Top Secondary Units in Class 6A and 5A for 2025
6A
Coach Andrew Britt calls senior safety Connor Crisp (5-11, 175) his team’s most dynamic football player. Crisp was the District 30-6A Secondary Player of the Year and a Third-Team Padilla Poll All-State selection with 107 tackles, 10 pass breakups and two interceptions. A varsity player since his freshman season, Crisp has taken on more responsibility each year and will play both ways as a senior.
Senior corner Matthew Philpott (5-10, 165) is one of the team’s best vocal leaders. Britt says his physicality at the point of attack convinced the coaching staff to move him from offense to defense this offseason.
Senior Cristian Maldonado (5-11, 170) was injured all of 2024, and Britt says Medina Valley sorely missed him. Maldonado is a physical box safety who plays with a nasty streak as he flows downhill, but off the field, Britt describes the Student Council President as a future U.S. President.
Senior Steven Martinez is a jack-of-all-trades whom Britt highlights as one of the program’s most improved players this offseason.
Britt says Brody Marquardt and sophomore slot receivers Kevin Straughter and Easton Lange will start on offense, but could see extensive snaps on defense, as well. Marquardt had a great spring at safety.
Senior safety Caycen Bartolazzi (6-0, 175) is an extension of his father, The Woodlands defensive coordinator Emory Bartolazzi, on the field. The Second-Team Padilla Poll All-State honoree had 102 tackles and six interceptions in 2024 and has enjoyed a tremendous offseason, as well, earning Dave Campbell’s All-State 7-on-7 team in The Woodlands’ championship run.
The staff is excited about the healthy return of senior DB/WR Parker Stewart (5-10, 165), who played in six games in 2024. The speedster (4.34 40-yard dash) has five offers.
Senior Jabaric Sullivan (6-0, 180) returns after posting 32 tackles last season. He has an offer to Sam Houston.
Senior safety Thompson Bennett (6-3, 195) and junior cornerback Wylie Nichols (6-4, 190) were part of Austin Westlake’s school record-setting 4x400-meter relay team this offseason. Coach Tony Salazar says that drive and determination translate to the football field.
Bennett was a Second-Team Padilla Poll All-State selection with 87 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. The field-side safety has the liberty to change defensive coverages pre-snap because of the preparation he puts in throughout the week. Bennett, who has offers from multiple Ivy League schools and service academies, will be the next member of his family to play college sports. His father played at Texas A&M and his sister played basketball at Texas State.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if, come November and December, Thompson Bennett is lined up on both sides of the football,” Salazar said.
Nichols started 14 of 16 games at cornerback as a sophomore. Salazar says he’s packed 10 pounds of muscle onto his 6-4 frame during a stellar offseason and could be primed for a breakout year. His long arms and legs allow him to take up passing zones.
Junior Eric Abraham (6-3, 188) is the favorite to start at weak-side safety after practicing with the varsity and playing with the JV as a sophomore. Abraham has a versatile skill set that allows him to play both high safety and hybrid linebacker depending on the offense’s strength. Salazar believes he has a college football future.
2. Allen
Allen has two First-Team All-District 6-6A cornerbacks returning in Kai Wheaton (6-0, 175) and LeBron Bauer (5-11, 170). Both are three-year starters who produce, but that’s where the similarities end.
Wheaton is a quiet personality who plays loud on the field. The Oregon State commit had 20 tackles, five pass breakups and one forced fumble. Allen coach Lee Wiginton says Wheaton attacks every day with the mentality that no one will outwork him.
“I don’t care if you have this five-star receiver or an incredible passing game, you’re never going to look out there and feel like, ‘Oh no, are they going to get us here?’” Wiginton said. “He’s always going to be right.”
Wiginton likens Bauer, meanwhile, to Deion Sanders for their confident style of play at the cornerback spot. Bauer had 37 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions last season.
At safety, senior Henson Amaechi (5-11, 175) was a first-team all-district selection with 50 tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions and two tackles for loss. Wiginton credits Amaechi as the key backend communicator. Junior Trey Roberson (6-1, 197) was a second-team all-district selection with 70 tackles, four tackles for loss and an interception. Wiginton says Roberson is a great athlete with all the makings of a special player.
Look for sophomore Dominic Butler (6-0, 180), senior Jahsxiah Gibson and junior Jeremiah Hambric to battle for playing time.
Coach Riley Dodge says his secondary has four starting-caliber safeties in its rotation.
Senior William Chen (5-10, 185) is the reigning District 4-6A Defensive Player of the Year and First-Team Padilla Poll All-State selection with 89 tackles, 11 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and a defensive TD. Chen, a Brown commit and team captain, has a high football IQ that allows him to play multiple positions across the formation, including high safety and Sam linebacker.
Gavin Strange (5-10, 185) is a Duke kicker commit. At Carroll, he doubles as a free safety. A first-team all-district selection as both a kicker and defender, Strange finished 2024 with 41 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Parker Harris (5-10, 200) and Austin Bussmann both earned second-team all-district designations at safety. Harris seeks to play in a third consecutive state championship; he started on Gunter’s 2023 title team as a sophomore before returning to his original hometown of Southlake last season. Expect him to be a dynamic kick and punt returner.
