Top East Texas high school football players: Meet the 20 best wide receivers

From Tyler, to Longview, to Texarkana, to Port Arthur, East Texas is loaded with backfield talent

As the Texas high school football season roars on, SBLive continues its look at the top players across the state by position and region.

We identified the top 20 quarterbacks in each region, starting in North Texas, then Central Texas, South Texas, East Texas, Southeast Texas and West Texas.

>> Top 25 Texas high school football rankings (9/18/2023)

Then we moved to running backs in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the rest of North Texas, then the top 20 in Central Texas, South Texas, East Texas and the Houston area/Southeast Texas.

Now onto wide receivers. After scouringNorth Texas and South Texas for the 20 best pass-catchers, we're moving to East Texas.

Here are the 20 best receivers to consider, spanning schools of all sizes across the entire region of East Texas — from Tyler, to Longview, to Texarkana, to Port Arthur.

TOP 20 WIDE RECEIVERS RETURNING IN EAST TEXAS

Aeryn Hampton, Daingerfield, sr.

Measureables: 5-foot-10, 180 pounds

A four-star recruit with loads of talent and 4.4 speed, Hampton caught 55 passes for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior last season. He led the Tigers to a 10-3 record and a trip to the regional semifinals. The University of Texas commit earned a spot on the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 3A All-State Second Team and Co-District 11-3A Division II Most Valuable Player.

Vosky Howard, Timpson, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot, 185 pounds

Howard, a three-star recruit, is one of the amazing offensive weapons for the Bears. Last year, he made a whopping 64 receptions for 1,047 yards and 14 touchdowns to help Timpson finish 14-1 and earn a trip to the state semifinals. Howard, who earned District 11-2A Division I Offensive MVP, has visited Duke, Vanderbilt and UTSA.

Gekyle Baker, Brownsboro, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds

Another four-star recruiter, Baker is part of one of the most impressive receiving corps in East Texas. Last year, he finished with 712 yards and eight touchdowns, as the Bears struggled to a 2-8 record. Baker, a Second-Team All-District 8-4A Division II selection, is a TCU commit. He is also a basketball standout.

Tamarcus Gray, Texarkana Texas High, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds.

A three-star recruit and Tulsa commit, Gray made the most of his 38 catches last season with 785 yards and seven touchdowns. The Tigers finished 8-3 and earned a playoff spot. Gray earned a First-Team All-District 8-5A Division II nod. He is one of seven returning starters on offense for Texas High this season.

Dylan Downey, 6-2, 190, Sr., Brownsboro

Measurables: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds.

It's not easy to have two of the top receivers in East Texas, but Brownsboro pulled it off. As a junior last season, Downey had 45 catches for 921 yards with 12 touchdowns. Like Baker, he earned a spot on the All-District 8-4A Second Team.

Ethan Miller, Hallsville, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot, 185 pounds

Miller is a talented two-sport athlete who had a strong junior season on the football field, with 38 catches for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Bobcats finished 7-4 and earned a playoff berth in a tough district that includes Texarkana Texas High, Whitehouse and Marshall. Miller earned All-District 8-5A Division II First-Team accolades.

Dequane Prevo, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, soph.

Measurables: 5-foot-11, 164 pounds

Nice to meet you, Mr. Prevo. As a freshman last year, the speedy youngster racked up 645 yards and 11 touchdowns on 36 receptions. The Leopards finished 7-4 and earned a playoff berth. He earned District 7-4A Division II Offensive Newcomer of the Year for his big year.

Clifford Douglas III, Bullard, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot, 175 pounds

Douglas III put together a great junior season last year to help the Panthers finish 3-7 after going winless in 2021. He caught 51 passes for 815 yards and 12 touchdowns. A First-Team All-District 8-4A Division II selection, Douglas III has an offer from Henderson State.

Trae Davis, Troup, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 171 pounds

A dual threat on both sides of the ball, Davis finished with 839 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns 839 yards and 292 rushing yards and three more scores. He also starts at defensive back for the Tigers, who went 6-5 and earned a playoff spot a season ago. Davis earned a Fist-Team All-District 9-3A Division II spot. A three-star prospect, he is getting some interest from FBS schools at defensive back.

