ALLEN | CARROLLTON | CELINA | COPPELL | FRISCO | LAKE CITIES | LEWISVILLE | LITTLE ELM FIRST TEAM MCKINNEY | MESQUITE | PLANO ROWLETT | THE COLONY | FLOWER MOUND FIRST TEAM OFFENSE DEFENSE TAYLEN STONE GREEN EBY QB, Lewisville, Sr. DL, Flower Mound, Sr. The Farmers’ offense was The Jaguars were young on among the area’s most ex- offense in 2020, needing some plosive this season, averag- time to fully hit their stride. ing more than 500 yards per game on the Early on, that meant leaning on a defense season. Green, a Boise State commit, had his whose strength resided up front and on the fingerprints all over that effort. Lewisville’s edge where Eby wreaked havoc all season long. second-year signal-caller threw for 2,712 The SMU commit was named 6-6A’s defensive yards and 24 touchdowns while also adding player of the year after posting 60.5 tackles, in- 679 rushing yards and eight more scores on cluding 17 for a loss of yardage, as well as 5.5 the ground on his way to 6-6A co-offensive sacks, two pass break-ups, two fumble recover- player of the year honors. ies and a defensive touchdown. DAMIEN JON JONES MARTINEZ DL, McKinney, Sr. RB, Lewisville, Jr. The other half of 6-6A’s offen- ALL-AREA McKinney was stout once again sive player of the year honor on defense, routinely gaining resided in the same backfield an advantage in the trenches as Green, with Martinez stringing together a thanks to the play of Jones. The 6-foot-4 defensive resounding campaign in just his second year FOOTBALL TEAM end, who doubles as a key reserve on the Lions’ state-ranked basketball team and is committed on varsity. After earning district offensive to Missouri for football, dominated his final year newcomer of the year honors as a sophomore, on the McKinney gridiron — earning a share of Martinez took the mantle of one of the top 5-6A’s defensive lineman of the year superlative rushers in the Metroplex — leading the area after logging 61 tackles (17 for a loss), as well in rushing at the 6A level throughout the entire as 15 quarterback pressures, 14 sacks and two regular season. On the year, Martinez ran for forced fumbles. 2,014 yards on 8.7 yards per carry and scored 020 202 31 total touchdowns. 2 0 JADEN JARED WALLACE WHITE DL, Independence, Sr. RB, Wakeland, Sr. The first-team all-district A first-team all-district se- honoree spent a bulk of the lection, White was one of season in opponents’ back- the area’s leading ground fields. Wallace had 55 tackles, 16 of which gainers, rushing for 1,158 yard and 16 touch- went for a loss, to go along with five sacks downs and averaging 6.8 yards per carry, and seven quarterback pressures. with a long run of 98. White was also effec- MOST tive as a receiving target, where he had 30 RW RUCKER catches for 405 yards and four scores. VALUABLE LOVEJOY, QB, SR. ALESSIO Rucker doesn’t take much time off over the course of the RUSSOLILLO REID PLAYER LB, Lone Star, Sr. school year. A rare three-sport athlete who also plies his WESTERVELT craft on the wrestling mat and the baseball diamond, A two-time Star Local Media WR, Lovejoy, Sr. Rucker spent the fall commandeering a football all-area selection, Russolillo Westervelt had the most pro- season that produced the Leopards’ highest-ever win was the heart of a stout Rang- lific receiving year not just of total at 13-1 and tied the program’s deepest playoff ers defense. Russolillo was all over the field, any player of Lovejoy history run with an appearance in the regional finals. amassing 122.5 tackles, 81 of which were but a season that resonated on a statewide There were plenty who had a hand in Lovejoy’s solo, with eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 12 scale. His 31 receiving touchdowns ranked quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles, historic year, but one pass breakup and an interception. sixth in state history, according to TexasHigh- the team’s heart- SchoolFootballHistory.com. The 7-5A Div. II beat resided offensive MVP caught 89 balls for 1,803 yards under center. MATTEO to pace a dynamic Leopard receiving corps. A unanimous BIANCHI selection as 7-5A LB, McKinney Boyd, Sr. ISIAH Division II MVP, one year removed Bianchi was among the STEVENS from being named area’s breakout stars on WR, Lewisville, Sr. defense and one of several the district’s offensive MVP, cogs in a Bronco defense that fueled the pro- The Farmers were chalked Ruck- er’s statistical output is on gram’s first playoff appearance since 2014. in talent at the skill posi- par with the best of any signal-caller in the state. A true Much of that success came from a stifling tions on offense in 2020, dual-threat quarterback, Rucker threw for 3,417 yards and linebacker corps where Bianchi amassed with Stevens continuing his ascent after a 47 touchdowns and ran for 1,044 yards and 12 more scores. 