The first day of the 2023 Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament in College Station is in the books, with an exciting day of Division II and Division III pool play done and dusted. The Dave Campbell's Texas Football staff was all over the event, seeing teams from every corner of the state. Here's what we noticed.

Ponder, Lubbock Christian, Millsap prove they belong

Greg Tepper, managing editor

The State 7-on-7 Tournament is often littered with the usual suspects — teams that can make their College Station hotel reservations as soon as the ball drops on New Year's Eve — but it was a pair of relative newcomers that made the most noise on a balmy Thursday in the Brazos Valley. There's plenty of new car smell to Ponder here in College Station, making just its second appearance at the state tournament and still getting used to new coach Marcus Schulz, in from Humble. But they felt right at home on Thursday, surging through Pool D of Division II with a 3-0 mark, including a wildly impressive victory over China Spring. The team played unafraid and loose, and sophomore quarterback Gage Ersch and receiver Case Peacock made defenses look silly during the run. There's something cooking in Ponder, America.

Same goes for Lubbock Christian, one of just two private school teams here at State this weekend. We had major questions about Eagles, specifically about replacing superstar quarterback Bax Townsend. But at least on Thursday, Lubbock Christian looked like a threat to win a state championship here and in the fall with quarterback Welker Horn, one of the breakout stars of the day. The Eagles went 2-1, but won their pool with West Orange-Stark and Sulphur Springs via tiebreaker.

Millsap was the team everyone was talking about in the Division III bracket, roaring through a tough Pool H with a day-capping victory over favored East Bernard. The Bulldogs were the only Division III team to crack the 30-point mark in all three of their games; keep an eye on quarterback CR Tippie both tomorrow during bracket play, and in the fall.

Hawley dazzles, Harmony flies, and North Texas wins the day

Matt Stepp, high school insider

In the Division III field, Hawley looked like a state championship type team in 7-on-7 aside from their pedigree as a state title team in the fall. The Bearcats were dominant going 3-0 on Day 1 as their defense allowed just twenty points in three games, they’ll need to clean things up on offense to make a run Friday morning, but they started off strong. Harmony out of East Texas made a great run to the semifinals a year ago at the State 7-on-7 tournament and then the Eagles turned that into a big run in the fall in the 3A-Division II post-season. Harmony looked like a team to contend with on Thursday going 3-0 in a good pool that featured Albany. 

On the Division II side of things, the DFW area was dominant as Ponder, Celina, Frisco Panther Creek and Anna went a combined 12-0. Most notably Celina, who has more of a 7-on-7 pedigree than any other team in the state won a difficult pool that featured Hamshire-Fannett and Lorena, the Bobcats could be primed to contend for their fifth 7-on-7 crown. San Antonio Davenport technically finished third in their pool as they ended up on the short end of a three-way tie at 2-1, the Wolves showed they can play with anyone as they took down defending champion Hitchcock 42-33 in their final game of the day. 

Jasper's Kiotti Armstrong: Whoa

William Wilkerson, digital director

The most impressive player that I saw on Day 1 was Jasper's 2025 manchild Kiotti Armstrong. You can't help but do a double-take when you see the 6-foot-6, 245-pound tight end on the field, but then you watch him play and his size matches the hype. Check out this one-handed catch for further proof:

The kicker is Armstrong will likely play on the defensive line in college. You can only imagine the type of carnage he creates at that position on Friday nights. 

Armstrong has already amassed 15 offers and still has two years of high school left. 

If you weren't familiar with the name, now you are. He's as advertised.

Receivers take center stage in small-school action

Ishmael Johnson, college editor

It’s no surprise that defending 2A DI state champion Hawley looks like they’re ready to run it back, but when you watch Diontay Ramon and Texas Tech commit Chandlin Myers, it just underscores the Bearcats’ potential dominance. Both 6-foot-plus receivers stand out versus their classification counterparts as unguardable pass options and cover corners. Ramon should gain more recruiting momentum as he continues to rack up production heading into his senior season.

Also, when you look at Silsbee, most eyes will instantly go to DCTF’s newest five-star Dre’lon Miller. But take a peek next to him, and you’ll see the complementary Ashton Cartwright. The senior wideout flashed a ton of speed and efficient movements opposite of Miller. He currently just sits on a Prairie View A&M offer but will look to gain more traction as the fall rolls along and more eyes look Silsbee’s way.

Cameron Yoe QB Braylan Drake steals the show

Carter Yates, college writer

I parked next to the Carthage vs. Cameron Yoe game with the sole intention of studying how prepared rising sophomore Jett Surratt would be to take over the reins for his father’s nine-time state champion program. While Surratt impressed me with his poise and leadership for such a young prospect, Cameron Yoe quarterback Braylan Drake was absolutely surgical. He’s been good for quite some time, hence the Co-District MVP award last season, but in my first time seeing him live the ball popped out of his hands and he was spreading the ball all around the field. 

Pleasant Grove lives up to the billing

Greg Powers, director of recruiting

Pleasant Grove is one of the most physically impressive squads you will find, and based on what we see in the 7v7 setting they could have cemented themselves as the clear-cut favorite to win 7-4A Division II. 2024 ATH Ahkhari Johnson (6'0, 180), who is fresh off his commitment to Arkansas, quickly passes the eyeball test and is exactly the type of leader any team would be thankful to have running the offense. 2025 DE/TE Lance Jackson is an extremely athletic 6-foot-5, 245-pounder who has racked up 24 offers, including one from Arkansas where his brother, Landon Jackson, is a star defender.