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Dream Team: Our 2021 East Texas fantasy team
EAST TEXAS
DREAM TEAM 2021
Carthage linebacker Kip Lewis.
The 14th annual East Texas High School Football Preseason Dream Team consists of players from the combined coverage areas of the Longview News-Journal, Tyler Morning Telegraph, Marshall News Messenger, Panola Watchman, Kilgore News Herald, Lufkin Daily News, Jacksonville Progress and Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, covering teams North to Texarkana, East to Waskom, West to Malakoff and South to Diboll.
The voting panel included Jack Stallard and Thomas Bingham of the Longview News-Journal, Phil Hicks and Brandon Ogden of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Nathan Hague of the Marshall News Messenger, Ryan Silapan of the Panola Watchman, Mitch Lucas of the Kilgore News Herald, Josh Havard of the Lufkin Daily News, Jay Neal of the Jacksonville Progress and John Kreuger of the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel.
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Brandon Tennison joins a list that includes Tyrik Rollison of Sulphur Springs (2008), Traylon Shead of Cayuga (2009), Trey Metoyer of Whitehouse (2010), Del Barnes of Henderson (2011), Greg Ward of John Tyler (2012), Patrick Mahomes of Whitehouse (2013), Larry Pryor of Sulphur Springs (2014), Zach Hall of Tyler Lee (2015), Jeremiah Crawford of Mineola (2016), Keontay Ingram of Carthage (2017), Gunner Capps of Carthage (2018), Haynes King of Longview (2019) and Jordan Jenkins of Lindale (2020).
On the defensive side, Carthage's Kip Lewis joins a list that includes Jamarkus McFarland of Lufkin (2008), Ashton Dorsey of John Tyler (2009), Steve Edmond of Daingerfield (2010), Dalton Santos of Van (2011), DeMarkus Lathan of Longview (2012), Josh Walker of Gilmer (2013), Daylon Mack of Gladewater (2014), Demarco Boyd of Gilmer (2015), Lagarryon Carson of Liberty-Eylau (2016), Demarvion Overshown of Arp (2017), Carl Williams of Lufkin (2018) and Landon Jackson of Pleasant Grove (2019 and 2020).
OFFENSIVE MVP
BRANDON TENNISON
Gilmer Quarterback 5-11, 183 By the numbers: Listed as a running back to start the 2020 season, Tennison quickly took over as the starting quarterback and led the Buckeyes to the Class 4A Division II state title game. Along the way, he completed 241 of 380 passes for 3,866 yards and 40 touchdowns while carrying 78 times for 985 yards and 10 more scores. He has given a verbal pledge to UTSA, which is coached by former Gilmer head coach Jeff Traylor
DEFENSIVE MVP
KIP LEWIS
Carthage Linebacker 6-2, 205 By the numbers: Lewis, who has given a verbal pledge to Oklahoma, recorded 140 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for Class 4A Division II state champion Carthage
BRAYSON MCHENRY
School: Texas High Position: Quarterback Ht/Wt: 6-1, 190 By the numbers: 171 of 283, 2,940 yards, 36 TD, 4 interceptions
JAMARION MILLER
School: Tyler Legacy Position: Running back Ht/Wt: 5-10, 200 By the numbers: 194 carries, 1,666 yards (8.6 per carry), 20 TD with long of 92 yards and no fumbles. Caught 29 passes for 468 yards and 8 TD with no fumbles. Verbal to Texas
BRYSON DONNELL
School: Tyler Legacy Position: Running back Ht/Wt: 5-10, 200 By the numbers: 165 carries, 1,159 yards (7.0 per carry), 12 TD with one fumble. Caught 13 passes for 92 yards and 1 TD with no fumbles. Verbal to Texas Tech
DAWSON PENDERGRASS
School: Mineola Position: Running back Ht/Wt: 6-3, 210 By the numbers: 144 carries, 1,274 yards, 19 TD. Caught 34 passes for 579 yards and 7 TD. Offers from Baylor, Arkansas and UTSA
TESEAN HAMILTON
School: Waskom Position: Fullback Ht/Wt: 5-11, 190 By the numbers: 1,193 rushing yards and 21 TD. District Offensive MVP and All-ET fullback in 2020
JALEN HALE
School: Longview Position: Receiver Ht/Wt: 6-2, 180 By the numbers: 39 catches, 700 yards, 11 TD. Holds 30-plus offers, including Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida and Florida State
D.J. ALLEN
School: Gladewater Position: Receiver Ht/Wt: 6-0, 195 By the numbers: 59 catches, 1,316 yards, 17 TD. Has multiple offers, including USC, Notre Dame, Michigan, Auburn, Arkansas and Baylor
ROHAN FLUELLEN
School: Gilmer Position: Receiver Ht/Wt: 6-0, 171 By the numbers: 66 catches, 964 yards in 2020. First team all state receiver also had 7 interceptions on defense
DE’QUALIN VAUGHN
School: Longview Position: Tight end Ht/Wt: 6-2, 255 By the numbers: Started all 12 games on the OL for the Lobos in 2020, but moves to TE this season
ZACHARY CARLISLE
School: Carthage Position: Offensive line Ht/Wt: 6-4, 324 By the numbers: Started ever game for state champions last season and graded out at 90%.
