly successful, with a 148-49 overall record and two state championship appearances. But the Buffaloes fell far short of expectations last year, missing the playoffs with a 6-4 record after a preseason No. 7 ranking in Class 5A DII. Now, Fort Bend Marshall turns to Wale Okunnu. The 36-year-old is a first-time head coach who’ll have a condensed offseason after taking over on March 24.

Brett Gilchrist, Whitehouse

Try to top this couple of days run from Gilchrist. The Frisco Lone Star offensive coordinator’s unit scored 21 points in the final five minutes to beat Aledo in the state semifinals. Then, he found out he’d be the next head coach at Whitehouse. In four years with the Rangers, Gilchrist’s offenses averaged 47 points and 467 yards per game. Can he bring Whitehouse back to a double-digit win season for the first time since the Patrick Mahomes era?

Class 5A Newcomers to Watch

Fort Bend Crawford

The Chargers went 12-2 in just their second season as a varsity program in Class 4A DI. They could be dangerous in Class 5A DII with the return of last year’s District 12-4A DI Overall MVP (WR/KR Alvin Mosley), Offensive MVP (QB Braylon Fisher), and Defensive MVP (LB Camron Alakija). Fort Bend Crawford’s district game against Fort Bend Marshall should be box office viewing.

Cedar Hill

Longtime DFW powerhouse Cedar Hill is 17-17 over the last four seasons. But the Longhorns moved down to Class 5A at an opportune time. They could blossom into one of the state’s top defensive lines. 

Texas Tech commit Jalen Brewster (6-foot-4-inches, 300 pounds) is the No.2-overall player in the DCTX Hot 100. Cedar Hill also boasts two of the most physically impressive edge rushers in Baylor commit Jalen Price (6-foot-5-inches, 255 pounds) and Jeron Allen (6-foot-4-inches, 245 pounds).

New Districts We're Most Excited to See

13-5A DII

• Boerne: 13-2 in 2025, return eight offensive starters headlined by reigning District Offensive MVP QB Grant Sweeney
• Alamo Heights: 12-2 in 2025, have made at least the third round of the playoffs every season since 2021, legendary head coach Ron Rittimann retired on March 17
• New Braunfels: 11-3 in 2025, coming off back-to-back third-round playoff appearances for first time since 1986 
• Liberty Hill: 9-3 in 2025, have made at least the second round of the playoffs every season since 2013
• San Antonio Veterans Memorial: 2-8 in 2025, JV team was 7-3
• Liberty Hill Legacy Ranch: First-year varsity program, juniors only, pulling from traditional powerhouse in Liberty Hill 
• New Braunfels Long Creek: First-year varsity program, all four grades available, have played 12 varsity opponents in two years of outlaw schedule

9-5A DI

• Port Arthur Memorial: 14-1 in 2025, playoff team every year since 2016
• La Porte: 9-2 in 2025, returns 2,200-yard rusher Sean Simon and 1,000-yard receiver Peyton Smith
• Lufkin: 8-4 in 2025, Coach Carl Abseck has 110-31 career record
• Beaumont United: 7-5 record in 2025 was best season in program history under first-year head coach Drenard Williams
• Beaumont West Brook: 6-4 record in 2025 was best season since 2019, eight returning starters on offense headlined by District Offensive MVP QB Tam Anderson
• Baytown Sterling: 5-5 season in 2025 was best record since 2016 under first-year head coach Spencer Anthony
• Baytown Goose Creek Memorial: 4-6 in 2025 in District 23-6A (named toughest in classification by DCTX), first 3-0 start in school history
• New Caney: 2-8 in 2025, 7 returning starters on offense, Coach Sheldon Bennight formerly coached at district opponent Galveston Ball
• Galveston Ball: 2-8 in 2025, strong secondary headlined by 2028 recruit Isaiah Washington

12-5A DI

• Pflugerville Weiss: 10-3 in 2025 under first-year head coach Malcolm Hill was best season in program history, returns 15 starters including two 1,200+ yard receivers (Tre Moore and Jordan Anderson)
• College Station: 8-5 in 2025, have made at least the third round of the playoffs every year since 2019
• A&M Consolidated: 9-3 in 2025, have made at least the second round of the playoffs every year since 2020
• Georgetown: 9-3 in 2025, have made at least the second round of the playoffs in four of the last five years
• Killeen Shoemaker: 7-3 in 2025, winning season in six of the last seven years, Coach Toby Foreman took Jasper job in offseason
• Pflugerville Hendrickson: 5-5 in 2025
• Leander Glenn: 1-9 in 2025
• Killeen: 1-9 in 2025

