PLANO, TEXAS, October 1st, 2025 - Ford is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the prestigious Built Ford Tough Player of the Week and Year Awards, one of the most celebrated honors in Texas high school sports that recognizes student-athletes for their performance, leadership, and commitment to excellence. During each week of the 2025 regular season, fans, coaches, and media are asked to nominate players at FordPlayeroftheWeek.com.

To mark the milestone, Ford is partnering with Texas’ most iconic media brand, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, to honor past recipients and showcase their achievements both on and off the field. Throughout the season, Dave Campbell’s will produce the Built Ford Tough Player of the Week Show each Thursday at 10:30 p.m. on Texan Live and across Dave Campbell’s social platforms, inviting fans to tune in weekly and follow along for highlights, stories, and exclusive content.

The campaign will also be celebrated through Dave Campbell’s statewide media channels and UIL postseason broadcasts, with special recognition leading into the Built Ford Tough Player of the Year Banquet in January. At the banquet, one honoree from each classification, will be recognized with the Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas Football Award, an honor that celebrates the state’s most outstanding high school football player as part of this season-long celebration.

This week’s winning athletes join a long list of remarkable players recognized for their exceptional efforts.  

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Class 6A: Dionne Sims, Senior, RB, C. E. King High School

Mascot: Panthers

Opponent: Atascocita High School

Losers of their last seven meetings with state-ranked Humble Atascocita, the Panthers turned the tide in a 70-55 win in which Dionne carried 32 times for 435 yards and five touchdowns and caught a 34-yard scoring pass. His performance was the 10th-highest single-game rushing total in Houston high school history. Dionne has a 3.1 GPA and is committed to Stephen F. Austin State, and first-year C. E. King coach Cory Laxen thinks he’s one of the best ball carriers in the state.

“Dionne's performance on Friday was nothing less than remarkable. When he gets in the zone, he is a different type of competitor.  Dionne shows up every day with the determination to improve and to bring energy to the team. He can take a game over and make difficult plays look easy.”

• C. E. KING HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CORY LAXEN

Class 5A: Landen Williams-Callis, Junior, RB, Dr. Thomas E Randle High School

Mascot: Lions

Opponent: Iowa Colony High School

Landen’s junior class is only the second to come through Randle High School, but he’s setting standards that may be unsurpassed for decades to come. He already has more than 5,000 career rushing yards, thanks to such performances as his 342-yard outburst on 27 carries with six touchdowns in a 49-42 win over state-ranked Iowa Colony, and could approach or surpass some of the Houston-area career standards set by his cousin Jacquizz Rodgers, who was the 2007 Built Ford Tough Player of the Year for Class 4A and later played for Oregon State and in the NFL. Landen wins praise from coach Brian Randle not only for football skills but for citizenship.

"He’s a man of the people in the sense that he takes care of people. If he sees people being bullied, he lets it be known that’s not how we do things here. He has a big heart for people."

• DR. THOMAS E RANDLE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH BRIAN RANDLE

Class 4A: Qui Beck, Senior, LB, Carthage High School

Mascot: Bulldogs

Opponent: Jasper High School

With his No. 1 ranked team frequently involved in blowout wins, Qui Beck spends a lot of time on the sidelines in the second half of games. When he’s on the field, he’s hard to miss – and even harder to block.

Beck, a Texas A&M verbal pledge and last year’s Defensive MVP in the Class 4A Division II state title game, turned in a dominant performance in a little more than a quarter of action in Carthage’s 42-0 win over Jasper in Week 5 of the season. The senior linebacker recorded 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown for the defending state champs.

In limited action this season (two of his team’s four wins have been shutouts) Beck has 30 tackles, three tackles for loss, five QB pressures, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a sack.

“He’s got an unbelievable motor, a great attitude, great grades and he’s a leader on and off the field. He did all of that this week despite playing one series in the second half.”

