High school football: 75 Central Texas players having breakout seasons in 2026

Connally quarterback Trajin Alexander in action during the 2026 Central Texas high school football season. (Provided by Chris Miles) The Central Texas high school football season is entering its final playoff push as the calendar hits late October. With schools in the back half of district play, the American-Statesman looks at 75 Austin-area players who are having breakout performances this fall. (Players listed alphabetically. Note: Those who were first-team all-district selections a year ago are not eligible as they don't meet the definition of "breakout.")Frank Accetta, Dripping Springs: Electric junior running back has rushed for 966 yards and 17 TDs in seven games. Avery Ash, Georgetown: Sophomore safety is already making a name for himself on the perennially good Eagles and is a critical piece of their special teams. Trajin Alexander, Connally: Dynamic quarterback has thrown for 1,934 yards and 18 TDs. Micah Antoun, Hutto: Strong-armed and precise sophomore quarterback already has 2,392 yards and 34 TDs passing. Josiah Bowens, East View: Ran for 175 yards and two TDs Friday in a win over Vista Ridge. Kenneth Boyd, McCallum: Averaging more than 6 yards a carry, he's been a jolt to the Knights rushing attack. Nick Briggs, Anderson: Part of a two-headed rushing attack along with Kam'Ron Hornsby, the junior has run for 546 yards and three TDs. Caden Bruton, East View: At 6 feet 1, 305 pounds, the junior defensive lineman has been a force when healthy. He recorded three sacks Friday against Vista Ridge. Jason Carter, Lake Travis: With 1,444 yards and 13 TDs passing, the junior quarterback is having a stellar first year as a starter. Nick Coffman, Weiss: Part of a loaded Wolves linebacking corps, the senior has 49 tackles, a sack, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Will Cunningham, Legacy Ranch: Maybe people shouldn't be surprised the Wranglers are one result away from a playoff berth. The junior quarterback has thrown for 1,398 yards and 15 TDs and added six touchdowns on the ground. Omar'e Dawson, Austin High: The brilliant cover cornerback has only given up 15 completions while recording eight pass breakups, two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a defensive TD and 21 tackles. Logan David, Westwood: Against a brutal schedule, the sophomore wideout has impressed with 364 yards and four TDs receiving. CJ Davis, Wimberley: Physical junior has made an impact in the trenches with six tackles for loss, a sack and a defensive TD. Larsen De Waal, St. Michael's: Physical sophomore offensive lineman will be a staple up front for the Warriors for the next two years. Amauri Dickson, Rouse: Tallying 969 all-purpose yards and eight TDs, the sophomore has become an integral part of the Raiders offense. Austin Doane, Lake Travis: An impressive starter on the defensive line, the sophomore has 26 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and one. Ben Donahoe, Dripping Springs: A dangerous hitter in the Tigers secondary, he has 42 tackles and one interception. Xaveon Flemons, Weiss: Junior offensive lineman is a key part of an electric offense. Devan Frazier, Bastrop: Bursting onto the scene with 42 tackles and two tackles for loss, the sophomore is key for a Bears team looking to make a playoff run. Chance Fresch, St. Andrew's: Sophomore wideout and defensive back has quickly become a key starter for the Highlanders. Fromberg, Westlake: Quick off the edge, he has 5.5 sacks, 21 stops and 10 tackles for loss for the Chaps. Camryn Fulton, Pflugerville: The rare sophomore who has become a starter for the Panthers, he's become an integral part of the offense at wideout. Israel Funderburg, Hyde Park: A physical blocker, he helps spur a dangerous Panthers offense. Caleb Gaston, Pflugerville: In his first year as a starter, the impressive junior has thrown for 1,599 yards and 16 TDs and run for 387 yards and nine touchdowns. Grant Gibson, Liberty Hill: One of many talented running backs for the Panthers, he has six rushing TDs and three games with at least 100 yards on the ground. Croix Goldberg, St. Michael's: The junior wideout is an important piece for the Warriors offense with 20 catches for 304 yards and four TDs. Wyatt Griffen, Anderson: Exceptional junior linebacker has 63 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks for a Trojans team that should be back in the playoffs. Terez Harrison, Cedar Ridge: With 31 catches for 478 yards and seven TDs, the senior wideout has helped the Raiders to a 7-0 start. Demari Herring, Johnson: The junior slot receiver has 432 yards from scrimmage for a Jaguars team looking for a late playoff push. Truman Hill, Regents: Junior offensive lineman is key for a Knights offense that hasn't missed a beat despite breaking in several new starters. Caden Hobson, Hyde Park: Averaging more than eight tackles per game, the senior linebacker has helped put the Panthers in the playoff race. Henry Hopping Lake Travis: Sophomore running back has rushed for 342 yards and seven TDs as part of a talented Cavs backfield. Alijah Jablon, Austin High: Accounting for 875 total yards and eight TDs, the senior quarterback has helped the Maroons be in playoff contention. Aland Jackson, Hyde Park: He's become one of many dangerous options at wideout for a talented Panthers' offense. Jackson Jagodzinski, Liberty Hill: Senior offensive lineman has helped pave the way for an offense that has run for 2,363 yards. Preston James, Vandegrift: Dynamic junior running back has 867 yards from scrimmage and