JOHN HESTER
School: Hawkins Position: Offensive line Ht/Wt: 6-5, 295 By the numbers: 45 pancake blocks and no sacks allowed in 2020. Graded out at 98%. Verbal to University of New Mexico
DONOVAN JORDAN
School: Tyler Legacy Position: Offensive line Ht/Wt: 6-3, 280 By the numbers: 26 pancakes, 19 knockdowns and one sack allowed. Offers from UTEP, New Mexico and Furman
VICTOR SHAW
School: Pleasant Grove Position: Offensive line Ht/Wt: 6-4, 275 By the numbers: Has offers on both sides of the ball from Baylor, TCU, Houston and UTSA
EZEQUIEL VASQUEZ
School: Waskom Position: Offensive line Ht/Wt: 6-2, 295 By the numbers: Graded out at 88%. First team all-district for team that was top three in the state in rushing offense in Class 3A
LEQUINETIN SEARCY
JORDAN RENAUD
School: Tyler Legacy Position: Defensive line Ht/Wt: 6-5, 250 By the numbers: 247Sports No. 27 player in the nation, No. 9 DL and No. 5 player in Texas. Has 17 offers, including Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Auburn, Miami and Michigan
TREY FITE
School: Tatum Position: Defensive line Ht/Wt: 6-6, 220 By the numbers: 63 tackles, six sacks, 14 tackles for loss, three passes defended, one foced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two QB knockdowns and six QB pressures. Offers from Arkansas, Kansas State and Washington State among others School: West Rusk Position: Defensive line Ht/Wt: 6-3, 235 By the numbers: 111 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, six sacks, 12 QB pressures
TRE EMORY
School: Mount Pleasant Position: Defensive line Ht/Wt: 6-3, 290 By the numbers: 78 tackles, six sacks, eight tackles for loss, three passes defended, two furced fumbles, three fumble recoveries. Has 13 sacks and 21 tackles for loss over past two seasons. Verbal to Baylor
DEVEAN ISAAC
DEE LEWIS
School: Daingerfield Position: Linebacker Ht/Wt: 6-1, 235 By the numbers: 129 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, one interception, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries
CHRISTIAN BATES
School: Pittsburg Position: Linebacker Ht/Wt: 6-0, 250 By the numbers: 107 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks, six QB pressures, three fumble recoveries. Has 255 tackles, 34 tackles for loss past two seasons
COLTON WIDEMON
School: Lindale Position: Linebacker Ht/Wt: 6-1, 208 By the numbers: 114 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries
BRANDON KING
School: Carthage Position: Defensive back Ht/Wt: 5-10, 150 By the numbers: 53 tackles, nine interceptions in 2020. Had four interceptions and two pick sixes in the state championship game against Gilmer School: Diboll Position: Defensive back Ht/Wt: 6-0, 204 By the numbers: 112 tackles, 18 tackles for loss in 2020
AARON SEARS
School: Tyler Legacy Position: Defensive back Ht/Wt: 5-11, 180 By the numbers: 86 tackles, three interceptions, 9 passes defended
ZAY THOMAS
School: Waskom Position: Defensive back Ht/Wt: 5-7, 150 By the numbers: Six interceptions. Earned first team all-state and all-district honors and was honorable mention All East Texas
CHRIS BALDAZO
School: Kilgore Position: Kicker Ht/Wt: 5-8, 160 By the numbers: 64-66 PAT, 7-10 FG with long of 43 yards
BUCK BUCHANAN
School: Marshall Position: Punter Ht/Wt: 5-10, 175 By the numbers: Averaged 29.5 yards on 43 punts with a long of 58 yards, placing nine inside opponent’s 20-yard line. Also a potential all-state kicker. Has offers from Yale, Air Force and Louisiana Tech
RYAN HARRIS
School: Beckville Position: Utility Ht/Wt: 6-3, 205 By the numbers: Rushed for 2,127 yards and 31 TD, passed for 733 yards and six TD and had four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, finished with 100 tackles, six tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and two blocked punts
