The regular season kickoffs on Aug. 24, as teams across the Amarillo-area gear up for an exciting 2023 campaign. Here’s 30 football players to watch that will make a major impact in the Texas Panhandle.
Camren Cavalier, Canadian, QB, 5-10, 175-pound, Sr.
The reigning Press Pass Sports Player of the Year made major leaps from his sophomore to junior year. Cavalier, the son of Canadian head coach, Andy, led Canadian’s explosive offense back to the UIL Class 3A Division II state semifinals totaling 4,606 yards with 67 combined touchdowns. For his efforts, Cavalier was named as the District 3-3A Division II MVP as well as first-team All-State selection.
Armando Lujan, Sunray, QB, 6-foot, 185-pound, Jr.
What an amazing sophomore season the Sunray gunslinger had in 2022. Lujan put his name on the map throwing for a state-best 4,476 yards with 51 touchdowns. The District 1-2A Division II MVP was also masterful on his feet tallying 763 yards rushing with 16 more TDs.
TJ Tillman, Tascosa, WR-DB, 5-10, 165-pound, Jr.
The ever-explosive Tillman is on the radar of several Division I school’s and seems to be the next in line of Tascosa greats to play at the next level. Tillman was dazzling with his stellar speed last season hauling in 13 catches for 317 yards, averaging 24.3 yards a catch with four touchdowns. Tillman was the District 2-5A Division I Offensive Newcomer of the Year as well as a first-team All-District selection.
Bryce Braden, Stratford, QB-LB, 6-3, 215-pound, Jr.
Is there anything that the 6-foot-3 monster truck can’t do? Braden came into his own for the Elks last fall throwing for over 1,000 yards with 18 touchdown passes, rushed for 947 yards with another 15 touchdowns, and on defense racked up 104 tackles at linebacker with four sacks.
Dawson Jaco, Bushland, QB, 6-1, 170-pound, Sr.
Jaco made the most of his first year as the starting quarterback for Bushland in a big way. Helping lead the Falcons to the third round of the playoffs, Jaco racked up 3,360 yards passing with 41 touchdowns. Jaco was honored as the first-team District 2-3A Division I quarterback.
Max Neff, Pampa, RB, 5-9, 180-pound, So.
Going from junior high to the varsity level was one of the smoothest transitions for Neff in 2022. The District 3-4A Division I Offensive Player of the Year exploded onto the high school scene rushing for an eye-popping 2,033 yards with 11 scores.
Pius Vokes, Amarillo High, RB, 6-0, 200-pound, Sr.
The senior is part of a stacked backfield for the Sandies heading into the 2023 season. As a junior, Vokes used his speed to pile up 526 yards on the ground with eight touchdowns.
Dawson Hall, West Plains, OL-DL, 6-1, 235-pound, Sr.
Hall became an immediate go-to player for the West Plains Wolves, who exceeded all expectations during the program’s first football season winning seven games including a bi-district win in 2022. Hall’s strength is his reputation as he was tough to block making 90 tackles. Hall also makes the move to the offensive line this year.
Charley Pitt, Bushland, DL, 6-2, 225-pound, Sr.
Pitt was the workhorse on arguably the best defensive line in the Texas Panhandle. The first-team All-District selection made life miserable for opponents with his size racking up seven sacks last season.
Cory Stancell, Farwell, RB-LB, 6-foot, 200-pound, Sr.
Though he’s been a four-year standout for the Steers, Stancell may be the best kept secret in the Texas Panhandle. Stancell’s stats are flat out incredible over his career as he’s closing in on 5,000 career rushing yards sitting at 4,848 yards for his career with 69 touchdowns. Stancell has also done his job on defense with 185 career tackles to go with eight interceptions.
Treshun Wilson, Tascosa, RB, 5-10, 205-pound, Sr.
Wilson brings stability to an unrecognizable backfield than the Rebels have seen in years past. The 205-pound bruiser runs downhill, and it showed last season where he tallied 1,038 yards on 157 attempts with 11 touchdowns.
Sam Johnson, Canyon, 5-10, RB-LB, 215-pound, Sr.
The 215-pound bruiser did damage on both sides of the ball for the Eagles as a junior. On the offensive side, the first-team All-District selection rushed for 981 yards on 183 carries with 12 touchdowns. On defense, Johnson was in on 24 tackles while scoring a defensive TD.
Dylan Ray, Randall, RB, 5-10, 175-pound, Jr.
Ray made up a stacked backfield for the Raiders last season and will be counted on even more with a much younger group rolling into 2023. Ray hopes to capitalize on a junior year that saw him rush for 776 yards with 11 touchdowns.
Will Flamming, Amarillo High, QB, 6-foot, 175-pound, Sr.
Flamming takes the reigns as the Sandies quarterback making the third different senior starter in as many years. The expectation is extremely high for Flamming who threw for four touchdowns in limited action last season.
