Ranking the Top Five Secondaries in Class 4A, 3A, and 2A

4A

5. Seminole

In May, I named Seminole the Class 4A team that doesn’t get enough credit for how good they are. Coach Greg Poynor’s ball club is 40-10 since the start of the 2022 season. But I’m not sleeping on Seminole’s secondary.

Reigning First Team All-District pick Tyler Friessen (5-foot-11, 172) is the senior leader at free safety. He posted 56 tackles, two forced fumbles, and an interception as a junior, displaying sideline-to-sideline range. Poynor says he’ll be a big key defensively in 2026.

Junior Jaden Corrales (5-foot-10, 162) is a ball-hawking safety who led Seminole with two interceptions last year. He also tallied 48 tackles, displaying his all-around skill set in a Second Team All-District season. Look for Braylon Mata to also make a big impact in the secondary after earning Second Team All-District honors.

But sophomore Buddha Guerra could be the X-factor. Guerra was the District’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year and is the preseason District Offensive MVP in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. But Poynor calls Guerra the best football player he’s coached in his 18 years as a head coach. DCTX Insider Matt Stepp also said he saw Guerra make four interceptions on Day 1 alone at the State 7-on-7 Tournament. Could we see the 5-foot-9, 155-pound Guerra in the secondary, too? 

4. Corpus Christi Calallen

After back-to-back 10-3 seasons in the first two years under head coach Charlie Reeve, Corpus Christi Calallen has a corps of returning starters who’ve been on varsity since their sophomore years.

Charlie’s son, Ryder Reeve (6-foot-2, 200), is the leader of the bunch. Reeve was the District Co-Defensive Player of the Year from his strong safety spot. He is committed to play linebacker at Army, but at the high school level, he hits like a linebacker and runs like a safety.

“He plays as hard as anybody out on the field,” Reeve said. “We ask our safeties to do a lot, not only in coverage but also to come downhill and fill in the run. He’s like a third linebacker for us.”

Chris Durham (5-foot-11, 175) was the District Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year next to Reeve at safety last year. But this fall he’ll switch to corner. With experience at safety and Will LB, Durham will be a physical corner. 

Jake Ross will start again at free safety after posting 49 tackles and an interception. One of the team’s more athletic players, he also had 393 yards and three touchdowns on offense.

Reeve says his two linebackers are critical components to Calallen’s pass defense. Both return after standout seasons. Josh Norval was a First Team All-District selection with 134 tackles and 22 tackles for loss, while Jagger Batek had 55 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

3. La Marque

La Marque’s program motto for the 2026 season is ‘Brick by Brick.’ The saying works literally and figuratively. The new La Marque Cougar Stadium will be ready for the home opener in Week 3. And coach Wade Oliphant has rebuilt this program, posting a 10-3 record last season and the deepest playoff run since 2014. Oliphant is confident his secondary could help the Cougars contend for their first district championship in over a decade.

Senior safety Karter Dozier (5-foot-10, 170) is the group’s leader after posting 100 tackles in a Second Team All-District season. Coach Oliphant says Dozier flies under the radar in statewide coverage, but he is the glue of the La Marque secondary.

Junior cornerback Jah’Quan McAfee (5-foot-10, 160) became a household name this offseason after winning gold medals in the 100M and 200M dash. But McAfee is far from just a track star. His speed shows up all over the field. He had two interceptions and earned Second Team All-District last year.

Avery Curry (6-foot-1, 180), a move-in from Hitchcock, is set to start opposite McAfee. He had a magnificent debut in a La Marque uniform this summer by earning All-State recognition at the State 7-on-7 Tournament. 

Junior safety PJ Wynn (6-foot, 180) is a two-sport player who started on La Marque’s state championship basketball team and is also one of the secondary’s top playmakers.

La’Keith Tyler is a positionless player whom Oliphant calls the most versatile defensive back in the room. He can play either cornerback or safety and provides great depth. Romelo Robinson (5-foot-11, 175) will start at wide receiver, but he’ll also play corner on critical downs. Angelo State offered him during spring football practice after watching him for one rep on defense.

2. Houston Yates

In head coach Jason Lewis’s debut season, Houston Yates went 11-1 with their first outright district championship since 2010. With this secondary – and help from an undefeated JV team – look for the Lions to roar in 2026.

Senior DB Autril Watkins (5-foot-11, 193) was a First Team All-District selection who led Houston Yates with five interceptions. He’s also dynamic with the ball in his hands, returning three interceptions for touchdowns. Watkins is also an aggressive tackler with 39 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Senior DB/WR Zay’Veon Robinson (6-foot-3, 185) was another First Team All-District selection with 26 tackles, five interceptions, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Lewis describes him as a physical, bump-and-run cornerback who doesn’t shy away from contact. His 6-foot-3 frame poses problems for wide receivers.

