It's Coming: Texas Football Release Foreshadows Season
Harold Wilson covers sports for the Tyler Paper.
Things tend to be bigger in Texas.
And arguably no bigger thing exists in the Lone Star State than football - more than two months away but in the minds of many.
Those ready to watch football settled for reading about it Monday, when Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine made its way into stores to guide football fans statewide on what to expect starting in August.
While thinking big, the publication's cover concentrates on three top-flight college football players - Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee and Texas Christian defensive lineman Tommy Blake - who all transitioned from small town standouts into big-time stars.
Out around the same time as last year, the 2007 issue invites readers to take a seat and kick up their feet, with another 368-pages of information on the upcoming season.
The tab takes a look at football on every level in Texas, from high school to small colleges, JUCOs, four-year universities and the Big 12 to the NFL.
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Staying true to its roots, the high school section consumes the greatest portion, 175 pages worth not counting the Super Team.
Speaking of the Super Team, Van running back and Class 3A coverboy Jermie Calhoun (6-0, 215), an Oklahoma commit, highlighted the area's selections on the star-studded squad.
Talent-rich Gilmer gave the Pineywoods two more first-team representatives - offensive lineman David Snow (6-4, 300) and defensive utility back Justin Johnson (6-2, 200), who is also a standout running back.
Robert E. Lee offensive lineman Trevius Jones (6-4, 300) and Whitehouse defensive back Steven Hicks (6-0, 180) each earned a spot on the second team.
Several East Texans cracked the Texas Top 300 list of recruits, including Alto linebacker Clayton Scott, Arp receiver Sedrick Johnson, Canton tight end Keavon Minton, Gilmer defensive back Lamar Harris and wideout Houston Tuminello, Henderson tight end Justin Horton and Jacksonville blocker Joe Villavisencio. Also, John Tyler defensive lineman Adren Dorsey, Lufkin offensive lineman Josh Emshoff and defensive back Darius Terry, Pittsburg receiver Kendall Wright and Tatum wideout Chance Blackmon and linebacker Bryce Beall.
The magazine predicted Longview's three-year stranglehold on the 12-5A title to end, picking Mesquite to win the East Texas/Metroplex loop - ahead of the Lobos, Robert E. Lee and John Tyler, in order.
Mesquite returns 11 starters from a 7-5 team while Longview brings back 10 regulars from a 9-3 squad.
JT and Lee, both coming off playoff trips, figure to sport two of the district's top units, though question marks linger on at least one side of the ball for each.
The Red Raiders return nine starters, including six on offense, from a 9-3 team - headed by a gamed offensive line that features Jones and Josh Hahn (6-5, 320) at the tackles, John Landes (6-2, 295) at center and a three-year backfield starter in Jamaal Mitchell (5-10, 195).
The Lions look to six returning starters on defense to ease the load for an offense bringing back only two regulars from a 4-7 team. JT's defense consists of the likes of Dorsey, linebacker's Derrick Choice (6-1, 215) and Chris Ratcliff (5-10, 195) and cornerback Jeremy Johnson (6-0, 175).
Other schools picked to win area districts were Texas High (11-4A), Marshall (12-4A), Chapel Hill (14-3A), Gilmer (15-3A), Liberty-Eylau (16-3A), Palestine (19-3A), Carthage (20-3A), Winnsboro (16-2A), Jefferson (18-2A), Tatum (19-2A), Frankston (20-2A), Maud (19-A), Joaquin (20-A), Alto (21-A) and Trinidad (11-Six Man).
Alto, the defending Class A champion, starts the season ranked No. 1, thanks to 13 returning starters from a 14-0 unit.
Other East Texas teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 include Lufkin (No. 13, 5A), Texas High (No. 13, 4A), Liberty-Eylau (No. 2, 3A) Gilmer (No. 7, 3A), Tatum (No. 2, 2A) and Winnsboro (No. 24, 2A).
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On the college front, Southern California comes into the season ranked No. 1 in the FSN Southwest poll, with Oklahoma at No. 3, Texas at No. 8, TCU at No. 13, and Texas A&M at No. 14.
A writer's poll featuring 16 reporters from around the state overwhelmingly favored Texas to win the Big 12 over Nebraska, TCU to take the Mountain West, Houston to hold off Southern Mississippi in Conference-USA, Troy to prevail in the Sun Belt Conference and for USC to win the national championship and Trojan quarterback John David Booty the Heisman Trophy.
All the writers picked the Houston Texans to miss the playoffs while all but two expect Dallas to reach the postseason under first-year boss Wade Phillips, also profiled in the magazine as the seventh ever coach of the Cowboys.
The NFL section pegged New England to defeat Chicago in the Super Bowl. Dallas received the nod to win the NFC East.
The magazine mentions Tyler Junior College, hoping to turn around a 5-4 season with a new coach in Danny Palmer, as well as a Texas College group bringing back eight offensive and seven defensive starters from a 4-7 team that claimed a share of the Central States Football League title.
With everyone's record at 0-0, now's the time to think big. Because, as the cover shows, if it happens in Texas and involves football, it's no small thing.
