This week, College Station will host the most TXHSFB athletes competing on one group of fields at any time of the year.

Most of the names fans and media members are familiar with will ball out, but so will some that might not be known. Take Jacksboro's Cannon Valenzuela from the 2024 tournament, a Colorado State commit who earned DCTX three-star status after a dominant display.

This year, DCTX is attempting to call its shot on the next Valenzuela. Here are five skill players who could experience the same meteoric rise in recruiting circles. The names are presented in alphabetical order.

DB Antione Baker (Austin LBJ, 2026)

Coach Joseph Rauls jokes that Baker is so athletic he could change a lightbulb without a ladder. The 6-2, 175-pound athlete earned First Team All-District 13-4A DI outside linebacker, but he played wherever the coaches needed him at safety, corner, nickelback and outside backer. Rauls said he was the team’s unofficial Defensive MVP with 84 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks and four interceptions.

Baker is a high-ceiling prospect with a multi-sport background. He ran a 21.94 200-meter dash and 48.8 400, and was also a key contributor on Austin LBJ’s state-semifinalist basketball team. Texas State, Washington State and Old Dominion are the leaders in his recruitment.

S Marco Beltran (The Woodlands College Park, 2026)

Coach Kyle Coats calls Beltran the best overall football player on The Woodlands College Park, by far. Last season, Beltran earned District 13-6A Utility Player of the Year after tallying 76 tackles from the safety spot, leading the district with six interceptions, pick sixes (three defensive touchdowns), punt return yardage and punt return touchdowns.

Coats compares Beltran’s college potential to former Texas safety PJ Locke. At 5-11, 185 pounds, he tackles like a linebacker and covers like a safety. Beltran has offers from Navy, Sam Houston and Sacramento State, among others.

2026 S Camden Johnson (Kountze)

Coach Todd Paine says Johnson is the only TXHSFB player he’s seen in the last three years – and a quarterback, no less – get ejected from a game twice for targeting. Johnson (6’2, 185) is a safety who can cover hash to hash, but he’ll also strike you. That speaks to his tenacity

Johnson is a fourth-year Varsity player who’s quarterbacked the team the last two seasons. He led Kountze to a 4–1 start, averaging over 50 points per game, before tweaking his ankle. But his college future is either at safety (McNeese State offer) or wide receiver. Johnson’s frame can add another 25 pounds once he gets in a college weight room, and he already runs a 4.6 40-yard dash with fluid hips. He’s also a smarter defensive back for having played quarterback in high school.

2026 S Darien Lewis (Amarillo Palo Duro)

Amarillo Palo Duro head coach Eric Mims Sr. refers to Lewis as a three-star who should be a four-star. The 6’1, 210 athlete was the starting quarterback as a sophomore, then earned First Team All-District 2-5A DII honors as both a slot wide receiver and safety. 

TCU, North Carolina and UNLV are the favorites in his recruitment. Mims says Lewis could realistically play on both sides of the ball in college, but he could project to an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme or nickelback in a 4-2-5. He describes Lewis as a ball of muscle who won the state championship in wrestling with a 40–0 record.

ATH Cam'ron Taylor (Hitchcock, 2028)

Coach Craig Smith says Taylor has opened eyes during this spring and summer on the 7-on-7 circuit. He earned District 12-3A DI Newcomer of the Year as a freshman linebacker with 60 tackles. 

Taylor is on this list for his defensive prowess, but expect him to play running back for Hitchcock this fall. The 5-10, 170-pound athlete has 4.6 speed.