Every Class 5A Preseason District MVP in the 2026 Magazine

5A DI

District 1-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Maurice Javier Edwards, El Paso Americas RB

• The Trail Blazers’ district championship hopes start with Edwards, who had over 1,500 all-purpose yards and earned District Offensive Player of the Year.

Defensive MVP: Jose Bustamante El Paso El Dorado DL

• Bustamante is the leader of El Dorado’s defensive line after posting 76 tackles and five sacks a year ago.

District 2-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Tristan Beal, Abilene QB

• Beal is a two-year starter and dual-threat quarterback who threw for 1,480 yards and 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions a year ago.

Defensive MVP: Creed Cavalier, Amarillo DB

• Cavalier is a three-year starter and reigning All-District player who intercepted six passes as a ballhawking safety.

District 3-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Connally Cunningham, Denton Ryan WR

• Denton Ryan QB Colton Nussmeier was the magazine pick. After Nussmeier was ruled ineligible, we’re picking WR Connelly Cunningham to step up for whoever takes over in Nussmeier’s place. Cunningham is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound wide receiver whose brother, Keagan, plays at TCU.

Defensive MVP: Aiden Rivas, Fort Worth Chisholm Trail

• Rivas is the back-to-back District Defensive Player of the Year who had 62 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks, and three forced fumbles.

District 4-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Carson James, Fort Worth Arlington Heights RB

• James powered Arlington Heights’s first run to the third round of the playoffs since 1973 with 2,370 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Da’Myrian Wash, Fort Worth Brewer LB

• Wash posted 132 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and ten sacks. He is a versatile linebacker who can play either on-ball or off-ball.

District 5-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Trey Wright, Frisco Lone Star QB

• Wright led the nation in total yards (4,062 passing yards, 1,801 passing yards), piloting Frisco Lone Star to its second state championship appearance in program history.

Defensive MVP: Eli Harris, McKinney North DL

• Harris is a team captain and two-time First Team All-District performer who had 45 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks.

District 6-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Buck Randall, Highland Park QB

• Randall is on pace to break program legend Matthew Stafford’s career passing records. He was the District Overall MVP with 4,396 passing yards and 51 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Gage Goodwin, Richland DE

• Goodwin, an Army commit, is the leader of one of the top defensive lines in the state. He was a Second Team All-District selection as a junior.

District 7-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Cadarius McMiller, Tyler RB

• McMiller is the No.4-overall running back in the DCTX Hot 100. He had 1,129 all-purpose yards with 20 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Kentrell Blackshear, West Mesquite CB

• At 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Blackshear is the prototypical Division I cornerback prospect. He had 50 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and four interceptions in a First Team All-District season.

District 8-5A DI

Offensive MVP: SaRod Baker, DeSoto RB

• Baker, the No.6-overall player in the DCTX Hot 100, is a Texas Tech commit who rushed for 3,096 yards and 45 touchdowns over a 16-game season.

Defensive MVP: James Foster II, Lancaster S

• Foster, a rising junior, is already a DCTX four-star prospect with a 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. He’ll be a cornerstone of new head coach Stephen Jackson’s first season.

District 9-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Sean Simon, La Porte RB

• Simon had 2,200 rushing yards in his sophomore season and is already a DCTX four-star with nearly 30 offers.

Defensive MVP: Ja’Marquis Hudson, Port Arthur Memorial LB

• Hudson, a Kansas commit, had 12 sacks and four interceptions last season. He’s the leader of one of the state’s best linebacker groups at Port Arthur Memorial.

District 10-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Artavion Davis, Houston Milby WR

• Davis led the state last year in the regular season with 94 receptions for 1,602 yards, and 22 touchdowns. He was named one of the top ten breakout stars in the state by DCTX.

Defensive MVP: DeAndre Columbus, Houston Madison DB

• Columbus (6-foot-2, 170) is a team captain and three-year starter who only allowed three receptions for 43 yards the entirety of last season at cornerback.

District 11-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Landen Williams-Callis, Richmond Randle RB

• The first solo high school athlete on the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine cover since Midland Lee’s Cedric Benson in 2000, Williams-Callis has over 7,500 career rushing yards.