•  CARTHAGE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH SCOTT SURRATT

Class 3A: Brian Harris, Senior, DB, Hitchcock High School

Mascot: Bulldogs

Opponent: Silsbee High School

Senior Brian Harris of Hitchcock delivered a stunning performance this past week, showcasing his versatility and explosive playmaking skills. Primarily a defensive back, Harris pulled off a rare "hat trick" by scoring three different types of touchdowns: an 87-yard pick-six interception, an 86-yard kickoff return, and a 37-yard fumble recovery score. He also added three tackles to his stat line, helping lead Hitchcock to a dominant 37-16 victory over Silsbee. What makes this feat even more remarkable is that it's the second time Harris has accomplished this unique trifecta. His game-changing efforts continue to turn heads, solidifying his status as one of the area's premier talents. Harris has verbally committed to Sacramento State, where his dynamic impact is sure to be felt at the next level.

 “It’s a great feat to score three touchdowns three different ways. He will be able to tell his kids about this one day.”

• HITCHCOCK HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CRAIG SMITH

Class 2A: Ryelan Morris, Senior, RB, Honey Grove High School

Mascot: Warriors

Opponent: Boles High School

Senior running back Ryelan Morris from Honey Grove High School continues to dominate on the field, delivering another electrifying performance with 18 carries for 286 yards and four touchdowns in his latest outing. Highlighted by a 76-yard breakaway run, Morris averaged an impressive 15.6 yards per carry, showcasing his explosive speed and vision. A Stanford commit, Morris is putting together an outstanding season, already racking up 1,219 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 104 carries. He's also added two receiving touchdowns to his resume, proving to be a versatile weapon in Honey Grove's offense. His consistent excellence has been a driving force behind the Warriors' strong 4-1 start to the season.

“Ryelan is an exceptional young man on and off the field. Y’all get to see Ryelan the athlete, we have the privilege of knowing Ryelan the person. If you met him, you wouldn't know he's one of the top recruits in the state. He's very low key & humble. His performance on the field isn't by accident. He's obviously a gifted athlete, but he doesn't just rely on talent. He's a tireless worker.”

• HONEY GROVE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH KYLE LITTLE

Private School: Jaylen Pile, Senior, WR, Parish Episcopal High School

Mascot: Panthers

Opponent: Legacy Christian Academy

Senior wide receiver Jaylen Pile of Parish Episcopal High School came up big in his team’s district opener, hauling in 6 receptions for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns to help lead Parish to a 43-21 win over Legacy Christian. Pile’s explosive performance set the tone in the statement victory, as he consistently created separation and made key plays downfield. A Michigan verbal commit, Pile continues to build on an already impressive resume—coming off a season where he earned All-State and All-District Offensive Player of the Year honors. His leadership and playmaking ability make him one of the most dangerous receivers in the state and a cornerstone of Parish’s offensive attack.

“Jaylen has exemplified everything we ask our players to be in our program. He’s a great teammate and incredible player on the field. Off the field he’s a leader and dedicated student.  We couldn’t be prouder of him here at Parish."

• PARISH EPISCOPAL HEAD COACH DANIEL NOVAKOV

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Ford F-Series: The best-selling truck for over 48 years 
Ford is the undisputed truck leader in Texas. Ford F-Series sets the standard for full-size pickups with leading payload, towing, interior roominess, strength, and reliability. Ford is proud to recognize the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week.  

About Ford Motor Company 

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, that is committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com. 

About Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

For over 65 years, the iconic Dave Campbell’s Texas Football media brand has been “The Bible” for millions of football fans across Texas. Its annual summer edition is essential reading for rabid football fans, previewing every high school and college team in the state. Known for its comprehensive coverage, TexasFootball.com offers extensive digital content, including team and recruit rankings, scores, exclusive interviews, podcasts, and daily shows. Additionally, Dave Campbell’s Texan Live streams over 1,900 live sporting events each year, bringing fans closer to the action.