Press Pass Sports spoke with Idalou Wildcats head coach Clay White during fall workouts. White enters his fifth season with the Wildcats and is coming off a fantastic season where Idalou went 10-4 while making a run to the UIL Class 3A Division II state quarterfinals. White chatted with Press Pass Sports about the high expectations set with 14 starters returning, and what those extra practices during the playoffs has done for his younger players.

2025 resume

Head coach: Clay White, fifth season at Idalou, 37-16. 20th year overall in coaching.
2025 Record: 10-4 overall, 5-0 in District 2-3A Division II. Class 3A Division II state quarterfinalist.

Returning starters

Offense: 7
Defense: 7
Season opener: vs. Sweetwater, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28.

Football player in a white jersey (number 3) reaches to catch a spiraling football, wearing a green helmet and white gloves, on a field. — Idalou receiver Cooper Hammock-Wilson ended last season with 1,125 yards and 12 touchdowns. [Tyler Anderson/ Press Pass Sports]

PLAYERS TO WATCH

AJ Huddleston, 5-foot-10, 190-pounds, RB-LB, Sr.

Keep an eye on the Huddleston by seasons end. He is the type of athlete with Player of the Year potential written all over him. Huddleston established himself as a bruising back in a dominant run game for the Wildcats last year by chewing up 1,200 yards to go with 325 receiving yards, combining for 19 touchdowns. Huddleston is also a gritty linebacker that totaled 115 tackles, 10 of those for a loss.

Cooper Hammock-Wilson, 5-foot-9, 145-pounds, WR-DB, Sr.

Hammock-Wilson provides balance for the Idalou offense thanks to his big play ability any time he’s in space. The speedy receiver was hard to defend as a junior, snagging 67 catches for 1,125 yards and 12 touchdowns. On top of being an electric wideout, he’s even more scary as a returner on the special teams.

Peytan Moyers, 6-foot-3, 190-pounds, TE-DL, Sr.

Idalou is massive up and down the roster and that’s a big reason why the Wildcats are a Region I favorite. Moyers adds to that stigma thanks to his 6-foot-3 size and versatility. Moyers is a tremendous blocker that can play fullback or go out for passes at tight end. On defense, he’s excellent off the edge, making 88 tackles last season with 10 sacks.