Houston high school football playoffs: 15 players who could make a huge impact

Randle running back Landen William-Callis has rushed for 2,477 yards. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) The Houston high school football playoffs have arrived, and several of the area's top players will have a chance to make their mark on the postseason. From Randle running back Landen Williams-Callis chasing state history to standout quarterbacks, explosive offensive playmakers and game-wreckers, on defense, the Houston area is loaded with talent. North Shore, Katy, Bridgeland, Cypress Ranch and other contenders have plenty of star power, but a few individual performances could ultimately determine which teams make deep playoff runs. Here are 15 players to watch as the road to the state championships begins. Landen Williams-Callis, RB, RandleWilliams-Callis has already made plenty of history this season, but another deep playoff run with the Lions could further his legacy as one of the greatest all-time players in Texas high school football history. The five-star Texas commit has rushed for 2,477 yards and 37 touchdowns this season while averaging 12.1 yards per carry. He's rushed for 200-plus in all but one game and capped the regular season with 207 yards and four touchdowns during a 31-14 victory over Friendswood. He'll obviously be the focal point of the Randle offense as the Lions pursue a third consecutive state championship game appearance and their first in Class 5A Division I. Rushing for 247.7 yards per game this season, Williams-Callis is currently on pace to break the state's all-time mark with six more games. He enters the playoffs with 9,971 career rushing yards, fifth all-time behind Kaegan Ash (11,382), Kenneth Hall (11,232), Johnathan Gray (10,889) and Traylon Shead (10,292). Bridgeland running back Kash Schwab has scored 29 touchdowns. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle) Kash Schwab, RB, BridgelandFor the third time in four years, Bridgeland finished the regular season 9-1 with an undefeated district championship. Schwab has a lot to do with that accomplishment as he's been the catalyst for the Bears' offense since his breakout sophomore campaign. Schwab is one of four active Houston-area players to clear 5,000 career rushing yards, joining Williams-Callis, La Porte's Sean Simon and Kinkaid's Wayne Shanks Jr. The senior UNLV commit gives Bridgeland a dangerous and versatile weapon out of the backfield as the team embarks on the Class 6A Division I playoff bracket. The Bears suffered a first-round exit against Klein Collins last season, but Schwab was a difference-maker during the program's run to a regional championship game in 2024. He's piled up more than 1,800 all-purpose yards and 29 total touchdowns this season, already his best in a Bridgeland uniform. Cypress Ranch quarterback Braden Baker is completing 74.7% of his passes. (Eric Christian Smith/Contributor) Braden Baker, QB, Cypress RanchBaker has been one of the most efficient passers in the Houston area this season and has put together another strong statistical campaign while leading the Mustangs to a 9-1 record. The senior UH commit has completed 74.7% of his passes for 1,715 yards and 27 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He is averaging 14.9 yards per completion and 11.1 yards per attempt and has a quarterback rating of 136.8. After helping Cy Ranch make a run to the regional semifinals last season, Baker has the poise and experience required for the playoffs. There's a good chance the Bears will have to get past an undefeated Katy team in the second round of the Division I bracket. Shadow Creek wide receiver B.J. LaFell has more than 1,300 all-purpose yards. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) B.J. LaFell, ATH, Shadow CreekLaFell is only a sophomore, but he has established himself as one of the most dangerous offensive chess pieces in the Houston area. He has piled up more than 1,300 all-purpose yards and accounted for 21 touchdowns between passing, rushing, receiving, interception returns and kick returns. Oh, and he also plays defense. Shadow Creek has looked the part of a postseason contender all year, but the Sharks have not advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2020. With LaFell and a stable of talented receivers leading the way with quarterback Tavis Coleman, they'll look to end that drought. That being said, a potential second-round matchup against C.E. King looms. North Shore quarterback Ja'Voris Taylor has 12 touchdown passes. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Ja'Voris Taylor, QB, North ShoreTaylor has performed admirably in his first season as the Mustangs starter, a position that comes with a lot of responsibility and expectations given the prominence of the program as a whole. The senior signal-caller completed 70.8% of his passes for 1,381 yards and 12 touchdowns against two interceptions during the regular season. But he has also been a threat for North Shore with his legs and enters the playoffs with 468 rushing yards. With a strong offensive line in front of him, Taylor's performance in the postseason could play a big factor in how far the Mustangs advance as they try to repeat as Class 6A Division I champions under coach Willie Gaston. C.E. King wide receiver Dillon Mitchell has more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. (Eric Christian Smith/Contributor) Dillon Mitchell, WR, C.E. KingSpeed, speed and more speed. Mitchell is one of the most dangerous players in Texas high school football because of it, and his contributions as a home run hitter will play a key role in the Panthers' quest to return to the Class 6A Division II championship game. Mitchell already has more than 1,000 all-purpose yards for the second consecutive season and has contributed as a receiver, rusher and return man. Mitchell blazed a 9.92-second 100-meter dash to claim gold at the 2026 UIL state track and field championships last spring. On the football field, that ability makes him a threat to score any time he touches the ball. He is averaging 19.9 yards per catch this season. Katy running back Tony Manuel III (3) has 18 rushing touchdowns. