FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE
Selections made by SportsDayHS staff; text by Corbett Smith
QB Kenny Hill
Southlake Carroll, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 205
About Hill: SportsDay’s 2010 Newcomer of the Year and 2011 Offensive Player of the Year leaves Southlake Carroll as one of its all-time greats. Hill passed for 3,373 yards and 27 touchdowns, and rushed for 1,430 yards and 33 scores.
What’s next? Hill has been committed to Texas A&M since April, but Baylor and Kansas State are making late pushes.
RB Laquvionte Gonzalez
Cedar Hill, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 170
About Gonzalez: Pressed into action in the backfield because of injury, Gonzalez propelled Cedar Hill to the 5A Division II state final. He rushed for 1,421 yards and accounted for 26 rushing, receiving and return touchdowns.
What’s next? Projected as a slot receiver, Gonzalez will be a part of Texas A&M’s recruiting class.
RB Ke’aun Kinner
Little Elm, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-9, 180
About Kinner: Kinner had one of the most productive seasons for any running back in the state, rushing for 2,936 yards and 28 touchdowns in 11 games, with five 300-yard games and a 432 yard-performance against Sherman.
What’s next? He’s picked up late offers from UT-San Antonio and Louisiana-Monroe, and has piqued the interest of several Big 12 schools.
UTIL Jerrod Heard
Denton Guyer, Jr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 180
About Heard: Heard ran for 2,138 yards and 35 touchdowns and passed for 2,090 yards and 17 TDs. He arguably had the most dominant performance of the state finals, overcoming a 16-point deficit against Georgetown with three third-quarter touchdowns.
What’s next? The Texas pledge will be back to defend Guyer’s 4A Division I state title in 2013.
WR Jake Oliver
Jesuit, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 195
About Oliver: A three-time first-team All-Area player, Oliver set a state record for career receptions this season, finishing with 308 catches. He’s second all-time in Texas history in receiving yards (4,567) and TD catches (56). This season, he led area 5A players in receptions (93) and receiving yards (1,354), and he had 18 touchdown catches.
What’s next? Often compared with former Longhorn Jordan Shipley, Oliver will attempt to match his exploits at Texas.
WR Ra’Shaad Samples
Skyline, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 170
About Samples: A two-time first-team All-Area selection, Samples finished his high school career with 48 touchdown catches, one of the top totals in state history. He caught 62 passes this season, for 1,072 yards and 23 scores.
What’s next? Samples is committed to Oklahoma State, likely a slot receiver at the collegiate level.
WR Marcell Ateman
Wylie East, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 190
About Ateman: The lanky Ateman helped Wylie East to its first playoff win in school history, catching 84 passes for 1,582 yards and 27 scores.
What’s next? Ateman will join Samples as a potentially dangerous duo at Oklahoma State.
OL Joas Aguilar
Birdville, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 295
About Aguilar: He was the keystone on one of the area’s most potent offenses. Birdville made the regional final, averaging 481.1 yards per game. Aguilar didn’t allow a sack, registering 56 knockdowns and 27 pancakes.
What’s next? Aguilar is committed to Texas A&M, his long frame projecting him as an offensive tackle.
OL Kent Perkins
Lake Highlands, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 300
About Perkins: One of the area’s top recruits, Perkins lived up to the hype with a solid senior season. He averaged six knockdowns per game, graded out 88 percent, and hasn’t allowed a sack in three years as a starter.
What’s next? Perkins chose Texas over offers from others such as Oklahoma, LSU and Texas A&M.
OL Jake Raulerson
Celina, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-5, 260
About Raulerson: A two-way starter, Raulerson graded out at 96 percent as an offensive lineman, getting 36 pancakes and 26 downfield blocks. He was also named the District 10-3A defensive lineman of the year.
What’s next? Raulerson has committed to Texas and is expected to play as a defensive end.
OL Tejan Korom
Allen, Jr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-0, 255
About Koroma: The first-team all-state selection is considered one of the area’s most dominant and athletic centers, allowing one sack while registering 65 pancakes and 85 knockdowns. He was also reliable, playing over 900 snaps over 16 games.
What’s next? Koroma will be a key returner for Allen as it attempts to defend its 5A Division I title.