nine TDs. CJ Jones, Westlake: Freshman has 555 yards from scrimmage and seven TDs. Patton Jones, Westlake: The senior, who is starting for the first time, is one of the area's better quarterbacks after throwing for 1,362 yards and 15 TDs - and only one interception - on a 70% completion rate. He has also run for six TDs. Jackson Ketter, Wimberley: In his first year behind center for the Texans, the sophomore has thrown for 1,227 yards and 16 TDs through six games. Drew Langford, Legacy Ranch: Dangerous off the edge, the junior paces the Wranglers defense with 45 tackles, 12 sacks, two caused fumbles and a fumble recovery. Eden Limbeya, Vandegrift: Recording 53 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a sack through seven games, the senior defensive end is an important piece of a talented Vipers' front seven. Brenndan Magee, East View: Sophomore linebacker has made an immediate impact with 45 tackles. Miguel Martinez, Lehman: Junior wide receiver has 22 catches for 325 yards and two TDs and a kickoff return for a TD. McClune, Westlake: Another talented Chaps player on the edge, the senior has seven stops for loss, two sacks and 15 tackles. Tyrone McGill, Pflugerville: Do-it-all junior wideout has 35 catches for 630 yards and nine total TDs for a Panthers squad that seems set for another playoff appearance. Cayden Mellette, Weiss: A force up front on defense for the Wolves, the junior has 18 stops, two tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and a defensive TD. Carter Meeks, Wimberley: Tallying 26 stops so far, the sophomore linebacker is also impactful on special teams. Truett Middlebrook, Regents: Speedy wideout already has 28 catches for 510 yards and 10 TDs through eight games for the 7-1 Knights. Reagan Miller, Anderson: Producing 56 tackles and eight tackles for loss, the junior has been terrific in his first year as a starter at linebacker. Bradley Moore, Brentwood Christian: Only a freshman, he has 24 catches for 520 yards and 10 TDs. Gabe Morales, Dripping Springs: Senior defensive back has tallied 30 tackles, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup and a sack for a Tigers team that seems headed for a District 24-6A championship. Brady Morris, St. Michael's: A big reason the Warriors are 6-2, he has 24 catches for 445 yards and five TDs. Ayden O'Brien Brown, Cedar Ridge: In his second year as a starter, the senior has turned into one of the top linebackers in the area. He has 87 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks, two blocked field goals and a caused fumble. Chigozie Okorafor, Brentwood Christian: With 1,412 yards rushing and 28 total TDs, he paces the Bears' offense. Jeremiah Passmore, Cedar Ridge: A monster in the trenches, the senior defensive lineman has 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks and a caused fumble. Buddy Phillips Jr., Lake Travis: Lockdown defensive back has made 12 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups as a sophomore. Trenton Potts, Johnson: Tallying 63 tackles, an interception and a defensive TD, the junior linebacker has been big for the Jaguars defense. Easton Rice, Lago Vista: The Vikings are off to a 6-1 start in part thanks to the sophomore accounting for an eye-popping 2,024 yards and 21 TDs. Joe Ray Rivera, Manor: Impactful defensive lineman has helped the Mustangs into a playoff race. Reid Robertson, Legacy Ranch: Tallying 59 tackles and three sacks on defense and 34 catches for 381 yards and two TDs on offense, the junior is critical for the Wranglers on both sides of the ball. Franti Romero, St. Michael's: Has hauled in 46 catches for 702 yards and six TDs for the 6-2 Warriors. Judah Satterfield, Dripping Springs: With 47 catches for 626 yards and 12 TDs, the senior has become the Tigers' top receiving target. Fischer Shelton-Lamb, Brentwood Christian: Sophomore quarterback has thrown for 17 TDs through eight games. Drew Shepard, Regents: Junior defensive back, who also plays wideout, has 24 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Travis Stroud, Georgetown: Though he's an important starting wideout for the Eagles, the sophomore also excels on special teams.Cayden Timmons, Liberty Hill: Speedy senior has 430 all-purpose yards and two TDs and is part of the Panthers' slot-T rushing attack. Za'Tevious Thornton, Lehman: Already has 676 yards and a TD rushing for the Lobos. Sophomore has a bright future. Jude Viner, Anderson: Head-hunting safety has 61 stops through seven games. Jakari Washington, Wimberley: Impressive sophomore running back already has two 100-yard games and five TDs. Dylan White, Rouse: A constant threat at outside linebacker, he already has 91 tackles and two interceptions. Chase Whitten, Rouse: His 1,225 yards and 15 TDs passing on a 70% completion rate are a big reason the Raiders are in the playoff hunt. Dewone Williams, Manor: The junior offensive lineman is an important part of a dangerous Mustangs rushing attack. Gage Willis, Anderson: One of many talented receiving options on the Trojans, the junior has 34 catches for 561 yards and eight TDs. Elijah Williams, St. Andrew's: A running back and safety for the Highlanders, he has four rushing TDs and has made 20 tackles, two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Evan Williamson, Vandegrift: Building off what he did in the postseason for the Vipers a year ago, the junior running back has rushed for 620 yards and has 13 total TDs. Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.This article originally published at High school football: 75 Central Texas players having breakout seasons in 2026.