Southeast Texas high school football player of the year candidates for 2023

From DJ Lagway (Florida) to Mabrey Mettauer (Wisconsin), here are 15 players who have stood above the pack

As the 2023 Texas high school is in the final week of the regular season, SBLive is taking a look at the players who have had the best individual seasons in each region. 

We started with Central Texas, then South Texas and North Texas. Now, we're turning our attention to Southeast Texas, before finishing with West and East Texas.

If the season ended today, who would be the Southeast Texas Player of the Year for 2023?

Scroll down and read up on 15 standouts and stay tuned for a reader poll to pick the winner:

SOUTHEAST TEXAS PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES

DJ Lagway, 5-star Florida commit, releases a pass in a win over College Park / Photo by Dustin Nguyen

Hunter Andrews, running back

High school: Magnolia

The future Utah Ute running back has his second straight 1,000-yard season for the Bulldogs. He’s at 1,170 yards this year with 15 touchdowns, surpassing last year’s total in both categories. He’s picking up a little more than 9 yards per carry. He also has three touchdowns receiving on 15 catches.

Da’Shawn Burton, running back

High school: Needville

The junior leads the greater Houston area with 22 touchdown runs through eight weeks of the season. He’s ran for 1,717 yards and is averaging 7.3 yards per carry for the Blue Jays. He’s had 200 yards or more yards in six of nine games this year. 

Jalen Charles, defensive end

High school: Manvel

The senior is perhaps the Houston area quarterbacks' biggest nightmare. He picked up 10 sacks in his first six games while adding 18 hurries, 18 tackles for loss and 45 tackles for the Mavericks. He’s committed to Memphis.

Montreal Fisher, wide receiver

High school: Houston Madison

The versatile sophomore has over 1,000 yards in all-purpose yards for the Marlins. He has 672 yards receiving, 386 yards on kick return, 223 yards on punt returns and 12 total touchdowns this fall. Had a career-best 4 touchdowns and 233 yards in a Week 5 win against Houston Austin.

Davion Godley, running back

High school: Fulshear

The 5-foot-8 back has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row. He has 1,380 yards and has run for 100 yards or more in every game so far in 2023. He’s averaging 12.5 yards per carry — about 3 yards more per carry compared to last year when he ran for 2,138 yards and 9 yards per carry.

DeBraun Hampton, wide receiver

High school: Willis

The senior has put up big numbers for the Wildkats, leading the team with 11 touchdown catches. He has hauled in 30 passes for 730 yards. He has 100 yards or more in four games and touchdowns in six of seven games.

Braxton Jones, linebacker

High school: Nacogdoches

The senior has been a tackling machine for the Dragons and it started with 27 in the first game of this season. He has 110 tackles, 14 TFL and 4 sacks. He had 130 tackles last year in 10 games.

Bret Kilchrist, quarterback

High school: Houston Christian

The dual-threat quarterback has put big numbers for the Mustangs, eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark in passing in Week 8, sitting with 2,454 yards with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions — completing 73% of his passes. He’s also ran for 100 yards or more twice this year and had six more touchdowns on the ground.

D.J. Lagway, quarterback

High school: Willis

Each week, the Miami (Florida) pledge puts up video-game-like numbers and is coming off a career-high 543 yards passing against Conroe Caney Creek in Week 8. The senior has thrown for 3,218 yards with 56 touchdowns and five interceptions and added nine touchdown runs and 609 rushing yards through 10 weeks.

Trent Lancaster, linebacker

High school: Houston Klein Cain

The senior is averaging 13.5 tackles per game for the Hurricanes. He has 108 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries. He had 140 tackles last year and earned all-district honors for the second year in a row.

Cameron Mathews, running back

High school: Houston Dobie

The junior is picking up about 163 yards per game on the ground for the Longhorns in seven games in 2023. He’s recorded 100 yards or more in six of seven games and has 1,633 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ran for a career-high 225 yards in Week 7 against Pasadena Memorial.

Mabrey Mettauer, quarterback 

High school: The Woodlands

He’s passed for 2,400 yards or more the past two seasons and is on track to do that again. Through 10 games, the Wisconsin pledge had thrown for 2,121 yards with 28 touchdowns and hasn’t been picked off all season. He has 87 career touchdown passes and will surpass 100 if he can surpass with a long playoff run.

Trey Owens, quarterback

High school: Cy-Fair

The Texas pledge has thrown for three or more touchdowns in seven of his first nine games in 2023. He’s completing 75.4% of his passes and has 2,318 yards with 32 touchdowns for the Bobcats.

Cory Richardson, defensive tackle

High school: Bellville

He set the school record for squat with a 605 lift in June. This fall, he’s been a monster on the front line for the Brahamas. He put up 9 1/2 sacks, 40 tackles, 4.5 TFL and 18 quarterback hurries in his first six games this season.

Kaiden Shoemake, linebacker

High school: Freeport Brazosport

The senior middle linebacker has recorded more than 100 tackles (141) in nine games, eclipsing the 108 he had in 11 games last season. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior has broken up two passes and caused a fumble as well for the winless Exporters.

-- Cody Thorn | @sblivetx

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Lead photo by Dana Strange.