Junior defensive back Donovan Sanders (5-foot-9, 170) may be one of the youngest in the group, but he’s got a veteran mindset after earning Second Team All-District honors as a sophomore. Sanders posted 32 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. His 4.4 40-yard dash speed gives him sideline-to-sideline range.

1. Bay City

Bay City is the preseason No. 8-ranked team in Class 4A DI in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. After a trip to the fourth round of the playoffs and the third round, respectively, in the last two seasons, head coach Robert Jones says the Blackcats have the dogs on their team to contend for a regional championship. He’s especially confident about the defensive backs.

Jones’s son, free safety Braden Jones (5-foot-10, 170), is already a leader in the secondary despite only entering his junior year. Jones was an All-State selection with 180 tackles, two forced fumbles, and an interception. He’s described as a headhunter who will use his 10.6 100M dash speed to run the alley and lay the wood.

Keimarion Wiggins (6-foot, 190) was an All-State utility player last fall for his standout play at both quarterback and safety. He will only play defense on critical downs, but offenses will know when he’s on the field. Wiggins’s own quarterback instincts allow him to make life miserable for the other team’s signal-caller. 

Chance Fulwood (5-foot-10, 165) was a cornerback last fall, but he'll transition to a safety/linebacker hybrid position in Bay City’s defense. This is a critical spot for the Blackcats, and Bay City must replace four-year starter James Copeland. But Fulwood has the confidence of the entire team as a vocal leader.

Jasiri Griggs (First Team All-District) and Javius Andrews are set to start at cornerback. Jones says that Andrews is a trash talker, while Griggs lets his pads do the talking. But both have a perfect “flush-it” mentality for a cornerback. They are never rattled. 

Jones says nobody knows about sophomore Kashmere Francis (6-foot-2, 170) yet, but we’ll be writing about him this time next year.

3A

5. Shallowater

A young Shallowater team rebounded from a 2-3 start to go 8-4 with a district championship, reaching the second round of the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Coach Rodney Vincent believes his Mustangs will race out of the gate this August with far more experience and a stout secondary.

“If your DBs are willing to tackle, you know you’re going to have a good defense,” Vincent said. “We have some good tacklers this year, so I’m excited about them.”

Logan Winn was a First Team All-District defensive back last season. He’s a fantastic zone defender who has the athleticism to play man-to-man. Winn will most likely play quarterback this year, so he’ll play only the most important downs on defense. But when he does, the offense will know where he is at all times.

Safety Cruz Dickson and cornerback Mikah Blackshear both earned Second Team All-District honors in their first season as a starter, and Vincent says they’ve been turnover machines in training camp. Dickson is a big safety who led Shallowater with six interceptions. Vincent calls him a mini-defensive coordinator out there. Blackshear increased his vertical jump this offseason playing basketball and now breaks on routes from all angles.

At the corner opposite Blackshear, Conner Shires is the most physical secondary defender of the bunch. Shires is a vocal leader who talks with his pads as well, playing stout against the run when other teams get into tight formations.

Blayce Jeter is listed as a linebacker, but Vincent says his SAM position is really a low safety. Jeter led the team in tackles last season and earned District Defensive Newcomer of the Year. 

Shallowater’s defense has always had the luxury of a fantastic free safety, and the staff is excited to see Easton Foster, a former running back, step into that role. Manny Mitchell is another newcomer the staff is excited about.

4. Grandview

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine predicted Grandview would take a natural step back after heavy graduation from a state finalist team. But doubt head coach Ryan Ebner at your own peril. He’s been on staff for three state championship appearances since 2018 alone. The head coach/defensive playcaller also has a stacked secondary to work with.

Senior corner Kason Sanders (5-foot-11, 195) was a Padilla Poll First Team All-State selection last season after leading the Zebras with 10 pass breakups and three interceptions. He is also Grandview’s top returning wide receiver with 38 catches for 662 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Briggs Jentsch (5-foot-11, 178) was a breakout star as a freshman with 107 tackles and three interceptions from the safety spot. But the Jentsch name is already one of the most well-known in Grandview. His brother, Dane, was a back-to-back state champion quarterback in 2018 and 2019 and is now on the coaching staff with their father, Clint. Briggs is now a preseason First Team All-State Defensive Utility Player in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.

3. Daingerfield

As a whole, Daingerfield will be an inexperienced ball club in 2026. But coach Davin Nelson’s secondary returns three of four starters and has the talent to be considered a top five unit in the state.

