In celebration of 100 years of UIL Texas high school football, the UIL and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football have teamed up to honor the best, the brightest and the most unforgettable icons and legends in the sport’s illustrious history. With the help of some of the state’s foremost experts and historians, the UIL and DCTF will honor 100 of the greatest players to ever suit up in Texas.

Each week throughout the 2020 season, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football will announce 10 honorees on each list, an indelible honor to be known as one of the greatest in Texas high school football history. Fans will then have an opportunity to weigh in, voting for the player they think is the best of the best, to be named as a UIL 100 Fan’s Choice.

It all leads up to a celebration as big as Texas, celebrating the UIL’s 100 Players — and the Fan’s Choice Top 10 — at the UIL Texas high school football state championship games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington this December.

Click here to vote now for the Fans Choice Top 10 Players list. For more information on the UIL 100 honors, visit TexasFootball.com/UIL100.

UIL 100 YEARS, 100 PLAYERS — WEEK 1

Aledo RB Johnathan Gray
One of the greatest running backs in high school football history, Gray left Aledo as the all-time national record for TDs (205) and tied for first in 100-yard games in a season (16). Top RB recruit in the country.

Ennis QB Graham Harrell
As a senior, Harrell passed for 4,825 yards and a state-record 67 touchdowns to earn Gatorade Texas Player of the Year honors while leading Ennis to a state title. One of the original Air Rald legends.

San Antonio Lee QB Tommy Kramer
A two-time all-state selection, Tommy Kramer lead San Antonio Lee to a 4A state championship victory in 1971 as junior. The elite signal-caller ended his senior year being name the Texas High School Player of the Year as the state’s all-time passing leader. 

Highland Park QB Matthew Stafford
A five-star quarterback, Matthew Stafford lead the Scots to claim the 4A Division ! state championship in 2005, throwing for more than 4,000 yards on the season and claiming the 2005 EA Sports National Player of the Year award.

Brady OL Scott Appleton
A two-time all-state defensive lineman, Scott Appleton helped lead Brady to three start title game appearances and was one of the best of his generation. By the time he left Texas, he was one of the nation’s most intimidating presences in the trenches.

West Orange-Stark DB Earl Thomas
Probably the best NFL safety of his generation and surefire future Hall of Famer, Earl Thomas made his reputation as a versatile star at West Orange Stark where he flourished at running back and receiver as well as defensive back.

Rockport-Fulton LB Dat Nguyen
A legend at Rockport-Fulton, Nguyen’s exploits are legendary on the Coastal Bend, where he helped the Pirates to their first district title in twenty years as a junior.  Nguyen went on to Texas A&M where he was a three-time all-Big 12 performer along with Big 12 defensive player of the year in 1998. Nguyen went on to a seven-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and was second-team All-Pro in 2003.

Houston Wheatley DB Lester Hayes
One of the originators of “bump and run coverage,” Hayes spent his prep days playing in Houston ISD for Wheatley, before moving to the secondary at Texas A&M where he played for Emory Bellard, where he became an All-American safety. He moved to cornerback when drafted by the Oakland Raiders where he became a five-time pro-bowler and in 1980 he recorded an incredible thirteen interceptions in a single season.  

Plano DL Billy Ray Smith
One of the most feared defensive linemen of the 1970s, Smith anchored the defensive front for the 1977 state champion Plano Wildcats and got even better as his high school career wore on, earning all-state and All-America honors. He followed his outstanding high school career with a Hall of Fame stint at Arkansas and a ten-year run in the NFL.

Houston Yates LB Melvin Foster
Nicknamed "Ferocious", Foster was the star of the legendary Yates Lions defenses of the mid-1980s, earning Parade All-America honors in 1985 as he racked up 180 tackles, 8 interceptions, 5 sacks and four blocked punts. 

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Click here to vote now for the Fans Choice Top 10 Players list. For more information on the UIL 100 honors, visit TexasFootball.com/UIL100.