Spring TXHSFB primer: Top 2021 storylines, potential replacements for 10 area stars, plus notable game dates

The Dallas Morning News’ Greg Riddle and Joseph Hoyt break down notable Texas high school football information to know for the upcoming 2021 season.

The two break down:

• Top storylines
• Potential replacements for 10 area stars
• Notable spring game dates

Read about each category below.

Top storylines

What will spring football look like?

There will be spring football in 2021 after teams had to go without it last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Schools will still have to follow the UIL’s risk mitigation guidelines, but the UIL states that “consistent with TEA guidance, school system governing boards may modify or eliminate mask-related requirements.”

Euless Trinity and Highland Park will continue to follow the COVID-19 rules that their school districts had in place this past football season. Highland Park coach Randy Allen said the one possible change is that his team may use its dressing room, while practicing social distancing, after players dressed at home during the season.

“We follow the same ones as in the fall as far as keeping them 6 feet apart, keeping masks on. We’re going to continue to wear the masks as much as we possibly can,” Euless Trinity coach Chris Jensen said. “Our school district, everything we do, is by the CDC.”

The UIL allows teams 18 spring training practice days, which may be conducted in a period of 34 calendar days. After reaching the Class 6A Division I Region I final and playing its final game Jan. 2 — because the football season was pushed back a month for 6A and 5A schools — Euless Trinity has moved its spring workouts back as far as possible and will condense everything into a three-week window, beginning padded practices May 3 and finishing May 21.

“That’s not due to a UIL or COVID restriction, but more to do with missing offseason in 2020 and playing through Christmas holidays,” Jensen said.

Trinity won’t have a spring game but will scrimmage weekly.

“We don’t have freshmen on our campus, so spring is a crucial time to develop relationships and evaluate talents of our younger players,” Jensen said. “There is so much that we can accomplish in the spring besides football. We do a lot of character development and all kinds of stuff that we didn’t get to do last year.”

Some of the top teams in the Dallas area won’t have spring football. That includes defending Class 5A Division I state champion Denton Ryan and 5A regional semifinalists Colleyville Heritage and Frisco. Those three schools were a combined 31-3 last season.

“I prefer the added week and the added scrimmage just prior to the season,” Colleyville Heritage coach Kirk Martin said. “I feel that better prepares us for success instead of 15 days of tackle football in the spring. We do work on football drills during our athletic period the whole month of May, just without pads and tackling. We don’t usually get kids hurt, and I have all of my athletes, as track and baseball are done.”

Trinity star moves to QB, and other big changes

Euless Trinity four-star recruit Ollie Gordon was unstoppable as a running back last season, rushing for 2,035 yards and 29 touchdowns on 199 carries for an 11-2 team. As a senior, Gordon could become the Texas high school football version of Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson, the 2019 NFL MVP who has run for more than 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons.

Coach Chris Jensen said Friday that Gordon will be Trinity’s main quarterback next season. Gordon, an Oklahoma State pledge who is ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s 26th-best running back in the Class of 2022, played quarterback in seventh through ninth grade.

“He’s going to touch the ball even more than he did when he was at running back. That’s why we moved him,” Jensen said. “We can run a lot of our tailback offense with the quarterback. He’s still going to run the football, but he’s got the extra dimension now of being able to throw it, too. He’s got a lot of talent in that area as well.”

Gary Maddox will become Trinity’s starting tailback after running for 754 yards and nine touchdowns on just 78 carries. An I-formation offense that averaged 43.7 points can now have Gordon and Maddox on the field at the same time.

Two other teams that had double-digit win totals that will face big changes next season will be Highland Park and Mansfield Timberview. Timberview lost 41 seniors from a 10-2 5A Division II Region II semifinalist team, including Army pledge Simeon Evans at quarterback and 1,200-yard running back Deuce Jones.

