Top 25 high school football players in Texas

No state produces more elite high school football players each year than the state of Texas, with national rankings littered from beginning to end by Lone Star State prospects.

The 2025 and 2026 classes again look to be stacked with talent, including multiple five-star recruits and top-50 national prospects in both age groups.

Below are the top 25 football players in the state of Texas, based on the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Best Texas high school football players heading into 2024 season

1. WR Dakorien Moore — 98.75

High School: Duncanville

Not only is Moore — an Oregon commit — the top player in the Lone Star State, but he’s also the No. 1 wide receiver nationally. As a junior in 2023, he caught 71 passes for 1,523 yards and 18 TDs on 21.4 yards per reception to help Duncanville to a second consecutive Texas 6A D-I state championship. He’s also a star on the track as well. In the spring of 2024, he ran 100-meter times of 10.40 and 10.45, along with a season-best 21.70 200, per MileSplit. He also placed fifth in the Texas 6A long jump finals with a leap of 23-7.5.

2. CB Devin Sanchez — 98.67

High School: North Shore

The nation’s top cornerback, Sanchez measured in at an impressive 6-foot-2, 180 pounds with 32-inch arms at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. He touts a strong size and speed combination, running 10.69 seconds in the 100 meters as a junior. Was a lockdown defender as a junior, making plays at a very high rate when targeted. Despite not seeing a heavy number of targets, he finished with 11 pass breakups and five interceptions.

3. SAF Jonah Williams — 98.21

High School: Galveston Ball

Another No. 1 player at his position nationally hailing from the Lone Star State, Williams is a stud dual-sport athlete in both football and baseball. On the diamond, he’s reached 94 MPH as a pitcher and projects to be a multi-tool player at the next levels. And he might be even better on the football field. He checked in 6-foot-3 ⅛, 206 pounds with 32.25-inch arms at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. As a junior, he was named the Texas District 9-5A D-I Defensive Player of the Year. On offense, he caught 20 passes for 474 yards and 8 TDs, while rushing only 2 times for 144 yards and 2 TDs. Defensively, he recorded 58 tackles, 4 TFL, and 4 INTs, including 3 INT return TDs for the second consecutive season.

4. OT Ty Haywood — 97.90

High School: Denton Ryan

Haywood has established himself as one of the nation’s premier offensive tackles, despite spending the early part of his football career playing defense. He’s a physical specimen at left tackle though, measuring in at around 6-foot-4.75, 297 pounds with 33 ⅞-inch arms and 10-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. He also doubles as a standout in track and field with a stellar 58-6 foot shot put throw as a junior. 

5. OT Michael Fasusi — 97.56

High School: Lewisville

Much like the aforementioned Haywood, Michael Fasusi is a standout on the track as well as the football field. He recorded several 50-foot shot put reps as a junior, per MileSplit, including a season-best 52-2.5. Fasusi also produced a 155-5 discus throw during the spring season in 2024. Also measured in at 6-foot-5, 299 pounds with 9.75-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Has plus length for the position, with arms that measure 34 ⅞ inches.

6. WR Kaliq Lockett — 96.67

High School: Sachse

Lockett is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the Lone State State, as well as nationally. He turned in a strong junior season, hauling in 59 catches for 1,299 yards and 13 touchdowns. And while he still has work to do to fill out his 6’1.5″ frame, he has elite length with arms that measure 33.5 inches to go with 10.25-inch hands. On the field, he shows the ability to win at every level on Friday nights.

7. QB Keelon Russell — 96.09

High School: Duncanville

Few prospects have ascended faster in the 2025 class than Russell, who jumped from outside the top 100 prospects nationally this spring to a five-star by the summer. The 6-foot-3 ⅛, 181-pounder was the Elite 11 MVP in June and has led Duncanville to back-to-back state titles in Texas highest classification as a sophomore and junior. Russell had arguably the best junior season of any QB in the country, completing 74.1% of his passes for 3,267 yards and 35 touchdowns against 3 interceptions over 15 games. Also rushed for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns.

8. ATH Michael Terry III — 96.01

High School: Alamo Heights

Alamo Heights coach Ron Rittimann said he’s yet to find something that Michael Terry can’t do on the football field. The 6-foot-2.5, 211-pounder with 32 ⅛-inch arms and 9-inch hands could play multiple positions at the college level, including receiver, tight end and even running back. As a junior, he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns, also accounting for over 500 receiving yards and 10 more scores as a junior. He also registers as a strong athlete in track and field, posting 6-4 foot high jump and a 11.05 second mark in the 100 meters.

9. LB Riley Pettijohn — 95.28

High School: McKinney

The Ohio State commit is a supremely athletic linebacker, measuring in at around 6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds prior to his senior season and turning in 10.77 second mark in the 100 meters as a junior. Pettijohn has a very productive junior season on the field, tallying 125 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 interception and 5 pass breakups.

10. CB Dorian Brew — 95.25

High School: Conroe

Brew transferred high schools mid-season as a junior, moving from Ohio to Texas, but will be one of the Lone Star State’s premier players in 2024. He measured at 6-foot-0.25, 202 pounds with 30.5-inch arms and 9.5-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Brew also posted junior 100-meter times of 10.75 and 10.84.

11. EDGE Lance Jackson — 95.02 (Pleasant Grove)
12. OT John Turntine (2026) — 94.75 (North Crowley)
13. OT Lamont Rogers — 94.03 (Horn)
14. ATH Keisean Henderson (2026) — 94.00 (Legacy the School of Sport Sciences)
15. RB Davian Groce — 93.99 (Lone Star)

16. WR Andrew Marsh — 93.96 (Katy Jordan)
17. DL DJ Sanders — 93.51 (Bellville)
18. EDGE Smith Orogbo — 93.35 (Alief Hastings)
19. LB Elijah Barnes — 93.34 (Skyline)
20. EDGE Jamarion Carlton (2026) — 93. 34 (Temple)

21. OT Ryan Fodje — 93.26 (Bridgeland)
22. LB Charles Ross — 93.17 (North Shore)
23. WR Daylan McCutcheon — 93.13 (Lovejoy)
24. RB Tradarian Ball (2026) — 93.08 (Texas High)
25. OT Dramodd Odoms — 92.93 (Lamar)