2025 East Texas High School Football Preseason Dream Team

Published 8:17 pm Thursday, July 31, 2025

The 18th annual East Texas High School Football Preseason Dream Team consists of players from the combined coverage area of the Longview News-Journal, Tyler Morning Telegraph, Marshall News Messenger, Kilgore News Herald, Panola Watchman, Henderson News, Nacogdoches Sentinel and Lufkin News.

The voting panel included Jack Stallard of the Longview News-Journal, Phil Hicks and Brandon Ogden of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Lauren Rosenberg of the Marshall News Messenger, Ryan Silapan of the Panola Watchman, Audrey Blaschke of the Henderson News, Nathan Hague of the Nacogdoches Sentinel, Edwin Quarles of the Lufkin Daily News.

Preseason offensive MVP Jett Surratt of Carthage repeated as preseason Most Valuable Player, and he  joins a list that includes Tyrik Rollison of Sulphur Springs (2008), Traylon Shead of Cayuga (2009), Trey Metoyer of Whitehouse (2010), Del Barnes of Henderson (2011), Greg Ward of John Tyler (2012), Patrick Mahomes of Whitehouse (2013), Larry Pryor of Sulphur Springs (2014), Zach Hall of Tyler Lee (2015), Jeremiah Crawford of Mineola (2016), Keontay Ingram of Carthage (2017), Gunner Capps of Carthage (2018), Haynes King of Longview (2019), Jordan Jenkins of Lindale (2020), Brandon Tennison of Gilmer (2021), Jalen Hale of Longview (2022) and Taylor Tatum of Longview (2023).

Heading up the defensive side is preseason MVP DaQuives Beck of Carthage. Previous defensive MVPs include Jamarkus McFarland of Lufkin (2008), Ashton Dorsey of John Tyler (2009), Steve Edmond of Daingerfield (2010), Dalton Santos of Van (2011), DeMarkus Lathan of Longview (2012), Josh Walker of Gilmer (2013), Daylon Mack of Gladewater (2014), Demarco Boyd of Gilmer (2015), Lagarryon Carson of Liberty-Eylau (2016), Demarvion Overshown of Arp (2017), Carl Williams of Lufkin (2018), Landon Jackson of Pleasant Grove (2019 and 2020), Kip Lewis of Carthage (2021), Jordan Renaud of Tyler Legacy (2022) and Travis Jackson of Tyler Legacy (2023).

Carthage’s Jett Surratt. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

OFFENSIVE MVP

JETT SURRATT

Carthage

Quarterback

By the numbers: Surratt completed 235 of 367 passes for 3,380 yards, 53 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in helping lead the Bulldogs to a 10th state championship in 2024. In two seasons, the Carthage signal-caller has sat out most of the second half of games during the regular season (and some early postseason games) but he has still managed to complete 496 of 754 passes for 7,187 yards, 99 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. Has offers from Texas Tech, Houston, UTSA, UNLV and Colorado State (and others)

Carthage’s DaQuives Beck. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

DEFENSIVE MVP

DaQuives Beck

Carthage

Linebacker

By the numbers: Beck, who recently gave a verbal pledge to Texas A&M, racked up 102 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback pressures, a fumble recovery and six sacks. Like his offensive teammate Surratt, he was often on the sideline in the second half of several blowouts the past two seasons but has done major damage during that span with 234 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 45 QB pressures and 11 sacks

Palestine Westwood’s Kavian Bryant. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Kavian Bryant

School: Palestine Westwood

Position: Quarterback

By the numbers: 145 of 182 passing for 2,776 yards, 37 touchdowns and three interceptions; 81 carries, 871 yards, 14 TD

Carthage’s KJ Edwards. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

K.J. Edwards

School: Carthage

Position: Running back

By the numbers: 143 carries, 1,785 yards, 23 TD; 31 catches, 382 yards, 3 TD. Verbal to Texas A&M

Mount Enterprise’s Kaegan Ash. (247Sports)

Kaegan Ash

School: Mount Enterprise

Position: Running back

By the numbers: 1,960 yards, 32 TD rushing; 1 catch, 67 yards, 1 TD; Has rushed for 6,820 yards and 96 TD in his career. Verbal to Texas Tech

Texas High’s Tradarian Ball carries the ball against Tyler Legacy this season at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tradarian Ball

School: Texas High

Position: Running back

By the numbers: 777 yards, 14 TD rushing; 44 catches, 1,017 yards, 11 TD receiving. Verbal to Oregon

Carthage’s Junior Henderson. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Keymian Henderson

School: Carthage

Position: Receiver

By the numbers: 64 catches, 1,085 yards, 18 TD. Offers from TCU, Arkansas, Kansas State, Mississippi State and Houston

Winnsboro’s Camden Capehart races to the end zone for a touchdown against Atlanta in Ore City. (Shiela Haynes/Contributed)

Camden Capehart

School: Winnsboro

Position: Receiver

By the numbers: 56 catches, 1,379 yards, 25 TD. Holds 25 offers. Mississippi State verbal

Tyler’s Trey Haralson. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Trey Haralson

School: Tyler High

Position: Receiver

By the numbers: 32 catches, 682 yards, 12 TD

Waskom’s Nate Espy. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Nate Espy

School: Waskom

Position: Fullback

By the numbers: 900 yards, 11 TD rushing. Offers from Howard Payne, ETBU, Midwestern State, Texas College, Louisiana College

Arp’s Jaxon Schminkey. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Jaxon Schminkey

School: Arp

Position: Tight end

By the numbers: 5 catches, 86 yards. Solid blocker. First team all-district, second team All-State (Padilla)

