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Southlake Carroll’s wide receiver Blake Gunter catches the ball during the first day of football practice at the high school, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, in Southlake.<\/p>\n
Chitose Suzuki\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
Here are 10 players to watch during\u00a0Week 1 of the Texas high school football season<\/a>.<\/p>\n Blake Gunter, Southlake Carroll, WR<\/p>\n Jenks (Okla.) vs. Southlake Carroll, 7 p.m. Thursday at the Cotton Bowl<\/strong><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The California pledge had 66 receptions for 1,224 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior and could become an even bigger part of the offense this season. He will be facing a Jenks team that has four of the top 28 recruits in Oklahoma in the Class of 2027, including four-star defensive back Kailib Dillard, who is committed to Florida.<\/p>\n Trenton Yancey, Duncanville, WR<\/p>\n Duncanville at Allen, 7 p.m. Friday<\/strong><\/p>\n The four-star Purdue pledge<\/a> is rated the 36th-best wide receiver in the nation in the Class of 2027, and he caught 55 passes for 852 yards and eight touchdowns and also ran for 390 yards and 10 scores as a junior for Duncanville\u2019s Class 6A Division I state runner-up team<\/a>. He will be going up against an Allen defense that was one of the best in the Dallas area last season, allowing just 11.4 points and 201.7 yards of total offense per game.<\/p>\n Quarterback Jayden Williams throws passes during a drill as South Oak Cliff High School held their first day of football practice on Monday morning, August 10, 2026.<\/p>\n Stewart F. House\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n Jayden Williams. South Oak Cliff, QB<\/p>\n South Oak Cliff vs. Richmond Randle, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Prairie View A&M<\/strong><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In his first year as the varsity starter, Williams threw for 2,742 yards and 28 touchdowns and led South Oak Cliff to a 15-1 record and the Class 5A Division II state title<\/a>. Williams was 12 for 13 and threw a touchdown pass in a 35-19 win over\u00a0Randle in last year\u2019s state championship game as SOC won its third state title in five years. Williams will need a big game, as Randle returns five-star Texas pledge Landen Williams-Callis at running back after he ran for 3,502 yards and 59 touchdowns as a junior.<\/p>\n Damarion Mays, North Crowley, WR<\/p>\n Aledo at North Crowley, 7 p.m. Friday at Crowley ISD Stadium<\/strong><\/p>\n Mays is rated the 16th-best wide receiver in the nation in the Class of 2028 and already lists 40 college offers, including Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Mays caught 54 passes for 843 yards and 11 touchdowns last year for a 12-2 team and will start his 2026 season against Aledo, winner of a UIL-record 12 state championships.<\/p>\n JayQuan Snell, Waxahachie, S<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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