All-Central Texas high school football teams, awards: Alex Green is Player of Year

Tulsa commit hauls in more than 2,000 receiving yards. Who made first team, second team and honorable mention?

The 2023 Texas high school football season is in the books. After a fall filled with tremendous storylines, breakout performances and historic runs, SBLive is taking a look at the best of the best in Central Texas.

We're going region-by-region to honor the most impactful players during the 2023 season in a large, talent-laden region with our individual postseason awards, then first team, season team and honorable mention. 

We started with all-East Texas, all-West Texas, all-South Texas, all-North Texas and all-Southeast Texas teams and awards. 

Who made the cut in Central Texas? Dive into the top individual performers across the region this fall. The team was compiled by correspondent Ryan Childers.

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ALL-CENTRAL TEXAS 2023 FOOTBALL AWARDS

Hutto's star QB had a favorite target — to the tune of more than 2,000 receiving yards — who rode phenomenal senior season to signing with Tulsa

MVP

Alex Green, Hutto, wide receiver, sr.

The senior Hippo wide receiver and Tulsa commit had an impressive final campaign, hauling in 101 receptions for more than 2,000 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was an intricate part of the Hippo' three-game push to clinch a playoff berth.

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Chad Warner, Cibolo-Steele, quarterback, jr. 

The junior gunslinger led his team to a 6A Division II state semifinal appearance and a District 27 championship. Warner had a great year under center for the Knights tossing 36 passing touchdowns and threw for 3,547 yards, while setting eight different school records in the process. He also added five touchdowns with his feet and 204 rushing yards.

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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Walker DiHarce, San Antonio Johnson, linebacker, sr.

The senior defensive leader helped lead the Jaguars to a 10-2 overall record and was named as the Class 6A District 28 Defensive MVP. The defensive signal caller finished with 158 tackles along with 17 tackles for a loss. He averaged 13 tackles per game and has received multiple offers to continue at the next level. DiHarce played in the San Antonio Sports All Star Game on Jan. 6 at the Alamodome.

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NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Bradley Sowersby, Smithson Valley, running back, jr.

The junior Ranger running back has made a name for himself as one of the top backs in the area this fall. As the lead back for the Smithson Valley offense, Sowersby has racked up 1,134 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns on the year while averaging over six yards per carry. The junior helped his Rangers reach the Class 5A Division I state championship for the first time in 20 years.

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FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Hank Hendrix, Boerne, quarterback, fr.

The freshman Greyhound came in relief for the injured junior Jaxon Baize and helped lead Boerne to a second consecutive district championship. Hendrix accounted for 1,586 yards and tossed 18 touchdowns to just one interception.

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COACH OF THE YEAR

Nick Rogers, San Antonio Pieper

From a two win season a year ago to a final 12-2 record in 2023 and a regional final appearance, it is safe to say that the Pieper Warrior program announced themselves as a power in the Lone Star State.

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ALL-CENTRAL TEXAS: FIRST TEAM

Westlake running back Jack Kayser finds an opening during a 20-14 win over Lake Travis on Sept. 22 / Photo by Paul Brick, SBLive Sports

OFFENSE

QB — Will Hammond, Hutto, sr.

The future Texas Tech Red Raider posted video game stats all season long with his arms and legs in his final year in a Hippo uniform. Hammond threw for 3,910 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding 1,094 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

RB — Cole Pryor, San Antonio Reagan, jr.

The junior running back propelled the Rattlers offense all season long finishing with 1,556 rushing  yards and 23 total touchdowns and will be back for one more round next season. 

RB — Jack Kayser, Austin Westlake, sr.

The Army commit was instrumental in the Chaparrals success this year reaching the TX-6A, Division I state semifinals rushing for 1,234 yards and 22 touchdowns.

FB — Ben Carter, Liberty Hill, sr.

The senior lead back for the Panthers in the slot-T offense, Carter rushed for 2,381 yards and 31 touchdowns and helped Liberty Hill reach the state semifinals for the fourth straight year.

WR — Miles Coleman, Vandegrift, sr.

Caught for 1,014 yards and 14 touchdowns to cap a marvelous three-year run as a top contributor in Vandegrift's receiving corps. 

WR — Jalen Cooper, Cibolo-Steele, jr.

The junior set the record for touchdown receptions in the state this year, hauling 23 TD on 63 total receptions and totaled 1,578 receiving yards to help Steele sweep to a District 27-6A title and 6A Division II state semifinal appearance.