Longview’s Jayden Jackson. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Jayden Jackson

School: Longview

Position: Offensive line

By the numbers: 6-1, 250 pounds. Graded out a 83 percent for a team that rushed for more than 3,000 yards and passed for 1,000

Gilmer’s Ismael Camara. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Ismael Camara

School: Gilmer

Position: Offensive line

By the numbers: 6-6, 350 pounds. Tranfer from France had to play JV last season. Offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas Tech, SMU, TCU, UTSA and others

Tyler Legacy’s DeMarrion Johnson. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

DeMarrion Johnson

School: Tyler Legacy

Position: Offensive line

By the numbers: 6-6, 320 pounds. Started at left tackle for Legacy as freshman and sophomore. Too many offers to count

Lindale’s Cameron Griffin. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Cameron Griffin

School: Lindale

Position: Offensive line

By the numbers: 6-0, 289 pounds. Graded out at 83 percent with 47 knockdowns, 66 domination blocks and one sack allowed. Offers from Southwestern Oklahoma State, Midwestern State and Howard Payne

Lufkin’s Justus Daniels. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Justus Daniels

School: Lufkin

Position: Offensive line

By the numbers: Graded out at 85 percent. One sack allowed. 38 pancakes

Lindale’s Kaleb Walker. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Kaleb Walker

School: Lindale

Position: Defensive line

By the numbers: 6-3, 262 pounds. 89 tackles, 20 TFL, 10 sacks, 26 QB knockdowns, 2 fumble recoveries. Verbal to Houston

Kilgore’s Cameron Christian. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Cameron Christian

School: Kilgore

Position: Defensive line

By the numbers: 6-1, 295 pounds. 106 tackles, 8 TFL, 6 sacks. Has 187 tackles and 10 sacks last two seasons

Gilmer’s Tyler Hagler. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Tyler Hagler

School: Gilmer

Position: Defensive line

By the numbers: 6-1, 325 pounds. 96 tackles, 1 sack, 14 QP pressures, 1 interception. Has 197 tackles, 4 sacks, 39 QB pressures last two seasons

Texas High’s Duncan McGhee. (247Sports)

Duncan McGhee

School: Texas High

Position: Defensive line

By the numbers: 6-4, 285 pounds. 65 tackles, 15 TFL, 4 sacks, 6 QB pressures, 2 blocked kicks. Verbal to TCU

Chapel Hill’s Isaiah Collins. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Isaiah Collins

School: Chapel Hill

Position: Defensive line

By the numbers: 6-0, 265 pounds. 118 tackles, 8 TFL, 4 sacks, 35 QB hurries

Longview’s Jessier Hampton-Williams. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Jessier Hampton-Williams

School: Longview

Position: Linebacker

By the numbers: 58 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 defensive TD

Kilgore’s LaKeyleon Graves. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

LaKeyleon Graves

School: Kilgore

Position: Linebacker

By the numbers: 136 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 interceptions

Carthage’s Carson Crawford. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Carson Crawford

School: Carthage

Position: Linebacker

By the numbers: 91 tackles, 21 TFL, 22 QB pressures, 10 sacks. Offers from Houston, Texas State, UTEP, Colorado, UNLV

Tyler Legacy’s Jacob Harris (32) and Jaydan Walton (21) tackle Marshall’s Semaj Gatson Friday at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Jacob Harris

School: Tyler Legacy

Position: Linebacker

By the numbers: 90 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 fumble recovery

Kilgore’s Ja’Kalen Sheffield. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

JaKalen Sheffield

School: Kilgore

Position: Defensive back

By the numbers: 124 tackles, 7 interceptions, 14 PBU

Palestine’s S’Vioarean Martin. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

S’Vioarean Martin

School: Palestine

Position: Defensive back

By the numbers: 40 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 9 PBU, 1 blocked kick. Verbal to Texas Tech

Tyler Legacy’s Ethan Brown. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Ethan Brown

School: Tyler Legacy

Position: Defensive back

By the numbers: 105 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 interceptions, 4 PBU. Incarnate Word verbal pledge has 229 tackles, 11 TFL last 2 seasons

Pleasant Grove’s Jamarion Richardson. (247Sports)

Jamarion Richardson

School: Pleasant Grove

Position: Defensive back

By the numbers: Baylor verbal pledge has 26 tackles, 2 interceptions, 7 PBU in 2024

Tyler’s Marvin Espinal gets the Lions on the scoreboard with a field goal during the Oct. 27, 2023 game against Longview in Longview. (Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo)

Marvin Espinal

School: Tyler High

Position: Kicker

By the numbers: 36-38 on PAT, 6-6 on FG including successful boots of 50 and 47 yards

Palestine’s Colt James.

Colt James

School: Palestine

Position: Punter

By the numbers: Averaged 46.9 yards on 33 punts with long of 70 yards

Grand Saline’s Jett Taylor. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Jett Taylor

School: Grand Saline

Position: Utility

By the numbers: 72 of 127 passing for 1,593 yards and 15 TD; 165 carries, 1,862 yards and 30 TD; 44 tackles, 7 interceptions, 2 defensive, 16 PBU. Offers from Louisiana Tech, Air Force, Navy, Army, UTEP, Sam Houston, Florida Atlantic, Utah State, Yale and others

Elysian Fields’ Brandon Kennedy. (Audrey Blaschke/Henderson News)

Brandon Kennedy

School: Elysian Fields

Position: Return specialist

By the numbers: 9 kickoff returns for 233 yards and a TD; 6 punt returns for 196 yards and 2 TD