Reign Wallace, the reigning District Overall MVP, is an impact player in all three phases of the game. His 4.35 40-yard dash speed helped him rack up 1,325 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns, but it also prevented wide receivers from getting over the top of him.

Fellow senior Ja’Kyrin Craver was another First Team All-District selection who is Daingerfield’s returning leader with two interceptions. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect is also a two-way star with 665 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

CT Elkins and Tamar Palmer are both returning Second Team All-District performers from a year ago. The pair round out a skill position group that Nelson calls the strength of the team, and should have Daingerfield making a deep playoff run once again.

2. Jefferson

Jefferson’s season opener against Palestine Westwood is one of the most anticipated in Class 3A. Palestine Westwood’s quarterback and Texas Tech commit, Kavian Bryant, against one of the five best secondaries in the state? Where’s the popcorn?

Chance Washington will be in a quarterback duel with Bryant, then defending against him at corner. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound prospect is a team captain on Jefferson’s large 23-man senior class. He’s long, smooth, and athletic, evidenced by his 4.6 40-yard dash. 

At safety, Lemarion Douglas (6-foot-2, 180) is a preseason First Team All-State selection in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. Coach Ty Taylor says that Douglas is an extremely intelligent defensive back who knows which routes the other team will run based on their formation. He’s also a great communicator from the backend. Once the ball is snapped, he’s flying around the field at 100 miles per hour. Fellow safety Jeremiah Burton plays with a similar reckless abandon, which Taylor says he loves about the duo. Somehow, the ball always seems to find him. 

At corner opposite Washington, Bralyn Blackshear emerged as the starter this offseason with a tremendous spring and summer in 7-on-7. Blackshear might get tested more this season with Washington on the other end, but he’s more than up to the challenge. Whenever Jefferson practices with the first team against the first team in practice, the scrappy Blackshear is calling out the best wide receiver. 

“He has the heart of a lion,” Taylor said. “He’s not intimidated and really physical.”

Tyler McCurry and Ethan Maxwell will be key contributors in the secondary this fall. McCurry had an awesome offseason and will be called on to play both ways. Maxwell, meanwhile, is still the fastest kid in the program after knee surgery. He’s been on varsity since his sophomore season and ran varsity relays in track since his freshman year, so he’s no stranger to the big moments.

1. West Rusk

West Rusk was the breakout team in College Station this summer, reaching the Division II State Championship of the State 7-on-7 Tournament. The feat is even more impressive once you consider the fact that the Raiders had never played 7-on-7 before this year. But head coach Rafe Mata said this year’s group was too talented not to try their hand.

“In 2022, the year we won state in track, we had a group that went three rounds deep,” Mata said. “We’ve had athletes. But across the board, this is probably the most athletic we’ve been since then.” 

If West Rusk was the most surprising team, Kam Brown was the weekend’s runaway star. The 6-foot-4, 175-pound rising junior was a First Team All-District selection at both wide receiver and corner last fall with 650 receiving yards and eight touchdowns to pair with eight interceptions and two pick-sixes. Mata said Brown grew up exponentially in College Station, competing against the state’s best and interviewing the most media he’s ever had in one weekend. He’ll continue to grow under the tutelage of his father, West Rusk’s wide receivers’ coach and head basketball coach. 

“He’s a dynamic athlete,” Mata said. “You look over there, and he’s 6-foot-4, 180 pounds. He can jump out of the gym, and he runs like a deer. There’s a lot of guys that run like John Deere, but he ain’t one of them.”

Chris Sanchez (5-foot-10, 165) was a First Team All-District safety last fall, but he can also play outside linebacker or nickel. Really, he’ll play wherever the team needs – and excel at it all. He had 120 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two interceptions.

“He’s a kid that does it all, and all he wants to do is win,” Mata said. “He’s a special, special kid. I could tell you story after story about how in junior high, he won games by calling his own number at the end.”

The coaching staff is ecstatic to have cornerback Kamontrea McGregor (5-foot-10, 185) back at full health. Despite being limited to five games with injury last fall, McGregor still managed three interceptions and a Second Team All-District designation. Mata said McGregor is one of the team’s biggest leaders.

“Coming off the field today, we were talking about how he looks different this year,” Mata said. “He’s a very high-energy kid. We’ve told him he’s our leader. He’s the guy that gets everyone going. But I’d rather tune them down than tune them up.” 

Gunner Harp (6-foot-1, 165) pairs with Brown in a stacked junior class at West Rusk. Mata calls the Second Team All-District safety one of the most athletic guys in the class. He runs the 4x100M and 4x200M relays, starts at third base on the baseball team, is in the basketball team’s starting five, and starts on both sides of the ball on the gridiron.