Defensive MVP: Kasen Jammer, Angelton ATH

• Jammer, the son of All-American Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer, was an All-State corner last year who is also a force on offense and special teams.

District 12-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Tre Moore, Pflugerville Weiss WR

• Moore, a Washington commit, is the No.7-overall player in the DCTX Hot 100 after catching 85 passes for 1,443 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Zahron Benford, College Station DL

• Benford is on track to break College Station’s all-time leading sacks and tackles for loss record. He had 97 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and nine sacks a season ago.

District 13-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Ty Knutson, Smithson Valley QB

• Knutson, a reigning state champion and Texas Longhorns commit, threw for 2,610 yards and 29 touchdowns to just three interceptions last fall.

Defensive MVP: Hunter Haug, Smithson Valley DB

• Haug was the District Overall MVP and an All-State utility player who committed to Texas Tech this offseason after a dynamic two-way performance in the state championship win.

District 14-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Hunter Salinas, Laredo Nixon QB

• Salinas, a three-year starter and reigning District Offensive MVP, had over 2,000 passing yards and 700 rushing yards last season.

Defensive MVP: Tyler Crisp, Medina Valley LB

• Crisp is Medina Valley’s returning leader in tackles after posting 106 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks in a 10-3 season.

District 15-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Andrew Charlebois, CC Veterans Memorial RB

• Charlebois was the District Offensive Player of the Year with 2,245 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Raymond Aguilar, CC Flour Bluff DB

• Aguilar is the lone returning starter on defense for Flour Bluff. He posted 54 tackles, five pass breakups, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries last season.

District 16-5A DI

Offensive MVP: Braxton Speights, McAllen Memorial RB

• Speights is the reigning District Overall MVP after rushing for 2,080 yards and 19 touchdowns. He is one of just four returning starters for McAllen Memorial, historically one of the most stable schools in the RGV.

Defensive MVP: Riley Ousley, McAllen DB

• Ousley is the defensive captain for a McAllen team that has made the playoffs in four of the past five years.
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5A DII

District 1-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Corwon Martin, El Paso Chapin ATH

• Martin had 1,121 all-purpose yards, in addition to three interceptions on defense. He is the heartbeat of Chapin’s district title hopes.

Defensive MVP: Joziah Cardona, Canutillo S

• Cardona had 57 tackles to lead all returners for Canutillo. He’ll look to lead the Eagles back to the playoffs and the program flew short for the first time since 2017 last fall.

District 2-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Julian Reese II, Amarillo Palo Duro QB

• Reese is the reigning District Overall MVP at the helm of Palo Duro’s RPO attack. He had over 3,000 passing yards, nearly 450 rushing yards, and 43 total touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Bo Kates, Abilene Wylie LB

• Kates is the quarterback of Abilene Wylie’s defense, posting 123 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception a season ago.

District 3-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Julian Caldwell, Argyle WR

• Caldwell, the No. 10 overall player in the DCTX Hot 100, had 94 receptions for 1,737 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. He’s an Under Armour All-American committed to Texas Tech.

Defensive MVP: Isaiah Omar, Colleyville Heritage DL

• Omar played both offensive and defensive line last season, but he’s the Defensive MVP pick because of his 36 tackles, 11 hurries, and five sacks.

District 4-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Evan Koehne, Celina RB

• Koehne is one of two returning starters on Celina’s entire team. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and had 19 total touchdowns last year.

Defensive MVP: Justin Warren, Frisco Panther Creek DE

• Warren is the tip of the spear in Frisco Panther Creek’s 3-3 stack defense. He’ll be critical to Frisco Panther Creek maintaining their success after a jump from Class 4A to 5A.

District 5-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Jayden Williams, South Oak Cliff QB

• Coach Jason Todd describes Williams as the next Kevin Jennings. Williams emerged from a heated quarterback battle last summer and led the Golden Bears to a state championship.

Defensive MVP: Isaiah Udom, South Oak Cliff DB

• Udom, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound ballhawk, had seven interceptions last fall. He helped South Oak Cliff to its third state championship in five years.

District 6-5A DII

Offensive MVP:Julian Ashley, Terrell RB

• Ashley was the District MVP as a sophomore with nearly 1,500 rushing yards in Terrell’s Wing-T attack. He was the star on a Terrell team that went 12-1 last fall.

Defensive MVP: Aaron Kelley, Texas High DL

• Kelley had 39 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and four sacks in a breakout junior campaign. He’ll be the leader of a defense attempting to win 11 games for the sixth time in seven seasons.

District 7-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Braylin Barnett, Mansfield Timberview WR

• Barnett, a Georgetown commit, headlines 17 returning starters for Mansfield Timberview. He had 54 catches for 783 yards and eight touchdowns last fall.

Defensive MVP: Owen Menicucci, Midlothian Heritage LB

• Menicucci is a two-year starter who had 72 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception. Expect him to have an impact on offense as well.

District 8-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Marlyn Smith, Killeen Ellison QB

• Smith was the All-CenTex Newcomer of the Year after compiling 3,350 all-purpose yards and 41 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Ledrick Walker, Brenham

• Walker was a First Team All-District cornerback who is moving to safety this season after posting 60 tackles and two interceptions.

District 9-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Zay Adolphe, Huntsville, QB

• Adolphe is already a two-time All-District performer ahead of his junior year. Coach Todd Moebes calls him one of the best – and most overlooked – quarterbacks in the Class of 2028.

Defensive MVP: Nolan Carpenter, Montgomery DE

• Carpenter is extremely difficult to block at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. He had 31 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks last fall.

District 10-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Tyson Henry, Port Neches-Groves RB

• Henry has rushed for over 1,600 yards in each of the last two seasons. He’ll be the focal point of an offense trying to replace three-year starting quarterback Connor Bailey.

Defensive MVP: Trey Lampkin, Texas City DE

• Lampkin headlines an athletic and veteran Texas City defensive line after posting 50 tackles and seven sacks.

District 11-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Alvin Mosley, Fort Bend Crawford WR

• Mosley, an Ole Miss commit, is the No. 14-overall player in the DCTX Hot 100 after racking up over 1,700 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Andre Meadows-Wade, Fort Bend Marshall DT

• Meadows-Wade is a disruptive force on the defensive line who had 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.

District 12-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Weston Nielsen, Bastrop QB

• Nielsen, an Arizona State commit, is the No.4-rated quarterback in the DCTX Hot 100. He threw for 3,118 yards and 45 touchdowns, in addition to 375 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Defensive MVP: Cameron Thornton, Pflugerville LB

• Thornton is a 6-foot-1, 197-pound linebacker who had 88 tackles for 11 tackles for loss and one tackle for loss.

District 13-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Grant Sweeney, Boerne QB

• In his first year as a starter, Sweeney threw for 4,296 yards and 39 touchdowns, in addition to 1,075 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

Defensive MVP: Drake Carroll, Alamo Heights DL

• Carroll is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound physical specimen who had 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. He’s the tip of the spear in one of Class 5A’s best defensive lines.

District 14-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Giovanni Silva, San Antonio Harlandale QB

• Silva had 650 yards and five touchdowns on the ground last year and could be in for a big year behind a stout offensive line.

Defensive MVP: Germaine Carson, San Antonio Sam Houston LB

• Carson was the District Defensive MVP and leader of a Sam Houston defense that returns eight starters. The Hurricanes went undefeated in district play last year.

District 15-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Carter Dominguez, Gregory-Portland QB

• Dominguez earned District MVP honors in his first year as a starter with 1,761 passing yards, 912 rushing yards, and 45 total touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Frank Salinas, Mercedes DB

• Salinas was the District Utility Player of the Year a season ago with nearly 1,000 all-purpose yards, 38 tackles, three interceptions, and eight total touchdowns.

District 16-5A DII

Offensive MVP: Roman Reyna, Mission Veterans Memorial QB

• Coach David Gilpin couldn’t speak higher of his starting quarterback, who led the state’s most impressive turnaround in 2025 with 2,775 passing yards, 929 rushing yards, and 43 total touchdowns.

Defensive MVP: Santi Vazquez, Sharyland DB

• Vazquez had 72 tackles and an interception last year and is part of a strong returning nucleus for an 8-4 team.