IHSFAN TOP 10 Team

IHSFAN Top Ten Team Presented by

By: Jake Herman

The 2021 IHSFAN Top 10 Team represents our view of the best high school talent in the Austin area for the coming football season. Each player detailed below is someone to keep your eye on as the Friday night lights are switched on later this year.

things around this season.

Luke Hutchison, McNeil, Senior QB,

The definition of a dual threat quarterback, McNeil’s Luke Hutchison has earned a spot on IHSFAN’s Top Ten Team heading into 2021. As the Mavericks’ unquestioned leader, Hutchison had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders in 2020. Hutchison had already totaled 253 rushing yards in two games before an ankle injury ultimately derailed his season. “With us being a younger team, the coaches viewed me as a leader,” Hutchison told IHSFAN. “Once I got hurt, I knew I had to stay involved… it was good for me mentally.” From the sidelines, Hutchison continued working with the new coaching staff and learning an offense he hopes will turn

Two years ago, Hutchison threw for 1,036 yards and ran for 667 yards and 9 touchdowns. Once he’s back on the field, McNeil will go as far as he can take them.

Darson Herman, Georgetown, Senior QB,

There weren’t many quarterbacks in the state of Texas who were harder to stop than Darson Herman last season. As a junior, he completed 61% of his passes, racking up 3,074 yards through the air and 27 passing touchdowns. He was also extremely effective as a runner, totaling 1,297 yards on the ground and scoring 20 rushing touchdowns. “I think my running ability makes our offense dangerous… it makes it that much harder for opponents’ game plans,” Herman told IHSFAN. “I have complete trust in all of my coaches.”

In his senior season, Herman hopes to further improve upon his decision making and pre-snap ability. “I want to be able to make the right reads and audibles to put us in a position to have success,” Herman told IHSFAN. Watch out for Herman and his Georgetown Eagles, who will be looking to build upon last year’s solid showing.

Few players in high school football represent their team quite like honorable mention all-state linebacker Jake Chambers embodies the Stony Point Tigers. Whether he’s wreaking havoc in the backfield or blanketing opponents in coverage, you can’t miss #44 flying around the field. Chambers averaged nearly 14 tackles per game last season while serving as the vocal leader of the Tigers’ defense. “I enjoy setting my teammates up and putting them in the right position,” Chambers told IHSFAN. He says this applies both on the field and in the weight room.

The Tigers had a turbulent 2020 season that included COVID-related interruptions and cancellations. “It wasn’t a very consistent year at all,” Chambers told IHSFAN. “I’m proud of how our team dealt with adversity.” In a district that just lost an elite group of quarterbacks to graduation, Chambers and the Tigers’ defense should thrive in 2021.

Mason Shorb, Rouse, Junior QB

Mason Shorb’s breakthrough season helped lift the Rouse Raiders to new heights in 2020. The district newcomer of the year threw for 3,100 yards and 39 touchdowns while completing 65% of his passes. Although he was just a sophomore, Shorb showed poise and consistency in the moments when his team needed him the most.

Rouse was 3-0 in games decided by one score, which ultimately helped them capture the District 13-5A title and win two golden balls in the playoffs. It was quite the turnaround from a 1-9 record in 2019. Shorb remembers standing on the sidelines two years ago and learning through the adversity. “We knew we didn’t want to fall that far again as a team,” Shorb told IHSFAN. “Everyone came back hungry.”

As a gifted pocket passer, Shorb prides himself on making the right reads and going through his progressions. As he prepares for his junior season, he hopes to improve as a leader and set his team up for another playoff run.

BUSH’S TOP TEN 2021

Strengthening with every game, LBJ running back Sedrick Alexander burst onto the scene during his sophomore season. In the first few games he was used sparingly as he waited his turn behind upperclassmen. But over the course of the year, it became apparent that he was a star. He eventually became a key cog in the offense, toting the rock 111 times for 1,083 yards and 14 touchdowns. He averaged nearly 10 yards per carry.

With two more years of high school football ahead, it’s easy to get excited about Alexander’s potential. “By starting off early, I set a standard for myself,” Alexander told IHSFAN. He was able to reach that standard over the course of the season, forging a bond with coach Jahmal Fenner in the process. “He’s like family to me,” Alexander said of Coach Fenner. “He’s always there for me…He picks me up whenever I need.”

