First-Time TXHSFB Starters Who BALLED Out in Week 1

6A

John Rangel, Fort Bend Ridge Point WR (2027)

Rangel, a senior, surpassed his receiving-yardage total from last year in Week 1. An elite talent with college offers in both football and baseball, Rangel had 200 all-purpose yards and an 84-yard receiving touchdown in Friday night’s win over Dickinson.

Laykon Brassfield, Lewisville QB (2028)

Brassfield, a move-in from Edmond, Oklahoma, did in his first TXHSFB start what no one had done before – beat Highland Park at the Star in Frisco. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior completed 76 percent of his passes for 247 yards and five touchdowns, adding 61 yards and a score on the ground. Lewisville downed Highland Park 56-42.

Deshawn Simmons, San Antonio Harlan LB (2028)

Simmons isn’t technically a first-time starter. He was already a star linebacker in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. But this past Friday night was his debut as a TXHSFB player at San Antonio Harlan. He did not disappoint. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble in a 30-14 win over San Antonio East Central. Simmons holds 34 offers.

Hudson Tomcheck, Southlake Carroll QB (2028)

In his first game as a starter replacing Pitt QB Angelo Renda, Tomcheck rallied the Dragons from a 27-0 first-half deficit to pull off a thrilling 34-33 win. Tomcheck threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns and also led Southlake Carroll with two rushing scores.

Raiden Johnson, Allen LB (2029)

Johnson, a sophomore, was the hardest hitter on the field despite playing with a dislocated shoulder. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker had nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks as Allen avenged last season’s state semifinal loss to Duncanville.

Ty Snell, Allen QB (2029)

Snell looked the part of a quarterback with 35 offers, taking down defending state finalist Duncanville 26-7 in his first start at a Texas program. Snell threw for 163 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 46 yards.

BJ LaFell, Shadow Creek ATH (2029)

LaFell, the son of Super Bowl champion wide receiver Brandon LaFell, played in four games last fall as a freshman. But he was fully unleashed in Week 1 of his sophomore season. LaFell had six receptions for 142 yards and a touchdown. He also had arguably the best touchdown run of Week 1. LaFell was an integral part of Shadow Creek’s 24-14 win over Humble Summer Creek.

Jashawn Crayton, Waxahachie (2029)

Crayton led all Class 6A wide receivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with seven catches for 193 yards and three touchdowns as Waxahachie dominated rival Ennis 72-14.

CJ Jones, Austin Westlake RB (2030)

You couldn’t have scripted a better first career varsity touchdown for this superstar freshman. Jones had the game-winning score with 1:57 remaining to secure Austin Westlake’s Week 1 win against California power Ingleside High. Jones already holds 55 offers.

5A

Cole Birkhead, Wichita Falls Memorial QB (2027)

Technically, this was Birkhead’s second varsity start. But the 2026 season is Birkhead’s true first season as the starter at Wichita Falls Memorial after Joe Castles’s graduation (Abilene Christian). If Week 1 is any indication, the Mavericks are still in excellent hands. Birkhead tied the WFISD all-time single-game passing touchdowns mark with 385 yards and seven touchdowns.

Matthew Rodriguez, Bastrop Cedar Creek RB (2027)

In his first varsity start, Rodriguez set a school record with 306 rushing yards. Cedar Creek needed all of them, coming out with a narrow 27-24 win over Austin Travis.

Raykell Ford, Tyler QB (2027)

Ford drove the Tyler Lions down the field in series after series, leading the offense to 42 points. A true dual-threat, Ford had 125 passing yards and three touchdowns paired with 177 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

4A

Laythan Wilson, Corpus Christi Miller WR (2027)

Wilson was everywhere in Week 1, hauling in six passes for 178 yards and a touchdown and scoring on a 95-yard kickoff return. He made three critical catches to convert on third downs. But no catch was bigger than his 58-yard touchdown as time expired, giving Miller a 46-41 win over Corpus Christi Flour Bluff.

Andrick Rodriguez, Midland Greenwood QB (2028)

Rodriguez had big shoes to fill replacing the legendary Lincoln Madrid, but he proved more than capable in Week 1. After starting at cornerback as a sophomore, Rodriguez looked comfortable at his new quarterback spot. He threw for 286 yards and four touchdowns, showed off his UIL State Qualifying mile relay speed with 75 rushing yards, and led Midland Greenwood to a 39-12 win over Jim Ned.

Jax Zamarripa, San Antonio Davenport RB (2029)

Davenport had to replace 2,000-yard rusher Barrett Fallon (Fordham) this offseason. But it looks like the Wolves have found a new leader of the pack in Zamarripa. The sophomore had 167 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries in Davenport’s Week 1 win over New Braunfels Long Creek.

3A

Landon Cockerell, Fairfield QB (2027)

Cockerell was the QB1 on Fairfield’s JV team for three seasons while Kohl Collins (Navarro College) won Built Ford Tough Player of the Week awards. Now, the senior Cockerell gets his first chance as Fairfield’s varsity quarterback – and is making the most of it. The signal-caller broke a school record with seven passing touchdowns, along with 405 yards, in a 61-56 loss to Maypearl.

Gunner King, Wall QB (2027)

Coming off a 16-0 state championship season, questions swirled in Class 3A regarding how Wall would replace quarterback Landon York, whom the Hawks literally switched their entire offensive scheme for. Turns out, the Duke of York has graciously handed off his throne to the King. In his first start, King threw for 415 yards and four touchdowns as Wall took down Class 4A powerhouse Canyon West Plains.

Nick Perez, George West OT (2027)

Perez was a Second Team All-District defensive tackle on George West’s 11-1 team last fall, but a series of unfortunate events forced him into action at starting strong tackle. On the second play of George West’s season opener against state powerhouse Refugio, George West’s starting strong tackle hurt his knee. On the very next play, the backup broke his leg. So the George West staff moved Perez, also a backup center, to strong-side tackle. They often had to tell Perez his assignment in the huddle, but Perez performed valiantly in George West’s shocking 40-0 victory.

2A

Alan Davis, Overton (2029)

Davis was spectacular in his varsity debut, leading Overton to a 38-2 win over Harleton with 344 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Cavender Dawson, West Texas RB (2029)

Dawson was dominant in his first-ever varsity start, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry for 257 yards and two touchdowns as Stinnett West Texas beat Tulia 49-26.