“We are rebuilding,” Timberview coach James Brown said. “This spring is important to the development of the quarterback, offensive line and defensive line positions. We feel confident in the skill positions we have returning and their ability to rise to the occasion when needed.”

Highland Park has only two starters coming back on offense from an 11-1 team that averaged 40.6 points, and it has to replace quarterback Brayden Schager (a Hawaii signee), its top two running backs, its leading receiver and four offensive linemen, including Stanford signee Jack Leyrer. On defense, Highland Park lost two down linemen, two inside linebackers and two safeties.

“I’m interested in every position. I can’t point to an individual,” Highland Park coach Randy Allen said when asked what the focus of spring drills would be.

Brennan Storer will take over as the starting quarterback for Highland Park, a Class 5A Division I Region II finalist. The sophomore already lists college offers from Kansas, Illinois State, Kent State and Texas State.

Brown said that Jon Smith and Brandon Peteet, who both played in the secondary last year, could compete with Jaeden Marshall for Timberview’s starting quarterback job. Marshall, last year’s backup, is playing baseball and isn’t expected to take part in spring drills.

Brown is eager to see how Timberview’s defensive backs perform during the spring. That unit is led by four-star Oregon pledge Landon Hullaby, rated the 21st-best safety in the nation in the Class of 2022.

“I’m looking for his leadership abilities to rise to the top and make an impacted difference within the locker room,” Brown said of Hullaby. “Toddrick Dixon, Preston Starks, Jon Smith and Jordan Sanford are returning DBs who played their first year of varsity last year. Their growth and maturity are a necessity to our success.”

Allen

New Allen offensive coordinator Tristan Weber started work at the state’s largest high school Monday, and three days later was taking part in the Eagles’ first spring workout. That was a bit overwhelming at a school with nearly 7,000 students, including more than 300 in grades nine through 12 who are taking part in practices the next three weeks.

“It’s hard no matter where you are, but it’s even harder with as many moving pieces as you have with so many kids in the school and in the program ... which is a great problem to have,” Weber said. “None of us are used to this many kids.”

Allen lost 1,000-yard rusher Jordan Johnson (a Hawaii signee), quarterback General Booty (26 touchdown passes) and star wide receivers Blaine Green and Bryson Green (both Oklahoma State signee) from a 10-1 team. The five-time state champion also has a completely new coaching staff, with former SMU and Arkansas coach Chad Morris replacing Terry Gambill as Allen’s head coach after Gambill compiled a record of 65-4 and won one state title in five years at Allen.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. They’ve always had a ton of success here,” Weber said. “The biggest thing we’re hoping to get out of it going into the spring is just be around them, get to know the kids, get to know what their skill set is.”

Weber wasn’t ready to name any names when asked who would be contending for Allen’s starting quarterback spot. But he has an outstanding track record at the position, having worked with Under Armour All-American Chandler Morris (now at TCU) when Weber was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Highland Park, then helping coach five-star Ohio State pledge Quinn Ewers — the nation’s No. 1 quarterback in the Class of 2022 — while serving as the passing game coordinator at Class 6A Division I state runner-up Southlake Carroll last season.

RELATED READING: Quote board — What they’re saying about Allen hiring Chad Morris as head football coach

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Lancaster

Editor’s note: Since the publishing of this story, Lancaster has named a head coach: Duncanville assistant Leon Paul. Below is what was written before the hire was announced.

Lancaster’s search for a new head football coach has been a drawn-out and seemingly interminable process, and no one had been named to replace longtime coach Chris Gilbert as of Friday. It has been more than 2 1/2 months since Gilbert left to become the director of high school relations for the University of Texas football team.

Lancaster has also lost a couple of assistant coaches who left for other jobs. Because of that, a program that normally holds spring practice isn’t planning to do so in 2021.

Coming off a 10-1 season, Lancaster will return quarterback Glenn Rice Jr., who threw 34 touchdown passes, but the team has only seven returning starters as a whole — three on offense and four on defense. Lancaster will have to wait until August to evaluate how players have progressed since the end of last season and to see how players respond when they move to new positions.