Lleyton Brown, Caprock, QB, 5-9, 150-pound, Sr.
Brown worked his way into the starting role last season and has now worked his way into a leader for the Longhorns throwing for over 1,400-yards as a junior. Brown is expected to be a leader for first-year head coach Rowdy Freeman this year.
Preston Neumeier, Canadian, WR-DB, 6-foot, 160-pound, Sr.
Formerly known as Preston Miller before changing his name over the summer, Neumeier came on the scene in a hurry becoming a go-to weapon for the Wildcats during their state semifinal run. Neumeier hauled in 69 catches for 1,319 yards with 15 touchdowns.
Reid Macon, West Plains, QB, 6-0, 165-pound, So.
Macon was a huge reason the West Plains Wolves exceeded expectations with seven wins in their first year as a football program. Macon played like anything but a freshman throwing for 2,273 yards with 19 TDs.
Julian Cervantes, Perryton, QB-DB, 6-0, 170-pound, Sr.
Cervantes is the heart and soul of the Perryton Rangers. During the summer, Cervantes helped lead the student-athletes cleaning up Perryton after a devastating tornado hit the town in June. On the field, Cervantes had a big junior year combining for 1,767 yards of offense with a total of 20 touchdowns.
Sammy Santos, Palo Duro, OL, 6-2, 265-pound, Sr.
Playing at right tackle, Santos is an anchor for the Palo Duro offensive front. The second-team All-District selection from last year will be counted on more this season to protect sophomore QB Darien Lewis.
Imanol Marquez, Dumas, DB, 5-9, 170-pound, Sr.
The District 3-4A Division I Defensive Newcomer of the Year left his mark in the Dumas secondary last year making 40 tackles with eight pass breakups and two interceptions.
Lyric Smith, Clarendon, RB-DB, 6-1, 180-pound, Sr.
Smith is the Swiss Army Knife of the Clarendon Broncos, and a player first-year coach Aaron Wampler will heavily rely on. Last season as a junior, Smith proved he could do it all rushing for 795 yards and had 709 yards receiving with a total of 18 touchdowns. On the defensive side, Smith made 90 tackles with two interceptions.
Daniel Sianez, Muleshoe, RB-DB, 6-0, 170-pound, Sr.
The very speedy Sianez will be a name fans will hear on a weekly basis for the Mules. Last season, Sianez helped Muleshoe to the playoffs rushing for 1,133 yards with 10 TDs.
Kyler Read, Dalhart, QB, 6-foot-2, 210-pound, Jr.
Read doesn’t look like a junior thanks to his massive frame and nor does he play like one. As a sophomore starting quarterback for the varsity last year, the son of head coach Joey Read, threw for 2,095 yards, rushed for 943 yards combining for 35 touchdowns.
Ethan Nevarez, Wellington, TE-LB, 6-3, 195-pound, Sr.
Neverarez was the leader for a very physical Skyrocket defense that won 12 games advancing into the UIL Class 2A Division II state quarterfinals. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound linebacker was an All-State selection with 135 tackles and four sacks.
Da’Reon Mathis, Childress, RB, 5-8, 180-pound, Sr.
Mathis has had quite the career as he begins his fourth full year as the Bobcats starting running back. Mathis is shifty, and lightning quick and it showed last season when he piled up 1,131 yards with 10 TDs.
Pratt McLain, Gruver, RB-DB, 5-10, 155-pound, Sr.
No doubt new Gruver head coach Kurt Haberthur welcomed inheriting the gutsy McLain to have for at least one season. McLain is extremely versatile and plays with another level of toughness rushing for 574 yards last season on offense and earning 108 tackles on defense.
Brady Thompson, Highland Park, QB, 6-2, 180-pound, Sr.
The expectation is growing at Highland Park under second-year head coach Ty Stout. For the Hornets to continue their buzz, they’ll need Thompson to have a repeat year of his junior campaign where he threw for 2,798 yards with 32 touchdowns.
William Wiggins, Sanford-Fritch, LB, 6-0, 205-pound, Sr.
Not only can the son of head coach Phillip Wiggins sing and play the guitar masterfully, but he can also make life miserable for offenses. Last year, Wiggins was able to lead the Eagles with 103 tackles, nine of those for a loss with five fumble recoveries.
Cole Blasingame, Vega, OL-DL, 6-foot, 250-pound, Sr.
While the Longhorns still try and figure out the skill positions, one less worry for head coach Jason Porton is knowing Blasingame is back to man the trenches. The three-year starter has served as a leader for Vega grading out at 92 percent on offense last year while making 40 tackles on defense.
Damian Barragan, Sunray, WR-DB, 5-9, 155-pound, Sr.
Barragan was one of Armando Lujan’s favorite targets last season and expect to see the speedster making even more catches this year. As a junior, Barragan snagged 79 catches for 1,338 yards with 13 touchdowns.