5 Teams Who Could Make it to Arlington That Weren't There Last Year

Denton Ryan

Coach Dave Henigan retired after compiling a 141-23 record over 12 years, but the championship expectation still remains at Ryan. That’s because the Raiders hired Henigan’s defensive coordinator from the 2020 state championship team, Waxahachie head coach Shane Tolleson. Waxahachie still has high expectations in 2026 – the roster is loaded with talent and boasts a 45-17 record since Tolleson took over in 2021. That shows how much Denton Ryan means to its new head coach, and how confident he is that they can compete for state championships. Eight defensive starters return.

Boerne

This time last year, Boerne was a major question mark after losing head coach Che Hendrix and his star QB son, Hank. But Hendrix’s defensive coordinator, Brett Sawyer, earned District 13-5A DI Coach of the Year, while new QB Grant Sweeney became one of TXHSFB’s breakout stars while leading the Greyhounds to a 13-2 record. With Sweeney (5,371 total yards, 58 TD) at the helm of an offense returning eight starters, we believe Boerne can be one game better in 2026.

Pflugerville Weiss

Coach Malcolm Hill was hired on June 2, 2025, with just over two months before the first game. He led the Wolves to their best season in program history with a 10-3 finish. With a full offseason and 15 returning starters, could Pflugerville Weiss challenge for a state title? The offensive passing attack could be among the state’s best with three-year starting QB Jaxon Schad slinging it to DCTX four-star WR Tre Moore (1,443 yards, 19 TD) and Jordan Anderson (1,268 yards, 17 TD). Look for LB tandem Tylan Henderson (113 tackles, 13 TFL) and Noah McPeek (148 tackles, 9 forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks) to anchor the defense.

Highland Park

Coach Randy Allen needs one playoff win to break the all-time TXHSFB record. Can he do that, and a whole lot more, in 2026? QB Buck Randall (4,914 total yards, 63 TD) will give him the chance. The senior quarterback is in line to break the school passing yards record if he puts up similar stats to his sophomore and junior seasons. Keep an eye on junior inside linebacker Graham Rodgers, who moved up from JV for last year’s playoff run and posted 64 tackles in four games.

Argyle

Argyle is always a safe bet to play in December. The Eagles have reached at least the regional final in six of the last eight years. Coach Todd Rodgers has a career record of 269-47 at the school. The 2026 squad figures to keep that tradition going with seven First Team All-District players returning on offense, including Under Armour All-American WR Julian Caldwell (1,737 yards, 20 TD) and District Offensive Line MVP Cole Jackman. Really, QB was one of the few question marks after Maguire Gasperson’s (UTSA) graduation. But the Eagles got a strong contender to take the reins with Prosper Walnut Grove move-in Hayes Hackney (3,139 passing yards, 37 TD).

Big Shoes to Fill

Port Arthur Memorial

The Vikings set program records with 14 wins in a season and an average of 46.3 points per game. But Port Arthur Memorial returns only two starters on offense, bidding adieu to District 9-5A DI Overall MVP Amante Martin (TCU RB) and First Team WR Keavon Roberts (Houston). The defense has more experience to lean on in 2026 with 7 returning starters. But it did lose a couple of headliners of its own, including District Defensive MVP Tank King (Texas A&M LB) and District Special Teams MVP Brock King (TCU CB). 

Melissa

After an 11-3 season in which it held opponents to 14 points or fewer in 10 of 14 games, Melissa’s defense returns just two starters. The good news: District Defensive Lineman of the Year Brenham Cherne is back. But replacing District Defensive MVP Rocky Dunn (Boise State) and First Team OLB Maximus Corbin (Army) will be a tall task. The offense has six returning starters, but did lose two stars in QB Brett Holloway (Sam Houston) and OT Max Wright (SMU).

Texarkana Texas High

Everything’s bigger in Texas High – including graduation hits. The Tigers lost 35 lettermen, including District Co-MVP hybrid WR/RB Tradarian Ball (Oregon) and District Co-Defensive Player of the Year (TCU DL Duncan McGhee). Texas High has shown remarkable consistency, with at least 10 wins in five of the last six years, which leads us to believe the cupboard isn’t bare.