The ramifications of not having a head coach in place go beyond spring drills for a program that is trying to remain a Dallas-area power after winning at least 10 games in five of the last nine seasons.

“It’s had an effect,” Lancaster assistant head coach Kenchee Ross said. “Kids know right now there is no one to hold them totally accountable. We’re in a situation where most of our student population is still learning at home. We have probably less than 10% of our kids present. That creates an issue.

“Right now we are running strength and conditioning from 4 to 5, but it’s not an easy thing getting kids to come up here for that when there is no spring [practice], no games and no head coach.”

Arlington Martin

Arlington Martin sophomore Javien Toviano is a four-star recruit who is ranked by 247Sports as the fifth-best cornerback in the nation in the Class of 2023. He could also become Martin’s starting running back next season, although he will have to earn that job, coach Bob Wager said.

“He’s the next big thing,” Wager said.

After starting at cornerback and running for 212 yards in limited time at running back, Toviano could play a major role on offense for a 10-2 regional semifinalist team that averaged 39.3 points. He provides a long list of strengths for a team that will return 10 starters (five offense, five defense).

“Speed, toughness, athleticism, physicality, vision,” Wager said.

Cydd Ford started at wide receiver last year, but he will be given the opportunity to win Martin’s starting quarterback job. He could replace Zach Mundell, who is headed to Army to run the triple option after leading Martin in rushing (488 yards, eight touchdowns) and throwing for 1,478 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“[Ford] is not as explosive and elusive as a runner, but he has great arm strength and can make every throw,” Wager said. “Cydd is athletic and can run, just not like [Mundell].”

— Greg Riddle

Potential replacements for area 10 stars

Graduation may be the only thing at the high school football level that’s undefeated. Every year, coaches watch great players leave, creating the need for other players to step up and replace them. It’s never an easy task, but here’s a look at 10 teams and 10 positions — including five quarterbacks — to watch this spring and upcoming fall.

Cedar Hill

Out: QB Kaidon Salter

In: QB Cedric Harden Jr.

Kaidon Salter was one of the most impactful players in Texas a season ago. As a senior, Salter threw for 2,682 yards and 31 touchdowns, ran for 1,115 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass for a 12-2 team that was the Class 6A Division II state runner-up. He earned The Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Year Award and signed with Tennessee.

In his place, Cedar Hill will likely turn to another highly-touted prospect in Cedric Harden Jr., a 6-foot-2 quarterback who will be a junior next year. Harden played sparingly as a sophomore, but he completed 9-13 passes for 81 yards and three touchdowns, including a touchdown toss to Salter on a trick play in the state semifinal win over Denton Guyer.

Harden already has reported offers from Georgia Tech, Illinois State and Kansas. He’ll also have high expectations for a Cedar Hill team looking to make it back to the state title game.

Denton Guyer

Out: QB Eli Stowers

In: QB Jackson Arnold

Speaking of state title games, Denton Guyer’s Jackson Arnold played in one under tough circumstances. He had played his entire freshman regular season on the freshman team and had thrown one varsity pass before he entered for an injured Eli Stowers on the opening drive of the 2019 6A Div. II title game.

“He was thrown into an unfair situation,” then Denton Guyer coach John Walsh said after the game. “He battled. He’s going to be a great player for us, and I think tonight’s experience will bode well for him.”

This upcoming season, Arnold will get his chance to start under more normal circumstances. Stowers, a four-star recruit, is now at Texas A&M.

Arnold added a little more varsity experience last year, completing 10-17 passes for 90 yards. He also rushed 15 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns. So far, the 6-foot-1 quarterback has four reported scholarship offers: Arkansas, Michigan State, North Texas and Tulsa.