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Tony Manuel III, RB, KatyKaty enters the playoffs 10-0 for the first time since 2010, and Manuel's contributions at the all-important running back spot have helped to fuel that success. The Tigers are averaging 352 rushing yards per game, and Manuel leads the way with 956 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is averaging 8.8 yards per carry and has formed a dynamic duo with junior C.J. Watts. Watts has produced a strong season in his own right with 924 yards and 11 touchdowns. Katy has a punishing offensive line, anchored by Oklahoma commit Isaac Coughran, and with Manuel and Watts coming out of the backfield, the Tigers have the ability to move methodically down the field and hit some explosive plays. Crawford receiver Alvin Mosley has 12 touchdown catches. (Courtesy Of Chris Armijo) Alvin Mosley, WR, CrawfordAfter making a run to the regional finals in Class 4A last season, the Chargers have continued their success at the Class 5A Division II level. Mosley enters the playoffs with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards, including 938 yards with 12 touchdowns receiving. The four-star Ole Miss commit has 15 total touchdowns and is averaging 15.1 yards per catch. His 43 career touchdown catches rank fifth in Houston high school football history, and his ability to grab the attention of the opposing defense on every play helps open up things for his teammates. His connection with senior quarterback Benji Fisher is a valuable asset for the Chargers, who already have a ton of playoff experience. La Porte running back Sean Simon has rushed for more than 1,800 yards. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Sean Simon, RB, La PorteLa Porte averages 302.7 rushing yards per game, and Simon has been the catalyst for the Bulldogs' offense once again. The four-star junior has 1,964 all-purpose yards, including 1,855 with 25 touchdowns rushing. Simon averages 8.9 yards per carry and has cleared 100 in eight consecutive games. His best performance of the season came in early October when he rushed for 340 yards and four touchdowns against a Port Arthur Memorial team that finished the regular season 9-1. Simon possesses big-play ability, but he can also wear down opposing defenses late in games with his physicality and determination to lower his shoulder when needed to pick up key first downs. Ridge Point quarterback Brody Bartee has 26 touchdown passes. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle) Brody Bartee, QB, Ridge PointBartee started to come into his own last year as a junior after taking over the Ridge Point quarterback reins from Austin Carlisle, one of the top players in program history. But the three-star Florida Atlantic commit has elevated his game even more as a senior and is one of the primary reasons the Panthers have a shot to make a deep run. Despite missing three games, Bartee enters the playoffs with 2,275 yards and 26 touchdowns against just three interceptions. He's got a strong trio of receivers at his disposal with seniors John Rangel and Suhaib Ramseuer and junior Caiden Lawrence, who are all averaging more than 17 yards per catch with 32 combined touchdowns. Klein quarterback Carter Lattelle has not thrown an interception this season. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle) Carter Lattelle, QB, KleinAfter missing all of his junior season with a torn ACL, Lattelle has been one of the top quarterbacks in the Houston area this season. He is completing 68.3% of his passes for 2,484 yards and 26 touchdowns. But perhaps the most impressive stat from his campaign is that he has not thrown a single interception in 189 pass attempts. Lattelle had one of the best passing games in Houston high school football history against Klein Collins two weeks ago, putting up 533 yards and eight touchdowns while completing 15-of-16 attempts. After clinching the program's first district title since 1995, Lattelle and the Bearkats are a dangerous team in Region II of the Class 6A Division I bracket. The Woodlands edge rusher Magnus Herndon has 11.5 sacks. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle) Magnus Herndon, EDGE, The WoodlandsAfter recording 16 sacks as a junior, Herndon added about 25-30 pounds to his frame, has developed into a more complete player on the edge and has stepped up even more as a leader. The senior has already made some history this season, breaking The Woodlands' all-time sack record, previously set at 24 by Michael Purcell in 2016. He enters the playoffs with 40 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback hurries and 11 ½ sacks, giving him 27 ½ sacks for his career. Herndon has been an invaluable asset for the Highlanders' defense, which ranked first in District 13-6A in yards allowed and helped the program capture its first district championship since 2021. Tomball running back Ian Thomas has more than 2,000 all-purpose yards. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle) Ian Thomas, RB, TomballAfter breaking onto the scene as a sophomore last year, Thomas has been even better as a junior. The four-star recruit finished the regular season with 2,054 all-purpose yards and was both the leading rusher and receiver for Tomball. He rushed for 1,309 yards with 18 touchdowns at a clip of 10.6 yards per carry. But he also had 573 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Thomas' ability to line up in multiple spots on the field make him a dangerous player, especially when he and fellow running back Tre'von Johnson are out there together. Johnson has put together a strong season in his own right with 1,123 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Cypress Falls edge rusher Kaden McCarty (9) has 13 sacks. (Elizabeth Conley/Houston Chronicle) Kaden McCarty, EDGE, Cypress FallsMcCarty is a game-wrecker, and his efforts for the Cypress Falls defense helped the team win a share of the District 16-6A championship. The four-star Texas A&M commit finished the regular season with 65 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 30 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. With three-star edge rusher James Harris Jr. also making plays in opposing backfields, teams are not able to focus only on McCarty. McCarty enters the playoffs with 36 career sacks and 77 career tackles for loss.Kasen Jammer, ATH, AngletonJammer has been one of the most versatile players in the Houston area, and his efforts have helped Angleton emerge as one the top contenders in Region III of the Class 5A Division I bracket. The three-star Duke commit has 681 all-purpose yards and has scored 11 rushing touchdowns on just 34 carries. Between his contributions on offense, his game-breaking ability as a return man on special teams and his strong play in the defensive secondary, Jammer is able to impact the game in a variety of ways, which could make a huge difference in the playoffs.SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Houston high school football playoffs: 15 players who could make a huge impact.