Tavian Cord, Weiss, Senior ATH

Save for kicking field goals, there isn’t much that 2nd team all-state player Tavian Cord hasn’t done to help the Weiss Wolves win football games. As he enters what will be his fourth year as a varsity starter, Cord told IHSFAN he’s proud of his improvement on the mental side of the game. “Sometimes it’s about taking what’s given and not being greedy,” Cord told IHSFAN. “I’ve been able to know my team both ways, stay in shape and produce.”

Offensively, Cord amassed 1,109 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Most of this production came on the ground, but Cord’s talent has translated to both the QB and WR positions during his high school career.

Somehow, this only tells half of the story - he also excels as a defensive back. Cord most notably forced the game-winning fumble in an emotional win over Manor. He called this his personal highlight of 2020. “I still haven’t chosen if I’ll stick to playing receiver or switch to defense,” Cord told IHSFAN. “But defense is more fun.” For now, Cord will continue to excel both ways.

BUSH’S TOP TEN 2021

Pflugerville’s Elijah Oakmon is the only repeat member of the IHSFAN Top Ten Team. Last year, he racked up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored a career-high 12 touchdowns. In all three of his varsity seasons, Oakmon has consistently averaged around 95 rushing yards per game. Yet on any given night, he can completely take over. Against Weiss, he essentially carried the Panthers to victory by erupting for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Oakmon told IHSFAN that he takes pride in his work ethic. With experience, he has improved his game both mentally and physically. “Putting a lot of work into things like blocking made me a better player and put me where I am,” Oakmon told IHSFAN. “I became more vocal because we had a lot of young up-and-coming players.” One of those up-and-comers includes his backfield mate, Jr. Jake Iloka. The pair complement and challenge one another nicely and will be a handful for any defense that stands in their way this season.

Cade Klubnik, Westlake, Senior QB

It will be hard for any quarterback to replicate the kind of season that Westlake’s Cade Klubnik put together in 2020. As a junior, he led the Chaparrals to a perfect 14-0 record and won the state championship game. He also caught the eye of several of the top programs in college football, deciding on Clemson as his future destination.

Klubnik threw for 3,495 yards and ran for another 583 over the course of the season. While he’s always capable of making the ‘home run’ play, Klubnik was poised, patient and efficient in each game. He completed 67% of his passes, accounting for 50 touchdowns compared to just 3 turnovers. Even on nights when the numbers weren’t flashy, Klubnik made the right decisions to help his team win.

In a Westlake program that boasts alumni Drew Brees, Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger, Klubnik has already cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks in school history. Westlake fans can’t help but feel excited for what the final chapter of his high school career will have in store.

BUSH’S TOP TEN 2021

The next in a longstanding tradition of great Lake Travis quarterbacks, Bo Edmundson got his turn a bit sooner than expected after Nate Yarnell suffered an injury last season. The young signal-caller prides himself on getting rid of the ball quickly and trusting his reads. “If I don’t get it right, I go to the next down and re-set,” Edmundson told IHSFAN. “I try not to hold the ball much or ever be timid.”

Bo’s skillset is already drawing attention from Power 5 schools after it translated to eye-popping stats in just five games last year. He completed a sparkling 68% of his passes, tallying 1,409 yards and 17 touchdowns compared to just 2 interceptions.

The 2020 Cavaliers didn’t enjoy their typical playoff success after enduring a COVID-related pause at the end of the season. While disappointing, it was an experience that Edmundson said brought him closer to his teammates. With Edmundson’s help, Lake Travis will be as dangerous as ever this season.

Caleb Burton, transferred to Lake Travis Senior WR

“Smooth” might be the best way to describe the multifaceted game of star wideout Caleb Burton. The Ohio State commit told IHSFAN that he prides himself on his deceptive speed and quickness. “I think I’m really quick coming out of my breaks,” Burton told IHSFAN. “I don’t look too fast – until you’re going up against me.”

Burton recently completed a 4-month recovery from a meniscus tear he suffered in a week 1 win over McNeil. “It was my first injury that’s ever taken away a full season,” Burton told IHSFAN. Now that he’s back to full strength, he’ll try and build off of a sophomore season in which he caught 50 passes for 906 yards and 12 touchdowns. Most importantly, though, Burton says he wants to lead his team to playoff success.