Denton Ryan

Out: QB Seth Henigan

In: QB Khalon Davis

The defending 5A-I state champions will have a lot of players they need to replace, including two-way stars like Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman Jr., Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders and Hawaii-bound safety Ty Marsh, The Dallas Morning News’ Defensive Player of the Year, but arguably the most important position they need fill is at quarterback.

Seth Henigan, the son of head coach Dave Henigan, completed 67 percent of his passes last year, throwing for 3.828 yards, 47 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Raiders were loaded with talent a year ago, but Henigan was a key leader in Ryan’s undefeated season. The day after the state title game he traveled to play for Memphis, where he enrolled early.

Khalon Davis is likely up next. During his sophomore season, Davis completed 35-51 passes for 419 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. He also ran the ball 26 times for 135 yards and one touchdown, showing off the skills that make him an intriguing dual-threat option for the Raiders.

DeSoto

Out: DL Shemar Turner, Byron Murphy II

In: DL Caleb Mitchell, DL Jordan James/DL Justin Ross

DeSoto had one of the most dominant defensive line tandems in the state a year ago. Both Shemar Turner and Byron Murphy II were named first-team all-area honorees after impressive seasons. Turner recorded 82 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, while Murphy set a school record in sacks with 15. He also had 81 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Turner signed with Texas A&M. Murphy signed with Texas. In leaving, they created two massive holes on DeSoto’s defensive line, but the Eagles have a few players that should remedy that.

DeSoto head coach Claude Mathis said rising seniors Jordan James and Justin Ross should take over for Murphy. As for Turner, Mathis said Caleb Mitchell, a freshman on last year’s team, is expected to replace him. Mitchell already has offers from Illinois State and Mississippi State.

Duncanville

Out: WR Roderick Daniels Jr.

In: WR Chris Hicks Jr./WR Lontrell Turner/WR Phaizon Wilson

Duncanville will have to find a new quarterback this year after Grayson James graduated and signed with Florida International, but they’ll also have to replace Roderick Daniels Jr. — one of the most electric playmakers in the area the last two seasons. As a senior, Daniels had 68 receptions for 1,240 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also ran the ball 12 times for 64 yards. He signed with SMU in the offseason.

Luckily for Duncanville, the Panthers have plenty of talent at the receiver position this coming year, starting with Chris Hicks Jr. Last season, as a junior, Hicks had 23 catches for 427 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the team’s second leading receiver. The third was sophomore Lontrell Turner, who had 45 catches for 404 yards and a touchdown. His lone touchdown was an impressive, one, too that included a hurdle in a playoff win over DeSoto.

Perhaps the best option, though, wasn’t on the team last year. Rising senior Phaizon Wilson transferred from Lancaster to Duncanville in the offseason. He’s a four-star wide receiver and former Texas pledge. He’s a name to watch at Duncanville this year.

Flower Mound Marcus

Out: QB Garrett Nussmeier

In: QB Jaxxon Warren/QB Cole Welliver

Garrett Nussmeier, now at LSU, had one of the best regular seasons among any quarterback in the area last season. In nine games he completed 72 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,815 yards, 33 touchdowns and five interceptions. Marcus ended the regular season undefeated, but suffered a major loss when Nussmeier had an injury in the season finale that ultimately ended his season.

Junior quarterback Jaxxon Warren replaced Nussmeier in the first round playoff loss to Prosper but had an injury of his own before halftime. He played through it, but appeared in obvious pain. He finished the game with 231 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Warren will be a senior next year, but Marcus also added an intriguing transfer in Cole Welliver, who spent his freshman season at Burien Kennedy Catholic in Washington before moving to Texas. Welliver is a 6-foot-6 prospect who already has four scholarship offers: Arizona State, Colorado, Florida Atlantic and Washington State.

Fort Worth All Saints

Out: OT Tommy Brockermeyer, C James Brockermeyer

In: OL Charlie Johnson, OL Rick McBroom, OL Jace Lowe

Perhaps there is no bigger loss — in both size and talent — for TAPPS teams in the area than the loss of the Brockermeyer twins. Tommy Brockermeyer was the No. 1 player in the 2021 SportsDayHS Top 100. His twin brother, James, was the No. 18 overall player and the top-ranked center.

