The start of the Montgomery County high school football season is mere days away.
For programs that did not participate in spring football, the first day of practice is July 31. For those that did, August 7 is the start date.
Before we know it, the stars on the field will shine as bright as the stars in the Thursday or Friday night sky.
As the season rapidly approaches, here’s a look at The Courier’s Top 20 Players to Watch (Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name):
Ikenna Agoh, Grand Oaks DB, Class of 2024
Agoh had a strong season for the Grizzlies last year with 16 tackles, one tackle for loss, three passes defended, one fumble caused and one blocked field goal in seven games. The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback currently holds 13 offers, most from prestigious schools like the Air Force, Army, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Navy. Under new Grizzlies defensive coordinator John Boodon, Agoh is in line for a breakout season.
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Oak Ridge DL, Class of 2024
Jonah-Ajonye has had a stellar offseason and summer, culminating with a verbal commitment to Georgia earlier this month. Jonah-Ajonye, who first started playing football as a freshman, had nine tackles for loss last season. The 6-foot-5, 275-pound gap-plugger has put on almost 50 pounds of muscle since last season.
Hunter Andrews, Magnolia RB, Class of 2024
Andrews has good size at running back at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. He had an outstanding junior year in 2022, with 1,505 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing and 210 yards and another touchdown receiving. Andrews is verbally committed to Utah.
Frankie Arthur, Oak Ridge RB, Class of 2024
Arthur is one of the top running backs in the Greater Houston area. The sturdy 5-foot-10, 190-pounder rushed for 1,445 yards and 18 touchdowns last year. He currently holds 19 offers, including SMU, Baylor, Houston, Oregon, TCU and Texas Tech.
Kiandrea Barker, The Woodlands RB, Class of 2025
Barker is a newcomer to the Greater Houston area after moving in from Arkansas. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder figures to be the next great ballcarrier for the storied Highlanders. Barker is a Penn State commit and holds 12 total offers. He is ranked as a four-star prospect by 247Sports.
Jermaine Bishop Jr., Willis ATH, Class of 2026
Bishop Jr. enjoyed a terrific freshman year last season, collecting 35 tackles, five interceptions and a defensive touchdown for the Wildkats. At 5-foot-11, 155 pounds, he has impressive ball skills and agility for his age and stellar bloodlines. He is the cousin of former Kansas State QB great Michael Bishop. Bishop currently holds 10 offers, including Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Florida, Houston and Michigan.
Tyvonn Byars, Lake Creek RB, Class of 2025
Byars burst onto the Texas high school football scene last year exactly how he plays: explosively. The rock-solid 5-foot-10, 205-pounder blazed through opposing front sevens for 2,346 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns, while tallying 129 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Boasting uncanny speed and vision, Byars had more than 100 yards rushing in 11 of 13 games last season.
Quanell X Farrakhan Jr., The Woodlands WR, Class of 2025
Farrakhan Jr. is an electric playmaker coming off a fine 2022 campaign. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder had 532 yards and seven touchdowns last year with two punt returns for touchdowns. A four-star recruit, Farrakhan has 16 offers, including Arkansas, Florida State, Houston, Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State and TCU.
Ryan Gilliam, Porter LB, Class of 2024
The 6-foot, 225-pound Gilliam is a strong, physical playmaker. He led the Spartans’ defense last season with 113 tackles (63 solo), eight tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. A gifted baseball player as well, Gilliam bench presses 395 pounds and squats 525 pounds.
Ryan Hughes, The Woodlands OT, Class of 2024
Hughes is a veteran stalwart of the Highlanders’ offensive front. A three-star recruit, the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder is a TCU commit.
Aiden Kaplan, Lake Creek OL, Class of 2024
Kaplan is a team captain and had a strong summer of camp showings. The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder was an honorable mention all-state selection last year. He recently received his first NCAA Division I offer from Northwestern State.
D.J. Lagway, Willis QB, Class of 2024
Lagway is arguably the top player in all of the state, let alone the Greater Houston area. Lagway is ESPN’s No. 12 overall prospect in the Class of 2024. The five-star recruit and University of Florida commit threw for 2,079 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 68 percent of his passes last year, while also rushing for 517 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sam Mattingly, Magnolia West LB, Class of 2024
Last season was Mattingly’s first playing linebacker, and he excelled in dominant fashion. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder compiled 137 tackles (76 solo), 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Physical and violent at the point of attack, Mattingly, who played receiver and some running back his first two years of high school, is a three-star recruit and recently verbally committed to Stanford.
Devondre McGee, Conroe DB, Class of 2024
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound playmaker has flown under the recruiting radar, picking up seven offers so far. Some of those, however, are big time and include Ole Miss, Texas A&M and SMU.
Mabrey Mettauer, The Woodlands QB, Class of 2024
The Wisconsin signee is one of the top dual threats in the state. Athletic and physical, the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Mettauer threw for 2,621 yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 66 percent of his passes last year, and rushed for 613 yards and seven touchdowns.
Jalen Mickens, Willis WR, Class of 2025
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Mickens is a prolific pass-catcher for the Wildkats. As a sophomore, Mickens caught 48 balls for 762 yards and eight touchdowns last year.
Daylion Robinson, Willis RB/WR, Class of 2025
Willis’ Class of 2025 talent is stacked, and Robinson is a big reason why. Last year, the 6-foot, 200-pounder rushed for 775 yards and 11 touchdowns and had 335 yards and four touchdowns receiving. His versatility is a potent weapon for Willis’ wide-open offense.
Cole Snodgrass, College Park TE, Class of 2024
At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Snodgrass is a physical pass-catcher and blocker. He had 357 yards and two touchdowns receiving last season, but new Cavaliers head coach Kyle Coats has big plans for Snodgrass this year. The three-star recruit is a TCU verbal commit.
Justin Williams, Oak Ridge LB, Class of 2024
Williams is a five-star recruit and a monster playmaker for the War Eagles’ defense. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder amassed 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and nine sacks last season. He holds more than 30 offers, including Georgia, Oregon, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M and USC.
Reggie Williams, Montgomery QB, Class of 2025
Williams was one of the top sophomores in Montgomery County last year. The 5-foot-9 speedster did it all for the Bears. He threw for 1,691 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 1,042 yards and 13 touchdowns. Williams is a diamond in the proverbial rough but don’t expect him to be overlooked much longer.
Five more to keep an eye on:Â DeBraun Hampton, Willis WR, Class of 2024; Eli Morcos, Lake Creek QB, Class of 2025 Koltin Sieracki, The Woodlands OL, Class of 2024;Â Grant Smith, Grand Oaks QB, Class of 2026; Tice Williams, Conroe ATH, Class of 2024