101 tackles, including 25 for a loss of yard- breakout junior year. As a senior, the West Perhaps most impressive was his ball security, logging just age, plus 11 sacks, 28 quarterback pres- Texas A&M commit held the area lead in re- three interceptions in an offense that wasn’t bashful about sures, 12 pass break-ups, six forced fumbles ceiving yards for all 6A pass-catchers head- stretching the field. and a pair of fumble recoveries. Bianchi’s ing into the playoffs. He tallied 66 receptions Rucker submitted a number of gems throughout his MVP recruiting profile grew as he continued to for 1,162 yards and 13 touchdowns — good campaign, even in his team’s lone defeat. Although Love- produce, committing to Navy and going on to for 105 yards per game — on his way to a be named all-district first team. unanimous all-district first-team selection. joy’s playoff run came to an end after some fourth-quarter heroics by eventual Class 5A Division II state champion Aledo, Rucker went out on his shield. The quarterback BLAKE BLAINE threw for 422 yards, ran for 115 and totaled six touchdowns against an Aledo defense that allowed just 21 points per SLAUGHTER GREEN game in its other 13 games played on the season. LB, Lovejoy, Sr. WR, Allen, Sr. He’ll continue his football career into college as a pre- The Leopards’ record-set- The heartbeat of state- ferred walk-on at Oklahoma. ting offense drew plenty of ranked Allen’s offense resid- attention during the 2020 ed out wide where seniors season, but the team’s defense had plenty Blaine and Bryson Green took turns punish- of say during the team’s 13-win voyage to ing opposing secondaries — splitting 5-6A the regional finals. That included a stacked co-MVP honors as a result. Blaine led the linebacker corps with all-district first-team- Eagles in both receiving yards (913) and re- GARRETT NUSSMEIER er Slaughter tackling any opponent in sight. ceiving touchdowns (13) as one of the area’s MARCUS, QB, SR. The 5-foot-10 senior averaged more than 10 top big-play threats. The Oklahoma State tackles per game on his way to 142 for the pledge averaged 21 yards per catch as Allen On the heels of a junior campaign where he helped year. He was also a valuable cog in Lovejoy’s went three rounds deep in the playoffs. lead the Marauders to their deepest playoff run since pass rush with 10.5 sacks. OFFENSIVE 1997, Nussmeier picked up where he left off with another monster season behind center. JAKE TRENT PLAYER As the LSU commit rewrote the Marcus record books at the quarterback position, TAYLOR ROBINSON LB, Sunnyvale, Sr. OL, Lovejoy, Sr. OF THE his production was right on par as one of the state’s elite signal-callers. Leading a Taylor helped lead the Raid- In addition to their litany YEAR high-flying Marauder offense, Nussmeier ers to their seventh consec- of skill-position stars, the threw for 2,815 yards and 35 touchdowns to utive playoff appearance. He Leopards were formidable in just five interceptions. His efficiency was earned 6-4A Div. II defensive most valuable the trenches. Robinson, committed to Okla- arguably the best in the Metroplex at 72% player honors, recording 133 tackles, includ- homa, anchored the offense line to the tune on completions. ing 16 for loss, two interceptions and three of 127 pancakes and only one sack allowed Adding 128 rushing yards and a touchdown, Nussmeier was near-im- forced fumbles. Taylor was also a two-way on 400 pass attempts. That translated to a possible to contain for opposing defenses. Already an assassin through standout, as he threw for 245 yards and a staggering 99.8% win rate in pass protection, the air, Nussmeier was equally adept at evading pressure and mak- pair of scores and rushed for nine touch- as Robinson was integral in Lovejoy posting ing high-leverage throws when the initial play broke down. downs. its highest win total in program history in The result was another MVP campaign in 6-6A, albeit one 2020. where Nussmeier was denied proper closure. In the team’s reg- ular-season finale, Marcus’ star quarterback suffered a hand CHRISTIAN COLE injury that sidelined him for the Marauders’ bi-district ESPINOZA HUTSON playoff loss to Prosper. CB, Marcus, Sr. OL, Frisco, Jr. Espinoza wore plenty of hats during his final go-around A 6-foot-5, 300-pound junior, at Marcus. He was named Hutson already has offers 6-6A’s special teams player of the year for from the likes of Alabama, DEFENSIVE his work as a punter and returner and also Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M. This past AIDAN SIANO anchored a stout Marauder secondary. Com- season, Hutson was among the most domi- PLAYER PROSPER, LB, SR. pleting passes against Espinoza was a chore nant blockers in the state, recording 117 for opposing quarterbacks, evidenced by just pancake blocks as the regional semifinalist OF THE 27 tackles for the cornerback. Espinoza add- Raccoons averaged 32.0 points per game. The move to honors in 5-6A. ed seven pass break-ups, three interceptions Class 6A has been Siano’s production backed up and a pair of defensive touchdowns to help