Both of the Brockermeyers signed with Alabama.

All Saints head coach Aaron Beck said three players will help replace the loss of the Brockermeyer twins. Jace Lowe (6-2. 295), a transfer from Cleburne, will likely start at center next year as a senior. The two tackles will likely be left tackle Charlie Johnson, a 6-foot-4 prospect in the class of 2023, and right tackle Rick McBroom, a senior who also stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 295 pounds.

Beck said Hunter Fay, a freshman this past year and the younger brother of Hamp Fay (now a quarterback at Michigan State, is another name to watch.

Frisco

Out: WR/CB Chase Lowery

In: WR Aaron Jamison-Johnson/CB Ishmael Taylor

Chase Lowery was one of the most versatile playmakers in the area last year. On defense, Lowery had six interceptions this past year, two of which were returned for touchdowns. He also had 34 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. On offense, he had six touchdowns in six games. In addition to all that, Lowery also handled return duties on special teams for Frisco. He was also considered for the all-area utility player of the year award.

That kind of production will likely require multiple players to help replace it.

Aaron Jamison-Johnson had only four catches for 103 yards and one touchdown as a junior a season ago, but he’s expected to have a larger role on offense this year, according to Frisco head coach Jeff Harbert. Jamison-Johnson also had two interceptions on defense last season.

Helping out on defense should be Ishmael Taylor, a corner who will be a junior next season. He transferred to Frisco this year.

Highland Park

Out: QB Brayden Schager

In: QB Brennan Storer

Brayden Schager had to wait his turn at Highland Park behind two Division I quarterbacks in John Stephen Jones (Arkansas) and Chandler Morris, who spent his freshman season at Oklahoma and transferred to TCU this offseason. Schager waited his turn but proved to be worth the wait.

In his one season as a starter, Schager completed 62 percent of his passes for 3,102 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran 58 times for 236 yards and nine touchdowns. He signed with Hawaii in the offseason.

The line of Division I-bound quarterbacks at Highland Park won’t stop with Schager, however. Brennan Storer, a junior next year, is expected to be the starter this upcoming season. He already has four scholarship offers: Texas State, Kent State, Illinois State and Kansas.

Prosper

Out: LB Aidan Siano

In: DE/OLB Aeden Combest

This isn’t a direct positional replacement, but when it comes to a defensive leader next season, Prosper will likely turn to Combest to replace Aidan Siano.

Siano was a tackling machine for Prosper last season. He finished the season with 146 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, four sacks an interception and two pass breakups for the regional finalists. In a regular season loss to Denton Guyer, Siano had 24 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Siano was a first-team all-area selection and signed with Rice.

Beyond the stats, though, Siano was a leader for the Prosper defense. Combest has already showed that he can be that for the Eagles next season.

This season, Prosper will only give out single-digit jersey numbers to the best players on the team who aren’t offensive linemen. The first person to earn that honor was Combest, who will go from No. 99 to No. 9 next season. Prosper head coach Brandon Schmidt expects Combest to have a “monster season” and to be a leader for the Prosper defense.

— Joseph Hoyt

Notable spring game dates

Flower Mound Marcus: 7:15 p.m. May 12

Allen: 7 p.m. May 13

Highland Park: 7:30 p.m. May 13

Sachse: 6:30 p.m. May 14

Prosper: May 15 at Children’s Health Stadium at Prosper ISD, time TBD

DeSoto: 5:30 p.m. May 19

Cedar Hill: 6 p.m. May 19

Mansfield Timberview: 6 p.m. May 19

Southlake Carroll: May 20, time is TBD

Arlington Martin: 7 p.m. May 20

Denton Guyer: 7 p.m. May 20

Rockwall: 6 p.m. May 21

— Greg Riddle

More TXHSFB

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