Texas high school football: 20 most notable Duncanville, DeSoto alums

From Super Bowl champ Von Miller to Carolina Panthers' Laviska Shenault Jr., many memorable players suited up for the Texas powerhouses over the years

The Texas high school football game of the year arrives Friday when Duncanville takes on district foe DeSoto in a nationally ranked matchup between the top two teams in the state.

Whether it be past, present, or future, these two schools have had, have, and are indubitably going to have notable alumni playing on Friday night at DeSoto High School who will surely be added to the list some day.

• HOW TO WATCH DUNCANVILLE VS. DESOTO

Duncanville was founded in 1935 as DeSoto opened in 1956. One of the most famous alum from Duncanville High School is Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who was a star on the Panther track team.  

Duncanville vs. DeSoto: 31 recruits to watch in Texas high school football showdown

The Eagles and the Panthers have four state titles combined, seven appearances combined in the championship to go along with 59 playoff appearances. 

The two storied programs have had numerous players move on from each decorated program to play at the next level and then into the NFL.  Currently, DeSoto has six players while Duncanville has one. 

SBLive Texas took a look this week at some of the biggest names that have called these two powerhouses home:

Ray Crockett, 1981-1985

Denver Broncos cornerback Ray Crockett (39) celebrates on the field after defeating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl XXXIII at Dolphin Stadium. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 34-19.  / RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

High School: Duncanville
Graduated: 1985

After graduating from Duncanville and Baylor, Crockett put together a 14-year NFL career, winning two Super Bowls along the way. He had 33 career interceptions and played for three different teams.

Ricky Williams, 1994-1998

High school: Duncanville
Graduated: 1998

A running back, Williams two season in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts appearing in 23 games after going undrafted out of Texas Tech University. Williams gained 190 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Not to be confused with former All-Pro Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, who is from San Diego and played at the same time. 

Barry Foster, 1982-1986

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Barry Foster (29) in action against Los Angeles Raiders defensive end Anthony Smith (94) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in November 1994 / Long Photography-USA TODAY NETWORK

High School: Duncanville
Graduated: 1986

After Duncanville, Foster went on to play football at Arkansas before being drafted into the NFL in the fifth round. Foster played five seasons at the running back position for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1990-1994. His career accomplishments include 3,943 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns.

Adam Butler, 2008-2012

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69) celebrates with Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (90) after making a play against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 15 / Photo by Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA Today Sports

High school: Duncanville
Graduated: 2012

The former Duncanville defensive tackle is the only current Panther in the NFL as he is on the Las Vegas Raiders. After high school, Butler moved on to play at the University of Vanderbilt, and has played for three teams since entering the league from 2017-2023 playing in 86 games.

Dashaun Phillips, 2004-2008

High school: Duncanville
Graduated: 2008

After starring for the Panthers in the defensive secondary, Phillips moved on to play his college ball at Tarleton State. He had his best year in 2011, when he won Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year as he had seven interceptions. Phillips went undrafted in 2014, but signed a free agent deal with the Dallas Cowboys. 

William Powell, 2002-2006

High school: Duncanville
Graduated: 2006

Powell started his life after Duncanville in junior college at Navarro College, before moving onto playing at Kansas State University. While at KSU, he was able to score four touchdowns and then had a three year career  after going undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. His best year was in 2012 with the Arizona Cardinals as he had 217 rushing yards.

Josh Harris, 2005-2009

High school: Duncanville
Graduated: 2009

The 2009 Panther graduate starred in two sports while at Duncanville before moving onto playing football at Wake Forest University. Harris had over 1,100 plus rushing yards and nine touchdowns in his collegiate career. He played one season in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014.

William Glass, 1972-1976

High school: Duncanville
Graduated: 1976

The former Panther offensive lineman went on to play at the University of Baylor before playing one season in the NFL after getting drafted in the fourth round by the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Laviska Shenault Jr, 2013-2017

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker (55) tackles Carolina Panthers wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (5) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 15, 2023 / Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2017

Shenault starred in college at the University of Colorado after his time at DeSoto. He played just three seasons as a Buffalo before being a second-round draft pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL Draft. Shenault has shown elite speed while in the league, and is now a top target for the Carolina Panthers.

Ed Ingram, 2013-2017

LSU Tigers guard Ed Ingram (70) reacts after a touchdown against the Mississippi Rebels during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium / Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2017

The big offensive lineman was a star at LSU as part of the 2019 Tiger squad that won a national championship. In 2021 he was a second team All-SEC selection, and then was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

Jalen Mills, 2008-2012

LSU Tigers safety Jalen Mills (28) reacts after making a defensive play against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first quarter at NRG Stadium / Thomas B. Shea, USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2012

After starring for the Eagles in the 2011 Texas State Playoffs, Mills took his talents to the next level at LSU. Mills had six interceptions during his time in Baton Rouge and was named a college All-American by CBS Sports in 2015. The star defensive back was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft and helped win a Super Bowl in 2017. He is currently on the New England Patriots. 

