These TXHSFB Teams Return the Most Starters on Defense in 2026

11 Returning Starters

Colmesneil

Coach Chris Hicks has established the motto “Pride Wins” within the Colmesneil locker room. But you know what else wins? Returning every defensive starter.

Senior Dean Yates (5-10, 180) was the District Co-Utility Player of the Year with 1,000+ rushing yards and standout safety play. Colmesneil also returns three all-district linebackers. Conner Eddins was the leading tackler on the inside, while Cody Courtney and Jack Yates both earned Second Team All-District honors on the outside.

Pasadena Rayburn

The Texans haven’t had a winning season since 2004, but Coach Sergio Gonzalez says this year’s squad will be the strongest team he’s fielded in his four years at Rayburn. DE Juelz Byrd-Acuna (6-1, 245) is a team captain and leader of a strong front seven. He had 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and seven sacks last season. MLB Raymond Sabala (5-10, 208) is an instinctual linebacker who earned Second Team All-District honors with 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and four sacks. On the back end, Second Team All-District S Coen Holliday (5’9, 175) is the surest tackler on the team.

Richland

The Royals have reached the third round of the playoffs three straight years. Could 2026 be the season they break through the glass ceiling with every starter back on defense? Richland will field one of the best defensive lines in Class 5A. Defensive ends Gage Goodwin (6-foot-4, 235 pounds) and junior Gevariah Kneubuhl (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) were both All-District selections. Goodwin holds offers from Utah State, UTEP, and Lamar. On the interior, lineman Quade Williams (6-foot-2, 280 pounds) earned First Team All-District accolades and boasts offers from SFA, Lamar, and UTRGV. Richland also has a pair of linebackers who earned All-District as sophomores in inside linebacker Hunter Yost (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) and outside linebacker De’rion Jones (6-foot, 200 pounds).

10 Returning Starters

Abilene TLCA

Abilene TLCA has an academic standard of excellence, and the Eagles could be in for on-field excellence with 10 returning starters on both sides of the ball. Second Team All-District LB Johnny Zapata is a name to know.

Altair Rice Consolidated

Coach Brad Dumont returns almost his entire team, a rarity in his 13 years at the school. The defense found some personnel answers late in the season that should allow for a faster start in 2026. Drayton Amos (5-foot-8, 215 pounds) moved from linebacker to defensive line midway through the year and earned All-District Co-Utility Player of the Year. Dumont says he’s the strongest person on the team. Junior DJ Amos (6-foot-1, 175 pounds) was the leading tackler from his free safety spot, but transitioned seamlessly to outside linebacker. Senior DE Chase Diggs (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) started the season late after a knee injury but still led the entire defensive line in tackles. Senior LB Glenn Mills (5-foot-11, 210 pounds) is the captain of the defense as a four-year starter.

Ben Bolt

The Badgers lost just three seniors from a 4-7 team. That returning experience, combined with a second year in Coach Mark DelPercio’s system, could make Ben Bolt dangerous in 2026. The Badgers have an impact player at all three levels of the defense. Senior DE Preston Ables (6-foot-2, 165 pounds) blossomed into an impact player as the season progressed, earning Second Team All-District honors with 52 tackles. Senior linebacker Noah Perez may be 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds, but he is the strongest pound-for-pound player on the team. Oryian Elizalde (6-foot, 160 pounds) led Ben Bolt in receptions as a sophomore and began to excel at cornerback in district play.

Bogata Rivercrest

The Rebels went 3-7 in Coach Laytner Kennedy’s first season, but with 19 starters back, Rivercrest seeks a return to its winning ways. The linebacker tandem of junior Camden Vadeaver (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and senior Lance Taylor (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) will strike fear in opposing offenses’ hearts. Taylor was the team’s leading rusher (706 yards, five touchdowns) as well as a Second Team All-District linebacker. Sophomore safety Julien Isome (5-foot-10, 145 pounds) is a rising star after earning Second Team All-District as a freshman.

D'Hanis

Coach Chance Barlow believes his Cowboys will contend for the program’s first district championship since 2021. That confidence starts with First Team All-District defensive end Joe Ruiz (5-foot-10, 215 pounds), who racked up 83 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and four sacks last season. The secondary is strong with defensive backs Conley Patton (5-foot-9, 160 pounds) and Josia Rodriguez (5-foot-7, 155 pounds). Patton was a First Team All-District selection with 78 tackles as a freshman, while Rodriguez is a two-way force.

Frisco Independence

The Knights suffered their first winless season in the program’s short history last year, but Coach Nick Stokes says he has the skill kids to compete with anyone in the district. S Jayvion Thompson (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) was an Honorable Mention All-District selection as a sophomore. Stay tuned for LB Rhoades Reese’s sophomore campaign. The 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker earned Class 5A varsity snaps as a freshman.