Luke Bussmann, Austin’s twin brother, was a second-team all-district cornerback and started all 16 games.
5A
Victoria West’s team motto in 2025 is to “Wake up the whole neighborhood.” Defensive backs Tayvian Peoples and Ethan Guerra embody that slogan with the way they get each other and the team riled up during pre-practice stretches.
Peoples (5-10, 170) was a First-Team All-District 10-5A DII safety with 87 tackles, six interceptions and 2.5 tackles for loss. Coach Courtney Boyce calls him an instinctual football player who’s at his best when roaming the middle of the field. Peoples attacks the ball with the belief that the quarterback is throwing to him.
While Peoples plays center field for Victoria West’s football team, Guerra (5-10, 170) is actually an outfielder on the baseball team, too. On the gridiron, he had 47 tackles and five interceptions last season. Boyce says Guerra’s film habits allow him to rattle off his teammates’ assignments, making life easier for the defense, and disguise coverages, making life hell for the offense.
Connor Robles, JD Kelly and Evan Waters should all see snaps at cornerback. Kelly was Victoria West’s starting receiver for the past two seasons before making the move.
4. Edcouch-Elsa
Senior Israel Campos headlines Edcouch-Elsa’s secondary, which ranks atop all Rio Grande Valley programs in Class 5A. Campos, a free safety, was a First Team All-Area selection in 2024 with 56 tackles, seven interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. Coach Victor Cardenas describes him as a “Scholar Baller,” who is coachable in the classroom, earning A Honor Roll status, and on the gridiron.
There’s not a tougher corner in the district than Marcus Garcia, whose summer routine includes working out at the high school from 6 a.m. until mid-morning, then working at his father’s landscaping business all afternoon, then boxing in the evening. He had 43 tackles, eight pass breakups and three interceptions.
Speaking of multi-sport athletes, senior Brandon Ibarra is a three-sport varsity player who had five interceptions as a nickelback last year. He’s special with the ball in his hands, returning three of those picks for touchdowns.
Fort Bend Marshall has two Power Four defensive back commits in its secondary.
Senior safety Isaiah Williams (6-2, 190), an Illinois pledge, has played on varsity since his freshman season and earned national notoriety after a breakout junior season. His production dipped in 2024 because of a summer injury that lingered throughout the fall, but coach James Williams says he’s back healthy and hungry to get back better than ever. Williams is the No. 38-overall recruit in the DCTX Hot 100.
Utah commit Dylan Waters (6-3, 180) has an elite frame at cornerback and used those long arms and legs to earn Second-Team All-District 9-5A DII honors with 20 tackles and three pass breakups.
Senior Myles Ratcliff (5-9, 170) was another Second Team selection in 2024. He was part of Fort Bend Marshall’s state champion 4x100 relay team last spring and ran a 10.4 100m dash this spring, but don’t mistake him for a track athlete playing football. Ratcliff is not afraid to lower the shoulder from his safety and corner spots.
Coach Jeff Rayburn gambled this offseason by moving TSWA Honorable Mention All-State quarterback Karece Hoyt (6-2, 200) to a running back/wide receiver hybrid. The switch frees up Hoyt to play defense, as well, which could mean he somehow has a larger impact on the game than his 55 touchdowns at quarterback did.
Hoyt will pair at safety with senior Jordan Deck (6-3, 190), a three-year starter and Baylor commit who earned unanimous First-Team All-District 5-5A honors in 2024. Deck could spend more time this season as a nickelback and outside linebacker to get closer to the action. When he does so, look for sophomore Bryce Hayes-Roberts (6-3, 180) to take the deep safety spot. He played special teams for Lone Star’s playoff run as a freshman and already holds offers from Texas Tech and TCU.
At corner, Bryant Robinson (6-3, 175) earned District Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore and holds offers from Oklahoma, LSU, Arizona State and Texas Tech. He’ll pair with senior Santonio Martin (6-0, 165), whom Rayburn says could have a huge leap after his first full offseason with the program. Martin moved in from Wisconsin shortly before last season began.
Coach Charles Foster has dubbed his secondary the “No Fly Zone” after it recorded 20 interceptions last season and placed three athletes on the All-District 10-5A DII First Team.
Senior Jeremiah Green (5-10, 170) had 10 of those interceptions in an Honorable Mention TSWA All-State season. The coaches are moving him from corner to safety, where he’s shown the ability to shut down half of the field in spring.
Green will join junior Davontrae Kirkland (6-1, 180) in the back end. The Baylor commit had 83 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception last season. Coach Foster says Kirkland will have a ‘Honey Badger’ role, a shoutout to former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu, rotating from safety to nickelback.
“He’s one of the smartest kids I’ve coached in my career,” Foster said.
Senior Michael Davis (5-10, 160) returns at cornerback after posting 20 tackles, two interceptions and a PBU. Foster praised him for his ability in zone coverage.
As if those three all-district selections weren’t enough, Waco University will bring in Baylor wide receiver commit London Smith (6-2, 200) to play some defensive back when needed. Smith has elite athleticism and plays physically when covering screen passes.
Speaking of physical, junior LaQuan Hughes Jr. (5-11, 175) will alternate between safety and outside linebacker to better utilize his tenacity in the run game.
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