Von Miller, 2003-2007

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller (40) gets off the line against the Giants :: Jamie Germano/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, USA TODAY NETWORK

High School: DeSoto
Graduated: 2007

Von Miller is one of the most decorated DeSoto Eagle alumni as he has been on a star on every level of football he has played. After high school, he was a top 15 recruit in the nation and signed with Texas A&M where he recorded 33 sacks in four years and winning the Butkus Award in 2010, an award given to the nation's top linebacker.  Miller was drafted as the second overall pick in the first round to the Denver Broncos. In 2021, he helped the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl.

Xavier Newman-Johnson, 2013-2017

Baylor Bears offensive lineman Xavier Newman-Johnson (55) blocks during the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. OSU won 24-14 / Brett Rojo, USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto 
Graduated: 2017

The Texas All-American and All-State selection moved onto Baylor after his playing days at DeSoto, where he was a star on the offensive line. He helped the Bear offense to average nearly 220 yards rushing per game before going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. Newman-Johnson made his debut for the Tennessee Titans in the final week last year, and has appeared in four games. He is currently on the New York Jets practice squad. 

A.J. Green, 2012-2016

A.J. Green (4) celebrates tackling Texas A&M Aggies running back Isaiah Spiller (28) (not pictured) for a loss of yards in the first half at NRG Stadium / Photo by Thomas Shea, USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2016

The former Eagle corner back committed to and played for Oklahoma State after high school and had a solid career for the Cowboys. He was named second team All-Big 12 two times. He went undrafted in 2020 and signed a free agent deal with the Cleveland Browns. He has played periodically for the Brown over the last three seasons, compiling 39 tackles and two interceptions. 

Brian Jackson, 2001-2005

Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Brian Jackson (2) breaks up a pass intended for Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Dameron Fooks (83) in the second half at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Oklahoma won the game 27-0 / Photo by John Rieger, USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2005

After high school, the class of 2005 cornerback played his college ball in Norman, Oklahoma for the Sooners. He sustained a two-year career in the NFL playing for the New York Giants and St. Louis Rams. 

Jimmy Wyrick, 1991-1995

High school: Desoto
Graduated: 1995

The former Eagle wide receiver converted to defensive back at the University of Minnesota, which led to a NFL career on the defensive side of the ball. He had a four-year career in the league playing for the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins, compiling 84 tackles. After football, he became a firefighter and paramedic for the Dallas Fire Department. His son, Jimmy Wyrick, was a standout at South Oak Cliff and plays at Stanford.

Byron Hanspard, 1990-1994

Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Byron Hanspard (4) hurdles Texas Christian Horned Frogs linebacker Vincent Pryor (89) at Amon G. Carter Stadium / RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 1994

The former Eagle running back had a great collegiate career at Texas Tech, where he was unanimously selected as the winner of the Doak Walker Award (award given to nation's top running back) in 1996. Hanspard was a second round draft pick in the 1997 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons. He had a great rookie season — 1,387 all-purpose yards — most of which came on special teams as a kick returner. The 1996 collegiate All-American had a five year NFL career.

Tim Hendrix, 1983-1987

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 1983

The former Eagle tight end played his college ball at the University of Tennessee. In his four years on Rocky Top, he scored four touchdowns, but went undrafted in the 1987 NFL Draft. Hendrix signed with the Dallas Cowboys and appeared in three games in 1987 for the Cowboys and the Chicago Bears.  

Tatum Bell, 1996-2000

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2000

Coming out of high school, the former Eagle running back had one of the most decorated careers in college and in the NFL. Bell, played three seasons for Oklahoma State where he is the fourth leading rusher in school history with 4,285 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. After his stellar career in Stillwater, Bell spent five seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions as he had 2,773 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns. 

Mike Thomas, 2001-2005

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Mike Thomas (10) runs against the defense of UCLA Bruins guard Sonny Tevaga (55) and linebacker Akeem Ayers (40) in the second half at the Rose Bowl. Arizona defeated UCLA 31-10 / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

High school: DeSoto
Graduated: 2005

The Eagle wide receiver received a scholarship to play his collegiate ball at Arizona University, where he had a stellar career in 48 games played. Thomas set Pac 12  and Arizona records as he hauled in 259 catches for 3,231 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns. He was a fourth round draft pick in 2009 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he spent three years before moving on and playing for the Lions, Cardinals, and Texans through 2015. While in the pros, he caught 176 catches and seven touchdowns. 

-- Ryan Childers | ryanchilders0455@gmail.com | @sblivetx

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