Clayton Hart, Price Carlisle, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds

With the potential to break a big play every time he touches the ball, Hart caught 38 passes for 680 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 634 yards and eight more trips to the end zone as a junior in 2022. He earned a District 11-2A Division II First-Team utility spot. Hart has an offer on the table from Army West Point.

Skylar Lewis, Sulphur Springs, jr.

Measureables: 6-foot-1, 160

Lewis led the Wildcats in receiving last season with 570 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore. Sulphur Springs finished 7-4 and earned a trip to the postseason. Lewis earned a spot on the All-District 8-4A Division I First Team.

Bradan Manning, Carthage, sr.

Mesaurables: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds

Manning had a pretty memorable junior season in 2022. He finished with 766 yards and eight touchdowns to help Carthage win the Class 4A Division II state title. Manning, who earned Second-Team All-District 8-2A Division II honors, should step into the spotlight even more with the graduation of two All-8-2A DII First-Team teammates as Carthage looks to repeat. Manning is getting some recruiting attention from UTSA.

Will Wilcox, Winnsboro, sr.

Measurables: 6-3, 190, 

In addition to having a great, alliterative name, Wilcox was pretty stellar for the Red Raiders as a junior last year. He caught 39 passes for 723 yards and eight touchdowns to help Winnsboro finish 10-2 with a playoff win over Atlanta. Wilcox, who is also a basketball standout, earned a spot on the All-District 5-3A Division I First Team.

Jermaine Taylor, Jacksonville, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds

A two-way starter for the Indians, Taylor finished his junior campaign with 502 receiving yards and seventouchdowns as Jacksonville finished 3-7 last year. Taylor, a First-Team All-District 9-4A Division I selection will likely play linebacker at the next level. He is drawing interest from Incarnate Word and UTSA.

Brady Bannister, Edgewood, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot, 175 pounds

Another starter on both sides of the ball, Bannister made plays throughout his junior season. He tallied 60 catches with 670 yards and eight touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and made 50 tackles at defensive back. The Bulldogs finished 8-3 and notched a playoff trip. Bannister earned a First-Team All-District 9-3A Division II selection at defensive back. He has an offer from Howard Payne.

Ty Harper, West Rusk, sr.

Measurables: 5-foot-9, 170 pounds

Harper made the most of his limited opportunities last season to help the Raiders finish 10-3 and earn a trip to the regional semifinals. He had 459 yards and six touchdowns on a mere 16 receptions (28.7 yards per catch). He also played defensive back and earned an All-District 9-3A Division II spot on defense. Harper, a track state champion, has an offer from North American University.

Muziq Gunnell, Kerens, jr.

Measurables: 5-foot-9, 165 pounds

Also a starter at receiver and defensive back, Gunnell finished his sophomore season with 783 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. The Bobcats finished 3-8 but earned a playoff berth in 2022. Gunnell, a multi-sport standout, earned a Second-Team All-District 7-2A Division I spot on defense.

Isaiah Hawkins, Overton, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot, 170 pounds

The Mustangs managed to make the playoffs with two victories last season, thanks in part to Hawkins, who tallied 861 yards and seven touchdowns on 58 receptions as a junior. Hawkins, who earned an All-District 11-2A Division I First-Team spot, brings lots of varsity experience into the 2023 season.

Marcus Field, Lindale, sr.

Measurables: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds

Field had a solid junior season for the Eagles with 42 catches for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lindale finished 8-5 and advanced to the regional semifinals with playoff wins over Vidor and Freeport Brazosport. Field, who earned a Second-Team All-District 9-4A Division I nod, is a Sam Houston commit. The Bearkats are in their first season at the FBS level.

Dylan Bennett, Mount Pleasant, sr.

Measurables: 5-foot-8, 160 pounds

A slot receiver with speed to burn, Bennett caught 42 passes for 500 yards and two touchdowns as a junior in 2022. The Tigers look to turn things around after a 2-8 finish last year. Also a track star, Bennett qualified for Junior Olympics in track and field (100 meters, 4x100 relay).