YEAR a productive one that superlative plenty, totaling Marcus to an undefeated regular season and NETO for Prosper, having 146 tackles, including 24 for a loss district championship. qualified for the of yardage. He added four sacks, UMEOZULU playoffs all three years in the UIL’s largest two quarterback pressures, two pass OL, Allen, Jr. classification and advancing the regional finals break-ups and one interception. JAYLEN The Eagles haven’t lacked in in 2019 and 2020. The linebacker anchored a sti- FUKSA talent on the offensive line It’s no coincidence that Prosper’s quick fling year by the Prosper defense. CB, Reedy, Sr. over the years, churning out transition as a budding 6A power comes The Eagles held opponents to 23 Reedy had one of the more NFL pros and Division I college players aplenty with Siano’s development into one of the top points per game and limited their from that unit. Umeozulu is the latest prospect solid defenses in the area linebackers in the area. Turning heads during four playoff opponents — Mar- and Fuksa was a key part of making waves up front at Allen, anchoring the a breakout sophomore year in 2018 where he cus, Arlington Bowie, Northwest right side of the line at tackle. Umeozulu was the success. The senior recorded a pair of in- netted defensive newcomer of the year honors, Eaton and Denton Guyer — to terceptions and tied for the team lead with named 5-6A’s offensive lineman of the year af- Siano’s arrow continued to point up — cul- less than 20 points per game ter helping block for an offense that averaged 11 pass break-ups while also registering 32 minating with a senior season that saw the during regulation. Siano was a tackles from his cornerback position. 491.7 yards and 45.2 points per game. Despite Rice commit earn defensive player of the year big reason why. playing tackle as a junior, scouts have tabbed Umeozulu as one of the country’s top guard CHIEF prospects for the 2022 class. COLLINS MICHAEL S, Lovejoy, Sr. CHRIS ROSS COACH Even at safety, Collins had a REEMTS LOVEJOY nose for the football last season. OL, Celina, Jr. OF THE Recently committing to Texas The Bobcats relied on a number Prior to joining Lovejoy, Ross had already Leopards turned Tech as a preferred walk-on, Collins intercepted of underclassmen at their skill developed a knack for steering programs in in one of the seven passes during his senior season and broke positions on offense, but they the right direction — and fast. In 2018, he best years of any YEAR up six more throws. He was a tackling machine had a reliable presence at center to operate be- inherited a two-win Red Oak team that program in Class in the secondary with 105 on the year, as well as hind. Reemts fortified the interior of Celina’s of- went on to post a combined record of 5A Division II. two for a loss. He added two forced fumbles and a fensive line, grading out at 97% for his junior year. 20-4 in two seasons under Ross. Lovejoy went fumble recovery on his way to an all-district first- He added 48 pancakes and 38 downfield blocks to In making the move to Lovejoy, 13-1, including an unblemished sprint team nod. Head coach Chris Ross also praised boost a Bobcat squad that came into its own over Ross took over a program with through a loaded 7-5A Div. II district, and Collins for his leadership as one of the center- the back half of the regular season and wound up 11 playoff appearances in 12 matched the program’s deepest playoff run pieces of Lovejoy’s best season ever. advancing four rounds deep in the playoffs. years. In just one season’s ever with a trip to the regional finals. time, he took the Leopards Ross and his staff got the best out of from perennial playoff practically every corner of the Leopards’ ZACH KYLE qualifier to potential state roster, culminating in a postseason that saw ROBINSON LOFYE championship contender. Lovejoy push Aledo like no one else in the S, Lebanon Trail, Sr. OL, Lone Star, Sr. Despite being hired just classification. Of the Bearcats’ six playoff In just their third varsity The 6-foot-4, 280-pound a few weeks before the wins, five came by an average margin of season, the Trail Blazers Lofye was the anchor on the COVID-19 pandemic victory of 33.8 points per game. The sixth put together their first win- line on one of the most pro- put high school sports was a 52-48 comeback win over Lovejoy in ning season with a 6-4 record and Robinson lific offenses in the area. Lofye graded out on hold and strained which the Leopards led by 10 points in the played a big role. The leader of the second- at 91% for the season, recorded 42 pancakes a significant chunk of fourth quarter. ary recorded 95 tackles, with four for loss, and 61 knockdown blocks and allowed only the football offsea- That’s the level Ross had Lovejoy playing a team-high five interceptions, nine pass two sacks all year long. son, Ross and the at this season. breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.