And arguably no bigger thing exists in the Lone Star State than football - more than two months away but in the minds of many.
Those ready to watch football settled for reading about it Monday, when Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine made its way into stores to guide football fans statewide on what to expect starting in August.
While thinking big, the publication's cover concentrates on three top-flight college football players - Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee and Texas Christian defensive lineman Tommy Blake - who all transitioned from small town standouts into big-time stars.
Out around the same time as last year, the 2007 issue invites readers to take a seat and kick up their feet, with another 368-pages of information on the upcoming season.
The tab takes a look at football on every level in Texas, from high school to small colleges, JUCOs, four-year universities and the Big 12 to the NFL.
---
Staying true to its roots, the high school section consumes the greatest portion, 175 pages worth not counting the Super Team.
Speaking of the Super Team, Van running back and Class 3A coverboy Jermie Calhoun (6-0, 215), an Oklahoma commit, highlighted the area's selections on the star-studded squad.
Talent-rich Gilmer gave the Pineywoods two more first-team representatives - offensive lineman David Snow (6-4, 300) and defensive utility back Justin Johnson (6-2, 200), who is also a standout running back.
Robert E. Lee offensive lineman Trevius Jones (6-4, 300) and Whitehouse defensive back Steven Hicks (6-0, 180) each earned a spot on the second team.
Several East Texans cracked the Texas Top 300 list of recruits, including Alto linebacker Clayton Scott, Arp receiver Sedrick Johnson, Canton tight end Keavon Minton, Gilmer defensive back Lamar Harris and wideout Houston Tuminello, Henderson tight end Justin Horton and Jacksonville blocker Joe Villavisencio. Also, John Tyler defensive lineman Adren Dorsey, Lufkin offensive lineman Josh Emshoff and defensive back Darius Terry, Pittsburg receiver Kendall Wright and Tatum wideout Chance Blackmon and linebacker Bryce Beall.
The magazine predicted Longview's three-year stranglehold on the 12-5A title to end, picking Mesquite to win the East Texas/Metroplex loop - ahead of the Lobos, Robert E. Lee and John Tyler, in order.
Mesquite returns 11 starters from a 7-5 team while Longview brings back 10 regulars from a 9-3 squad.
JT and Lee, both coming off playoff trips, figure to sport two of the district's top units, though question marks linger on at least one side of the ball for each.
The Red Raiders return nine starters, including six on offense, from a 9-3 team - headed by a gamed offensive line that features Jones and Josh Hahn (6-5, 320) at the tackles, John Landes (6-2, 295) at center and a three-year backfield starter in Jamaal Mitchell (5-10, 195).
The Lions look to six returning starters on defense to ease the load for an offense bringing back only two regulars from a 4-7 team. JT's defense consists of the likes of Dorsey, linebacker's Derrick Choice (6-1, 215) and Chris Ratcliff (5-10, 195) and cornerback Jeremy Johnson (6-0, 175).
Other schools picked to win area districts were Texas High (11-4A), Marshall (12-4A), Chapel Hill (14-3A), Gilmer (15-3A), Liberty-Eylau (16-3A), Palestine (19-3A), Carthage (20-3A), Winnsboro (16-2A), Jefferson (18-2A), Tatum (19-2A), Frankston (20-2A), Maud (19-A), Joaquin (20-A), Alto (21-A) and Trinidad (11-Six Man).
Alto, the defending Class A champion, starts the season ranked No. 1, thanks to 13 returning starters from a 14-0 unit.
Other East Texas teams ranked in the preseason Top 25 include Lufkin (No. 13, 5A), Texas High (No. 13, 4A), Liberty-Eylau (No. 2, 3A) Gilmer (No. 7, 3A), Tatum (No. 2, 2A) and Winnsboro (No. 24, 2A).
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On the college front, Southern California comes into the season ranked No. 1 in the FSN Southwest poll, with Oklahoma at No. 3, Texas at No. 8, TCU at No. 13, and Texas A&M at No. 14.
A writer's poll featuring 16 reporters from around the state overwhelmingly favored Texas to win the Big 12 over Nebraska, TCU to take the Mountain West, Houston to hold off Southern Mississippi in Conference-USA, Troy to prevail in the Sun Belt Conference and for USC to win the national championship and Trojan quarterback John David Booty the Heisman Trophy.
All the writers picked the Houston Texans to miss the playoffs while all but two expect Dallas to reach the postseason under first-year boss Wade Phillips, also profiled in the magazine as the seventh ever coach of the Cowboys.
The NFL section pegged New England to defeat Chicago in the Super Bowl. Dallas received the nod to win the NFC East.
The magazine mentions Tyler Junior College, hoping to turn around a 5-4 season with a new coach in Danny Palmer, as well as a Texas College group bringing back eight offensive and seven defensive starters from a 4-7 team that claimed a share of the Central States Football League title.
With everyone's record at 0-0, now's the time to think big. Because, as the cover shows, if it happens in Texas and involves football, it's no small thing.
Harold Wilson covers sports. He can be reached at 903.596.6293. e-mail: sports@tylerpaper.com
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