Harp and Brown both had breakout sophomore years, and Mata says rising sophomore Jaylon Gardner could be the next in line. The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder emerged as a standout corner this offseason.

“Honestly, during 7-on-7, a lot of times we’d just tell him, ‘Lock him down. Don’t worry about anyone else,’” Mata said. “Then, we’d play everyone else in a zone or something.”

Senior nickel Tucker Heathco (5-foot-7, 150) might not be the biggest guy on the field, but he has a large reputation in West Rusk’s district. 

“We played 11 games last year, and probably the last six, every coach came up to us before the game and goes, ‘Man, I like that nickel y’all got.’”

Heathco builds swimming pools with his dad in the summer, and he brings that same hard-hat mentality to the football field.

2A

5. Burton

Burton has reached the playoffs in 16 straight seasons, and it'll rely on its secondary to reach a 17th despite facing high-flying district opponents like Bremond and Chilton. The good news for Coach Jason Hodde is that his defensive backs have already exceeded his expectations in fall camp. While they still have some ways to go, Burton’s experience will allow them to vary their defensive looks.

Senior QB/S Kayden Patterson (6-foot, 175) won District Offensive MVP last fall, but Hodde thinks his college future is at safety. Patterson has played in Burton’s secondary since his freshman year and has built up a vast reservoir of football intelligence in that time.

Fellow senior Brayden Martin (6-foot, 165) was a Second Team All-District defensive back last fall. He will be one of Patterson’s main targets on offense and his backfield mate on defense. Martin is the most versatile defensive back on the team. He can play corner, nickel, or safety. He’s also one of the fastest kids on the team, which helps him in man coverage.

Junior strong safety Isaac Mathias (6-foot, 150) can play the deep pass or roll down into the box as another linebacker. Hodde says the lightbulb flipped on for Mathias four games into the season last year, and he’s developed into a blessing for Burton’s secondary.

Carson Wickel, Movada Wilson, and Logan Tosta will all rotate at cornerback. Wickel and Wilson were standout JV players who had great offseasons, while Tosta was a talented football player at the beginning of high school who’s returning to the team after dominating on the track.

4. De Leon

De Leon’s 9-4 record was the best season since 2018 last fall. While the Bearcats may have lost one of the state’s best offensive players in quarterback Heston Jobe, they return one of the state’s best defensive players in Bryce Burkeen.

Burkeen (5-foot-8, 163) was a Padilla Poll All-State defensive back and a TSWA All-State Utility player selection. He had over 1,000 receiving yards, but he shut down the other team’s passing game from his free safety spot. Burkeen had 80 tackles, four forced fumbles, two interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns. His position requires him to be the best pass coverage guy while also being the vocal leader in getting the team lined up. But Burkeen also can stick his nose in the run game, like when he had a massive tackle for loss on 4th-and-1 against Coleman’s I-formation.

“He walks through the room, and you’re not going to guess he’s one of the best 2A Texas high school football players,” De Leon head coach Brennan Whitaker said. “But then you watch him on the film or on the grass, and he’s just athletically gifted. He’s very smooth in everything he does.” 

Burkeen may be the headliner, but Pinckard was the breakout star in 2025. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound senior cornerback was not a starter until De Leon needed some size on the perimeter to guard Hawley’s Camden Ables in Week 4. Pinckard had two interceptions on two of the game’s first four drives. It was the first glimpse of his Second Team All-District season with 32 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three interceptions.

“We’re able to kind of prevent some of those big mismatches other teams try to create, especially this year with Camden Ables again and Malachi St. John from Anson,” Whitaker said. “We have two different Division I wide receivers in our district that are 6-foot-5.”

Jayden Lindley is projected to start at the opposite cornerback after excelling on special teams last year. He is another length cornerback (6-foot-1) who can turn the jump balls other teams try to throw up into 50/50 balls.

The coaching staff is extremely excited about boundary safety Andrew Campbell. Campbell got a lot quicker and faster this offseason running track and kept the momentum by attending every summer workout. Junior Bentley Lingle is also in line for playing time after being named the unofficial ‘MVP of the JV team.’ Lingle will start on offense and then be a key depth piece at corner and safety.

3. Panhandle

Panhandle has made the second round of the playoffs in each of the last five years under coach Dane Ashley. The Panthers lose do-it-all quarterback Broxton Robinson, but the returning secondary group gives Ashley confidence that Panhandle can go farther in the playoffs.