Goldthwaite

The Eagles’ 8-4 record last year was the best season since 2015, and they could soar even higher with the linebacker tandem of Walt Thompson (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) and Hagen Greenway (6-foot, 210 pounds). Both earned First Team All-District honors. Thompson is the senior leader with 125 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and four sacks last season, while Greenway was a breakout star with 130 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks as a sophomore. The secondary is just as loaded with First Team All-District picks Owen Campbell (5-foot-11, 150 pounds) and Aidyn Lee (5-foot-9, 145 pounds) returning. Campbell had 117 tackles, eight pass breakups, and three interceptions as a sophomore.

Houston Kashmere

The Rams haven’t had a winning season since 2014. But Coach Nate Gill, a Kashmere alum, has infused new life into the program. With 19 starters back and every football player participating in track, Gill is confident his team will improve on a 3-7 record. The secondary is stacked with long and rangy athletes like CB Daniel Hicks (6-foot-2, 185 pounds) and FS Chase Robinson (6-foot-2, 160 pounds). Hicks was a unanimous First Team All-District performer on both sides of the ball, while Robinson is a three-year starter. DL Jacobie Taylor (6-foot-1, 190 pounds) is a versatile defender who can line up anywhere on the line of scrimmage. He had 11 tackles for loss and six sacks last season.

Howe

Linebacker is the Bulldogs’ biggest strength with seniors Chris Torres and Charles Fuhr back in the fold. Torres (5-foot-7, 170 pounds) is an instinctual player who racked up 71 tackles last year. Junior DL Jamir Brown (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) started as a sophomore and compiled 53 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He pairs nicely with two-way lineman Jakob Griffo (6-foot-2, 237 pounds), a three-year starter.

Irving Nimitz

The Vikings are on a cold streak with a 3-37 record in the last four seasons. But Coach Mark Small says senior leaders like safety Juan Barron and Marcus Moreno are emerging this offseason. Barron (6-foot-1, 193 pounds) is having a phenomenal spring after posting 57 tackles and five pass breakups last season. Moreno (5-foot-10, 194 pounds) is a high-energy character with 40 tackles and two tackles for loss last year.

Itasca

Itasca had a turbulent first season under Coach Matthew Fonville. The Wampus Cats were forced to forfeit their remaining games in mid-October due to an unusually high amount of injuries. But Fonville says his group has hit the offseason hard, motivated by last year’s disappointment. CB Christian Enriquez (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) is blossoming into a team leader after a Second Team All-District season.

Nederland

The Bulldogs went from 7-4 to 3-7 in Coach Scott Rich’s second season. But Nederland is ready for a bounce-back with 17 returning starters and help from an 8-2 JV team and an undefeated freshman team. Inside LB Colt Sheppard (6-foot, 200) was a Second Team All-District selection with 80 tackles and six tackles for loss. CB Takorian Scott (5-foot-9, 170 pounds) was a lockdown Second Team All-District performer.

Richardson Berkner

Coach Trey Bryant led the Rams to a 7-4 record last season, which was the highest win total since 2011. Could Richardson Berkner win a playoff game with 10 returning starters on defense? The Rams certainly have the talent. Senior CB/WR Korde Foreman (6-foot, 172 pounds) was a First Team All-District selection on defense with five pass breakups and an interception. The younger brother of current Oklahoma State nickelback Kobi Foreman, Richardson Berkner’s do-it-all athlete has double-digit offers, including Arkansas and Texas Tech. DL Kaiden Carter (6-foot-1, 292 pounds) is a prospect on the rise after earning District Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in Class 6A football. Carter had 60 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He has early offers from UTEP, UTSA, and North Texas.

Tenaha

Coach Terry Ward is back in the saddle at Tenaha after the Tigers went 3-17 in the last two seasons without him as head coach. Ward has a plethora of defensive linemen to work with, headlined by First Team All-District performer Julius Waynes (5-foot-10, 235 pounds). DT Makias Norris (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) is Tenaha’s returning sack leader, while Zay Tutt (6-foot-1, 230 pounds) was a two-way All-District performer as a sophomore.

Thorndale

In one of the best bounce-back performances in the state, Coach John Kovar’s squad has gone 8-4 in each of the last two seasons after a winless 2023. The defensive front seven should be as strong as ever, headlined by LB Kale Meadors (6-foot, 205 pounds). The reigning District Defensive Player of the Year had 88 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and two sacks. He forms a dynamic duo with First Team All-District OLB Cole Harkins (5-foot-10, 180 pounds). In the secondary, FS Ethan Schramm (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) had six interceptions, many in the clutchest moments. CB Hudson Thigpen (5-foot-8, 165 pounds) is a two-year starter.

Wortham

Coach Chad Coker’s squad only graduated one senior from last year’s 2-8 team. The Bulldogs may still be undersized, but they’ll be far more experienced. Case in point, DE Blake Hadden (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) was a First Team All-District selection with 68 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Coker says he has a relentless motor. LB Carlos Godinez (5-foot-8, 200 pounds) is the leader of the defense after a Second Team All-District selection with 66 tackles, five tackles for loss, and an interception.