It's been quite the long offseason, but Week 1 of the Texas high school football year brought the high-flying, hard-hitting action we've missed so greatly. The DCTF crew ripped off the cover and blew away the dust from the Swag Wagon and watched the top prospects play in the top games.

Desoto wide receivers show out in Game 1 of life without Johntay Cook

Name: Daylon Singleton | School: Desoto | Class: 2025 | Pos: WR | HT: 5'10 | WT: 165

The four-star wasted little time stepping up. He showcased his explosive playmaking abilities to open the scoring with a 34-yard TD grab. He added an even more impressive 54-yard TD grab on the game's second drive. He's a home-run threat with eye-popping top-end speed and acceleration. Singleton has 18 offers, including SMU, Texas Tech, Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Oregon, Nebraska and Michigan. - Greg Powers

Name: Ethan "Boobie" Feaster | School: Desoto | Class: 2027 | Pos: WR | HT: 6'1 | WT: 170

In his TXHSFB debut, Ethan "Boobie" Feaster made his presence felt. While his stat line included just two receptions for 16 yards, his performance went beyond the numbers. Feaster established his place on the roster with the requisite physicality and awareness. QB DJ Bailey checked to him on the opening play and again to convert the game's initial third down. All signs point to Feaster having a big first year. - Greg Powers

A pair of young QBs show veteran-like poise

Name: Landyn Locke | School: Rockwall | Class: 2025 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'3 | WT: 180

Locke was a prospect I was fired up to see on week one. The Wisconsin commit is the younger brother of Wisconsin QB Braedyn Locke, a Rockwall legend who led the Yellowjackets to some of their biggest wins. 

Landyn impressed in a big way, throwing a 16-yard TD pass on his first toss of the season dropping a dime into the hands of WR Kai Helton in the back of the endzone. He tossed a 24-yard touchdown on his second pass. His third pass was a 19-yard completion, setting up his third touchdown pass of the day on a 39-yard bullseye. 

Locke went 4-for-4 with 96 yards and three TDs in the first half, showing a smooth stroke, accurate ball placement, and above-average arm strength. - Greg Powers

Name: Joe Castles | School: Wichita Falls Rider | Class: 2026 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'6 | WT: 180

Castles has the family pedigree of a top recruit. His mother, Julie, was a standout basketball player, and his father, Josh, played football at Midwestern State and is on the Raiders coaching staff. His sister, Lauren, was a standout volleyball athlete at Archer City, and his brother, Jed, is currently a tight end at Abilene Christian. Joe has a chance to be the best athlete in the family and owns the measurables of a top quarterback prospect. He has the arm strength to make the throws down the field and showcased improved accuracy in his first start for Rider after spending last season as the starting quarterback for Archer City. Castles displayed the ability to read the defense and change the play at the line of scrimmage - a trait rarely seen in a sophomore. -Cory Hogue

Vandegrift picks up where they left off from state championship run

Name: Blake Frazier | School: Austin Vandegrift | Class: 2024 | Pos: OT | HT: 6'5 | WT: 260

The Vipers started the 2023 campaign with a dominating effort over Dripping Springs and Frazier was on the front lines. He's an imposing figure who is as big as his reported 6-5, 260-pound frame. He’ll easily reach 300 pounds and become a road-blocking bully for Big Blue within two or three years of arriving at Michigan. Frazier plays left tackle for Class 6A Vandegrift. If he struggles at anything, it is in space against speed rushers. With his frame and skills, Frazier is a candidate to move inside to left guard, or at least to right tackle as a collegiate player. - Mike Craven

Name: Deuce Adams | School: Austin Vandegrift | Class: 2024 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'2 | WT: 175

Adams started the game with a long touchdown pass to his brother, Eli, and Vandegrift never looked back in an easy win over a Dripping Springs squad that figures to contend for a playoff spot. Adams gives the Vipers a playmaker at quarterback. He throws well on the move and isn’t afraid to tuck it and earn an off schedule first down. Vandegrift utilizes his legs in the designed running game, but not as much as figures to be the norm because of the lopsided score. The Vandegrift offense looks more capable of big plays in 2023 and Deuce is a big reason why. - MIke Craven

Name: Miles Coleman | School: Austin Vandegrift | Class: 2024 | Pos: WR | HT: 5'5 | WT: 140

Fans of high school football are familiar with Coleman’s work. The 5-5, 140-pound slot receiver is quick as lightning and tough as nails. He’s a difference maker with the ball in space, and that was on display a few times in the win over Dripping Springs. Coleman wasn’t needed to be the singular playmaker for Vandegrift, which is a good sign considering the offense last year was Coleman-or-bust often on the path to the Class 6A Division II title game. - Mike Craven

Dominant offensive linemen kick off their senior year

Name: Tyler Murray | School: San Antonio Brandeis | Class: 2024 | Pos: OL | HT: 6'5 | WT: 285

An Army commit, Murray has a lean frame at 6’5 285, he can easily add more weight and strength to his frame without losing any of his mobility and quickness which is a big strength. Murray, who recently picked up a Texas Tech offer did get a slight knock during the game, but didn’t miss any snaps of the Broncos win Saturday night. - Matt Stepp

Name: Briley Brown | School: San Antonio O'Conner | Class: 2024 | Pos: OL | HT: 6'3 | WT: 275

Brown, who committed to his hometown UTSA in early May showed why he’s one of the best linemen in San Antonio as he’s got great strength and plays with a nasty streak in the run game. He also fared well in pass protection against undersized, but quick defensive linemen from Brandeis. - Matt Stepp

Name: Jacob Ponton | School: Dripping Springs | Class: 2024 | Pos: OL | HT: 6'7 | WT: 265

The scoreboard didn’t favor Ponton’s Tigers against an overwhelming Vandegrift squad, but it is easy to see why the Texas Tech coaching staff raves about Ponton. He’s a big prospect with a towering 6-foot-7 frame. Ponton excelled in one-on-one passing situations and showed good balance and footwork in space as a run blocker. Ponton, who is listed at 265 pounds, needs to get bigger and stronger, especially in his lower body, but that’s true for most prep offensive line prospects. His length and athleticism give him the tools to become an all-conference player under the right tutelage. The Red Raider staff searches for elite traits and high upside, and Ponton contains both. - Mike Craven

Brandeis passing attack goes nuclear

Name: Lincoln Philyaw | School: San Antonio Brandeis | Class: 2024 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'2 | WT: 210

Philyaw, who holds an offer from Incarnate Word, transferred in from San Antonio Cornerstone this off-season and made an immediate impact in his first start at Brandeis. The senior threw for 371 yards and five touchdowns and added a touchdown on the ground. Solidly built at 6’2 210, Philyaw moves well in the pocket and has tremendous feel for the game, as exhibited multiple times when he moves in the pocket his first instinct is to keep his head up and deliver an on-target pass down the field. Expect his stock to rise with a strong senior campaign. - Matt Stepp

Name: Jaylin Baker | School: San Antonio Brandeis | Class: 2025 | Pos: WR | HT: 6'0 | WT: 157

Baker, who has yet to pick up an offer, impressed in a big way in his junior debut with five receptions for 104 yards and two touchdowns in Brandeis’s 45-35 win over rival San Antonio O’Connor. Baker made a one handed grab, shook off a tackle and sprinted in for a 33-yard touchdown in the game. With teams giving Perez attention on one, side Baker is more than capable of doing damage in one on one coverage. - Matt Stepp

Name: Jaden Perez | School: San Antonio Brandeis | Class: 2025 | Pos: WR | HT: 6'1 | WT: 170

Perez, who holds double digit FBS offers led Brandeis Saturday night with five receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown including a 69-yard score where he flashed tremendous ball skills and juice in the open field. - Matt Stepp

Underrated Desoto lineman just keeps on producing

Name: Jason Douglas | School: Desoto | Class: 2024 | Pos: DL | HT: 6'3 | WT: 265

Desoto has had plenty of highly touted defensive linemen filter through the program, including Byron Murphy at Texas and Shemar Turner at Texas A&M. But the Eagles had never had a game wrecker win the Tom Landry Classic Defensive MVP until senior Jason Douglas took home the honors in a statement 39-7 win over Allen.

"Coach Mathis and our D-Line coach were like, 'Y'all got to take over. The D-Line has to carry,'" Douglas said. "This is the D-Line's ball game. So that's what we did. We balled out."

Douglas has been balling out for quite some time. This is the second game in a row he's earned an MVP designation, the first being the Defensive MVP honors in the 2022 Class 6A Division II State Championship game. This offseason, he moved from the interior defensive line over to edge, and the early returns were more than promising. With Douglas wreaking havoc in its backfield, Allen managed a mere 70 passing yards with under 200 total yards. Douglas holds five offers right now, including Texas State and Jackson State. But expect him to reel in plenty more this year competing on a talented Desoto squad. - Carter Yates

Secondary Standouts

Name: Jaidryn Anderson | School: Whitney | Class: 2024 | Pos: DB/WR | HT: 6'2 | WT: 185

A three-sport star at Class 3A Whitney, Anderson at 6’2 185 is a big and physical target on the outside who has excellent hands and the ability to make a lot happen after the catch. He hauled in twelve passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns in Whitney’s 28-21 win over Troy. He also is intriguing on the defensive side of the ball, where he picked off a pass and had the game saving PBU on 4th and goal from the five yard-line with less than a minute left. Anderson is the kind of small school deep sleeper that could be a real steal with the right fit at an FCS or Division II program. - Matt Stepp

Name: Deondre Sheperd | School: McKinney | Class: 2024 | Pos: S | HT: 5'10 | WT: 180

McKinney has Power Five players all over its defense this season. Linebacker Riley Pettijohn looked athletic and rangy in space, Oklahoma State commit Jonathan Agumadu had a key sack and Florida commit Xavier Filsaime is as advertised. But Deondre Shepherd caught my eye Thursday night for his willingness to bring the boom in run support. Twice I saw him crash down on the edge from a cornerback spot and level the Longview runner for minimal gain. He was also excellent in pass coverage along with the rest of the Lions. Aside from a 74-yard touchdown pass from Longview quarterback Andrew Tutt to Dakaylen Reese, McKinney limited Longview to 114 yards on 16 attempts. - Carter Yates