OL Patrick Morris
Denton Guyer, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 290
About Morris: This season, Morris blocked for a 2,000-yard rusher at quarterback, and two 1,000-yard running backs. He had 44 knockdowns, graded out at 90 percent, and allowed one sack in three years as a starter.
What’s next? A second-team selection on The Associated Press’ 4A all-state team, Morris is committed to TCU.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
Selections made by SportsDayHS staff; text by David Just
DL Justin Manning
Kimball, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 275
About Manning: Kimball had one of the best 4A defenses in the area thanks largely to Manning, who had 76 tackles and 11 sacks. He also had 15 quarterback pressures and 18 tackles for loss.
What’s next? Ranked as the state’s ninth-best recruit by Rivals.com, Manning chose Texas A&M over TCU and Oklahoma.
DL Byron Bonds
Allen, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 280
About Bonds: The anchor of Allen’s defensive front, Bonds had 61 tackles and six sacks. Bonds also had six quarterback pressures, nine tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
What’s next? Bonds committed to Baylor in July over offers from Iowa State, Tulsa and Arkansas State.
DL Solomon Thomas
Coppell, Jr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-3, 260
About Thomas: Thomas was one of two FBS recruits playing defensive end for Coppell’s powerful line. He had 89 tackles – including 18 for loss – 8.5 sacks and 18 quarterback pressures. He forced a fumble and recovered another.
What’s next? Thomas has a four-star rating from Rivals.com and offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Mississippi, among others.
DE/LB Malik Jefferson
Mesquite Poteet, So.
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 210
About Jefferson: The sophomore made a great deal of noise in his first varsity season. Jefferson had 105 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and four blocked kicks.
What’s next? With two more seasons to go, the 2015 recruit could become one of the most sought-after defensive players in North Texas.
LB Sammy Douglas
Arlington, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-2, 180
About Douglas: Arlington enjoyed a solid season thanks largely to its stout defense, and Douglas was the main force behind it. The senior had 168 tackles, including 19 for loss. He also had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
What’s next? Douglas, a three-star Rivals.com prospect, committed to TCU in February of his junior year.
LB Taylor Young
DeSoto, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 215
About Young: The senior was in on one of the biggest plays of the season, stopping Southlake Carroll at the goal line in a 5A regional final. Young had 122 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
What’s next? Young hasn’t committed to a college yet. He holds an offer from Louisiana-Monroe and has drawn interest from Baylor.
LB Mike Mitchell
Plano Prestonwood, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-4, 215
About Mitchell: Mitchell capped his impressive high school career with a stellar season for Prestonwood. The senior had 183 tackles, six sacks, 20 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles.
What’s next? Mitchell was the top-ranked linebacker in the Dallas area and committed to Ohio State over offers from Texas A&M and Oregon.
DB Ed Paris
Mansfield Timberview, Jr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 200
About Paris: The junior was one of three FBS recruits in Timberview’s secondary. He had seven interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, and 12 pass breakups.
What’s next? Paris has offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU and Nebraska, among others.
DB Nick Harvey
Lancaster, Jr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-11, 180
About Harvey: The junior was a force for state runner-up Lancaster on both offense and defense. He had seven interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 55 tackles. He also caused three fumbles.
What’s next? Harvey became the third player to commit to Texas A&M’s 2014 class in November.
DB Derrick Dixon
Skyline, Jr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 180
About Dixon: The junior was a playmaker for Skyline throughout its run to a regional final. He had four interceptions and five forced fumbles.
What’s next? Dixon has an offer from West Virginia and might add more after his impressive junior season.
DB Ranthony Texada
Frisco Centennial, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 5-10, 160
About Texada: The fleet-footed cornerback broke up 22 passes for Frisco Centennial. He also had four interceptions, blocked four kicks and had 62 tackles.
What’s next?: A three-star Rivals recruit, Texada pledged to TCU over the summer.
K/P Ben Grogan
Arlington Martin, Sr.
Ht., Wt.: 6-1, 175
About Grogan: The senior was 40-for-40 on extra points and 9-for-11 on field goals. He made five field goals from 40 yards or more. He averaged 40.3 yards on 30 punts.
What’s next? Grogan chose Oklahoma State in December over an offer from Kansas.