WR — Micah Hudson, Lake Belton, sr.

The five-star playmaker showed out in his final season for the Broncos, grabbing 70 balls for 1,370 yards and 18 touchdowns. Hudson, Texas Tech's first five-star, averaged nearly 20 yards per reception and 125 yards per game.

TE — Sam Self, Lake Travis, sr.

The senior was a security blanket for his quarterbacks this season and instrumental in the run game with his blocking, helping Lake Travis reach the regional finals.

OL — Blake Frazier, Vandegrift, sr.

The four-star Michigan Wolverine commit was instrumental in helping lead his Vipers to a district championship and helped the Vandegrift offense average 41 points per game.

OL — Tyler Knape, Lake Travis, sr.

Knape was the anchor on the Cavaliers' offensive line and helped Lake Travis to a trip to the fourth round of the state playoffs. He is committed to Cal.

OL — Preston Honeycutt, Hutto, sr.

Honeycutt was selected to the District 12-6A first team and had over 60 knockdowns on the offensive line this season. He is a versatile lineman able to play all five positions.

OL — Logan Schram, Boerne, jr.

Schram is the leader on an offensive line nicknamed ‘The Great Wall of Boerne.’ He is a three-year starter on varsity, and has yet to allow a sack in those three years. The junior holds multiple FBS offers and helped the Hounds rush for 2,369 yards this season.

DEFENSE

DE — Lowote Jurkin, Pflugerville Weiss, sr.

The three-star defensive end wreaked havoc for opposing offenses all season. Jurkin racked up 10 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 19 QB hurries, and three forced fumbles. He is committed to Stephen F. Austin.

DT — Jussiah Ali, San Antonio Roosevelt, sr.

Amassed 60 tackles — 20 of them for loss — and 10 sacks to help Roosevelt to a 6-4 record, and followed it up with a strong showing in the All-American Bowl on Saturday.

DE — Hudson Woods, Smithson Valley, soph.

As just a sophomore, Woods burst onto the scene helping lead the Rangers to the state finals. On the season, the sophomore totaled 67 tackles with 14 sacks, 16 QB hurries, three forced fumbles, and 29 tackles for a loss.

LB — Elliot Schaper, Westlake, jr.

The junior linebacker was named District 26-6A Defensive MVP. He tallied 108 tackles (13 for loss), nine sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

LB — Elijah Walton, San Antonio Harlan, sr.

The District 29-6A Defensive MVP helped the Hawks to a district championship with a 12-1 overall record. Walton racked up 106 tackles (18 for loss) with seven sacks, 15 QB hurries and a forced fumble. Walton is committed to play at Army next year.

LB — Jaxson Maynard, Smithson Valley, sr.

Despite missing three games to injury, Maynard earned first team District 14-5A honors and the uncommitted senior racked up 13 tackles in the state championship game against Aledo.

LB — Kaden Glass, San Antonio Pieper, sr.

Glass was the undisputed leader of the Warrior defense this year, helping Pieper to a regional final appearance and a 12-2 record with his 115 tackles (16 for loss), 12 sacks and six forced fumbles.

DB — Cole Redding, New Braunfels, sr.

The junior asserted himself as a top cornerback in the area with three interceptions, nine pass deflections and 42 tackles.

DB — Dontae Carter, Cibolo-Steele, sr.

The Vanderbilt commit and four-star safety broke the school record for career interceptions, picking off seven passes to go with his 77 tackles. Carter is listed as the No. 2 safety in the country.

DB — McCoy Bruce, Boerne, sr.

The senior two-way standout made his bread on the defensive end. He intercepted five passes, had nine pass breakups, 30 tackles and a forced fumble on the season.

DB — Cai “Peyton" Morgan, Pflugerville-Weiss, sr.

The Texas Tech commit and four-star cornerback came up with 77 tackles and seven interceptions, helping lead Weiss to a 10-2 record.

SPECIAL TEAMS

ATH — Michael Terry, Alamo Heights, soph.

The do-it-all four-star athlete for the Mules never leaves the field and stars as quarterback, running back, receiver, returner, and as a defensive back. Offensively, he tallied 1,531 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns, while defensively he had 15 tackles with one pick-six.

ATH — Zahir Livingston, San Antonio Davenport, sr.

Livingston was a star on both sides of the ball this year. Defensively, he racked up 151 tackles averaging 12 per game, six sacks, and 13 QB hurries.

