Jeff Rayburn has built a recruiting hub in Frisco. Just look at the board in the Lone Star Fieldhouse displaying all the alumni who've gone on to college ball. The Rangers are coming off a 10–2 season, their first double-digit win total since 2019, and returns a plethora of contributors. These are the guys to watch for in 2024.

The Headliners

Name: Davian Groce | Class: 2026 | Pos.: RB/WR | Ht: 6'2 | Wt: 190

Lone Star's had legends come through their program, such as two-time Super Bowl champion Nick Bolton, Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims and Thorpe Award winner Trey Taylor. The coaches think Groce could blossom into the best Lone Star prospect if he stays on his current trajectory. Groce is a game-changing athlete with a 4.39 40-yard dash who lines up at running back (935 yards, 12 TD) and wide receiver (851 yards, 10 TD), earning the district's Utility Player of the Year. He displays rare ball skills on vertical and deep post routes, which is why Rayburn's working this offseason to open up his route tree and split him out wide even more.

Name: Bryson Jones | Class: 2025 | Pos.: WR | Ht: 6'3 | Wt: 180

Jones is a polished route-runner who's especially dangerous on the deep ball. The first-team all-district selection had 1,120 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023. Jones is on the Marvin Mims trajectory - slightly under the radar before blowing up ahead of his senior season. He currently holds 17 offers to the likes of Texas A&M, TCU and Penn State.The coaches say he's worked hard to fill out his body over the past year, and he looks in-person like he's two percent body fat.

Name: Jordan Deck | Class: 2026 | Pos.: S | Ht: 6'3 | Wt: 180

Deck transitioned from wide receiver and broke out at safety as a sophomore, earning the district's Defensive Newcomer of the Year. At 6-foot-3, he's a rangy ballhawk roaming centerfield for the Rangers' defense and a fundamental tackler in the run game. He's compiled 10 offers thus far, including Baylor, Houston, SMU, UTSA, North Texas and UTEP.

Name: Ryder Mix | Class: 2026 | Pos.: TE | Ht: 6'4 | Wt: 225

Mix has reeled in 11 offers since his sophomore football season ended, including six on Jan. 23 alone. Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Oregon are all in the mix ... for Mix.

"I'm super blessed," Mix said. "It's breath taking. It doesn't feel real. It all happened so fast."

The 2026 grad already looks like a grown man going through Lone Star's offseason workouts. The route-running ability and speed at 6-foot-4, 225 is what catches college coaches' eye, but players rave about his blocking in space. It's scary to picture what he could become in two years.

Sleeper 2025 Prospects

Name: Ean Carr | Class: 2025 | Pos.: S | Ht: 6'0 | Wt: 185

Carr is an instinctual safety that's one of the most fundamentally sound players I've seen on tape, and Lone Star's coaching staff raves about him too. His film is especially impressive considering he spent most seasons before last rotating between corner back and wide receiver. This fall he's going to be used all over the field, from safety to corner to outside backer. He and 2026 safety Jordan Deck are defensive leaders.

"We've got great communication in the back end," Carr said. "We're both physical. We like playing together and we communicate well. We spread the call throughout the whole defense so they can hear us."

Carr has one offer to Montana right now but the coaches think he's about to blow up recruiting-wise.

Name: Gary Lassley | Class: 2025 | Pos.: OG/C | Ht: 6'4 | Wt: 300

Lassley's Hudl shows him throwing opposing linemen around like he's in The Blindside. He's a three-year starter at center who physically overpowers most high school defenders, and I think his strength will translate to the college game. His father is a Rice alum and offensive line coach at nearby Trent Middle School, and Lassley studies game film with him every Friday night mere hours after games. Lassley has one offer to Bowling Green right now but has been on visits to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Rice.

Name: Cooper Stewart | Class: 2025 | Pos.: OL | Ht: 6'3 | Wt: 260

Stewart's another three-year starter on Lone Star's offensive line that's rolling out an all-senior lineup in 2024.

"It's a group of boys you've built with all four years," Stewart said. "You have relationships with everyone. You're able to communicate at such a higher level because you're so comfortable with each other."

Stewart is a versatile lineman who has experience playing every position in the rotation. He's especially effective as a pulling lineman when he gets out in space. Stewart is getting heavy interest from North Dakota State and was just invited to Lamar's junior day. 

Name: Easton Pulliam | Class: 2025 | Pos.: LB | Ht: 6'2 | Wt: 220

Pulliam started last season playing tight end but switched to middle linebacker halfway through the year. He finished on a tear with 61.5 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Pulliam is a thumper who triggers downhill with bad intentions. This spring he's running the 100m in track to increase his sideline-to-sideline range. Pulliam has the college frame at 6-foot-2, 220 and recently got invites to both Lamar and UTEP's junior days. He's the senior leader on an intriguing linebacker corps that includes 2026 prospect Nico Viveros.

"We've got to be the hardest workers on the field," Pulliam said. "We've got to be the smartest people. We've got to be the strongest, fastest. It takes a different person to be a linebacker. We don't really allow average around us."

Name: Winston Pollard | Class: 2025 | Pos.: WR | Ht: 6'2 | Wt: 178

Fellow wideout Bryson Jones is blowing up, but Pollard is another dynamic receiver whom defenses get burned by if they focus too hard on Jones.

"It's like Thing 1 and Thing 2," Pollard said. "If I'm covered, he's not. If he's covered, I'm not."

The Reedy game was a prime example. Pollard reeled in a 42-yard touchdown pass as time expired to take a 35-32 win, a game that proved crucial for Lone Star's district championship season. The Lone Star coaches were quick to point out Pollard last Thursday. He's got track speed (10.9 in the 100m) and a college football bloodline. His father, William, played wide receiver at Notre Dame from 1989-92. 

Remember the Name

Name: Karece Hoyt | Class: 2027 | Pos.: QB/ATH | Ht: 6'2 | Wt: 200

Hoyt played varsity as a freshman behind graduating senior Collin Blackstock. But the 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete was too talented to keep on the sidelines. The lifelong quarterback rotated between wide receiver, running back, and even returned kicks. Hoyt took home district Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors, not bad for a guy who'd never played those positions before last season. Now entering his sophomore year back at his natural signal caller spot, he believes the experience made him a better football player. He currently has seven offers, including Baylor, Texas Tech, SMU and UTSA.

"All quarterbacks, we like to have the ball in our hands every single play," Hoyt said. "It made me unselfish and it made me learn the game. Learn not just the quarterback aspect, but the receiver aspect and the running back (spot)."

Name: Nico Viveros | Class: 2026 | Pos.: LB | Ht: 6'3 | Wt: 215

Nico is the next of the Viveros brothers in line at Lone Star. 2024 WR Chris Viveros is a Navy football commit. Nico prefers the defensive side of the ball, where he earned second team all-district honors at linebacker during his sophomore season. Viveros notched 90 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He's taken a visit to Oklahoma State and camped at nearby SMU and TCU. This guy won't be a hidden gem for long.

Name: Christopher Knauls Jr. | Class: 2026 | Pos.: DL | Ht: 6'3 | Wt: 235

The secret's out. Knauls received his first Power Four offer from Texas Tech on Sunday, and many more will follow. The sophomore was a second team all-district defensive end and is physically imposing for a 2026 prospect. What's really scary is watching him move. Knauls is currently playing power forward for Lone Star's 32–3 basketball team.