It starts with strong safety Landen Andrews (5-foot-8, 140), a preseason First Team All-State selection in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. The entire defensive alignment runs through Andrews. Ashley says that Andrews’s ballhawk ability allows Panhandle to commit an extra linebacker to the run game because they know how special Andrews is.   

“Landen Andrews is one of the most talented kids I’ve ever coached at any level,” Ashley said. “I’ve coached a few years in 6A. He has ball skills like nobody else.”

Sophomore Braylyn Lambert emerged this offseason as the free safety beside Andrews. Ashley describes him as a mini-Landen Andrews who combines rangy pass coverage with hitstick ability. He’s described as a downhill player who will hit you in the mouth.

Lukas Purcell will replace Robinson at quarterback, but he’s also a critical piece to Panhandle’s defense as an outside linebacker and nickel safety. At 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, Purcell is a linebacker who can cover a slot receiver by himself, giving the Panhandle defense a lot of versatility.

Brendan Blanchard (6-foot-2, 155) is another big body at cornerback who can physically overpower outside wide receivers. But after training this offseason, he also has the speed to run with them now. Look for sophomore Zack Andrews to also rotate at cornerback. He may be an underclassman, but he’s already a leader in Panhandle’s locker room.

“We call our captains ‘Blackshirts,’” Ashley said. “He’s (Andrews) a Blackshirt type of guy. He’s the guy that does everything right all of the time, and he does it at a very high level with a great intensity. That sparks all the other corners around him.”

2. Stamford

Stamford head coach Wayne Hutchinson has a 189-97 overall record during his career. He knows the importance of experience: there’s no substitute for game reps. That’s why he feels so good about his secondary group in 2026.

“That’s the one unit that has the most experience returning,” Hutchinson said. “Some of those guys have started since they were sophomores. They just understand the scheme and have been battle-tested with some really good teams. We feel confident we’re not going to have any breakdowns back there.”

The Bulldogs have three First Team All-District selections in the secondary alone.

WR/FS Slayden Young (6-foot, 175) won District Utility Player of the Year with 990 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, but he also added two interceptions on defense. Hutchinson described him as a full-package player. He’s a headhunter at free safety who uses his athleticism to flow to the ball and hit people. But he also has the football IQ to diagnose the play faster than most. His dad is Stamford’s defensive coordinator.

WR/CB Levi Vahlenkamp (6-foot-2, 160) is a tall cornerback who poses a matchup nightmare for most outside wide receivers. Hutchinson says he does every little thing right – great footwork, hands, and instincts. Vahlenkamp wins with excellent technique.

C’nai Whitfield should be a familiar face to Class 2A Texas high school football fans. Two years ago, he was the sophomore corner who picked off a Ganado screen pass in the state championship game, allowing Stamford to claw back into the first triple overtime game in state history. If that was his grand opening, then senior year is the curtain call.

1. Ropes

Ropes head coach Beau Riker is a defensive coach by trade. He feels his pulse pick up when he watches his secondary before the snap. Sometimes, the Ropes defensive backs will wait until the last moment to shade where they’re supposed to in an effort to disguise the coverage. Their mental games with the offense used to put Riker’s brain in a pretzel. But he’s learned to trust that his secondary is more advanced than most he’s had.

“They know the expectation, and they communicate the coverage so well,” Riker said. “They scare me sometimes because they’re trying to disguise and roll stuff so late. They just have a knowledge of the game, and it makes it really fun for a defensive coach to be able to sit back there and let them go to work.”

Ropes has three safeties who are among the state’s best.

Zayden Pittman (5-foot-8, 150) is the reigning District Overall MVP after scoring 26 touchdowns at quarterback and picking off six passes at safety. Pittman has unbelievable ball skills, according to Riker. Now, he’ll share the defensive backfield – and quarterback reps – with Stratford move-in Chase Lantelme, who was an All-State selection on both the offense and defensive sides. Lantelme had 52 tackles, six interceptions, four pass breakups, and four tackles for loss last season. Riker says that Lantelme has impressed him with his fluidity in pass coverage, saying he’s looked sharp. 

Kolter Dockery is the third safety, the reigning District Utility Player of the Year with 124 tackles, 16 pass breakups, and nine tackles for loss. He also won a silver medal at the UIL State Track and Field meet in the 100m dash. Riker says that despite being 5-foot-7, Dockery is a freak athlete who can grab the rim with two hands with just two steps of a head start.

Corner Branson Simental is another returning starter who led the team in interceptions two years ago as a sophomore. He is also a member of Ropes’s sprint relay team. 

At the other corner spot, the staff is excited about both Isaiah Acosta, who moved from inside linebacker this offseason, and Tye Ketchersid.