K — Clayton Amaya, Smithson Valley, sr.

The Arkansas State commit solidified himself as one of the top legs in the area, helping lead the Rangers to the state championship game. Amaya set the record for longest field goal made in the title game with a 49-yard field goal. Earlier this season, he notched a 56-yard field goal.

P — Kaden Turner, Schertz-Clemens, sr.

Turner gave the Buffaloes another dimension. He pinned eight punts inside the 20. He averaged 43 yards per punt and had a long of 66 yards.

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ALL-CENTRAL TEXAS FOOTBALL: SECOND TEAM

Dripping Springs' Kyle Koch capped a tremendous high school career with a 1,300-yard senior season / Photo by Blake Purcell

OFFENSE

QB — Cody Stoever, Wimberley, jr. (4,577 total yards and 73 total touchdowns)

RB — Brennan Carroll, San Antonio Roosevelt (2,253 rushing yards, 26 touchdowns)

RB — Kiefer Siebley, Waco-Connally (1,874 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns)

WR — Kyle Koch, Dripping Springs (80 receptions, 1,314 receiving yards, 18 total touchdowns)

WR — Lance Beeghley, New Braunfels, sr. (62 receptions, 957 yards and 7 touchdowns)

WR — Adrian Wilson, Pflugerville Weiss, sr. (60 receptions, 1,003 yards, 14 touchdowns)

OL — Gavin Espinoza, New Braunfels, sr. (He Led the team with 54 pancake blocks)

OL — William Mack, Smithson Valley, sr. (Mack was the leader of the offensive line that produced 2,809 rushing yards)

OL — Xavier Wilburn, San Antonio Johnson, sr. (The leader up front helping carve out 3,011 rushing yards as a team)

OL — Ory Williams, San Marcos, San Marcos, sr. (First team all District 27 selection) (LSU commit)

DEFENSE

DE — Connor Vasek, Austin- Westlake, jr. (27 tackles, three sacks

DE — Jett Thompson, San Antonio Reagan, sr. (77 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked punt)

DT — Will Sloan, Austin Westlake, sr. (17 tackles, 4 sacks)

DT — Braden Bays, Boerne, jr. (53 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 8 QB hurries)

LB — Markus Boswell, Lake Travis, sr. (80 tackles, 9 sacks)

LB — Jeremiah Vallejo, Holy Cross, sr. (95 tackles, 3 tackles for loss)

LB — Leo Bisessi, San Antonio Reagan, sr. (84 tackles, 4 sacks)

LB — Kesean Meeks, Ellison-Killeen, sr. (167 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 4 sacks)

DB — Zach Gingrich, Smithson Valley, sr. (8 interceptions)

DB — Reece Madigan, San Antonio Pieper, sr. (33 tackles, 7 interceptions)

DB — Braylen Wortham, College Station, jr. (8 interceptions)

DB — Austin Young, Randolph (Universal City), sr. (55 tackles, 7 interceptions)

ATH — Peyton Matthews, San Antonio Harlan, soph. (1,223 all-purpose yards, 13 TDs)

ATH — Kobe Black, Waco-Connally, sr. (713 all-purpose yards, 7 touchdowns, 3 interceptions)

K — Spencer Barnett, Austin-Westlake, sr. (43-45 extra points made, 10 made field goals, 59-yard long)

P — Ty Bush, Boerne, jr. (20 punts, 38-yard average, 50-yard long, 8 punts pinned inside the 20 yard line.)

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HONORABLE MENTION

Deuce Adams, Austin-Vandegrift

Jax Brown, Weiss

Ty Hawkins, San Antonio Johnson

Lorenn Johnson, San Antonio Johnson

Brad Jackson, San Antonio Reagan

Brooks Perez, Boerne

T.J. Dement, Boerne

Freddie DuBose, Smithson Valley

Jackson Duffey, Smithson Valley

Nico Hamilton, Lake Travis

Arrington Maiden, College Station

Jack Tyndall, Dripping Springs

Jonathan Hatton, Cibolo-Steele

Colton Chmelar, A&M Consolidated

Tony Diaz, San Marcos

Reece Dietrick, New Braunfels Canyon

Cole Munnerlyn, Lake Travis

Triston Hamlin, San Antonio Davenport

Barrett Fallon, San Antonio Davenport

Isaiah Champaigne, San Antonio Pieper

Jake South, San Antonio Pieper

-- Ryan Childers | @sblivetx

Lead photo by Paul Knight/Special to American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK