The Built Ford Tough Player of the Year Award celebrates the top high school football athletes in Texas across classifications 6A through 2A and eligible private schools.
Each week during the season, one standout is named the Built Ford Tough Player of the Week, leading up to the prestigious Player of the Year honors in each classification.
The experts at Dave Campbell's share their players to watch for 5A.
Mallory Hartley's Player to Watch
QB Trey Wright, Frisco Lone Star: Wright broke out as a sophomore, leading the Rangers to their second, ever state championship appearance and a 15-1 record. The dual-threat quarterback put together a stellar season, producing more than 5,800 yards and 54 total touchdowns.
Matt Stepp's Player to Watch
CB Kasen Jammer, Angleton: The Duke commit is literally a Swiss Army knife, taking snaps at cornerback, returner and quarterback for the Wildcats. With Jammer returning for his senior season, Angleton could be poised for a deep playoff run.
Greg Powers' Player to Watch
RB SaRod Baker, DeSoto: Since the start of the playoffs last season, Baker has been on a remarkable run of personal accolades, including hoisting the 6A Division II state championship trophy last season. We do not anticipate him taking his foot off the gas, as he is as competitive as they come.
Carter Yates' Player to Watch
RB Landen Williams-Callis, Richmond Randle: This offseason, the five-star from Richmond Randle became the first solo high school athlete to grace the cover of Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine since legendary Midland Lee running back Cedric Benson. Does he follow it up with a Player of the Year performance? If his first three seasons are any indication, he should be the no-brainer pick. Williams-Callis has rushed for over 7,500 yards and 125 touchdowns, leading Richmond Randle to a 42-3 overall record with two state championship appearances.
William Wilkerson's Player to Watch
QB Kaine Hill, Springtown: Experience is the name of the game. Hill is back for a third season to lead the offense, producing big numbers as a junior; he threw for 2,664 yards and 34 touchdowns, adding 606 yards on the ground and 14 touchdowns.
Greg Tepper's Player to Watch
RB Sean Simon, La Porte: Because he started shining as a freshman, it feels like we’ve been talking about Sean Simon for decades, and yet he’s only a junior in 2026. His hard-charging style makes him so much fun to watch, and a key cog in the Bulldogs’ ground-and-pound attack.
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