HERE IT IS | The 2024 All-ETBlitz.com Football Team!
ETBlitz.com launched on Oct. 20, 2023 without a lot of fanfare – but there’s been fireworks ever since, including today, with the release of the 2024 All-ETBlitz.com Football Team.
We won’t spoil the awards – they’re listed at the very top, followed by the first, second and third teams, and we even included honorable mention. There were just so many talented players in the ETBlitz coverage area that we tried to include as many deserving as possible.
Players chosen are from the schools that we cover (in alphabetical order): Arp, Gilmer, Gladewater, Henderson, Kilgore, Leverett’s Chapel, Overton, Sabine, Tatum, Troup, West Rusk and White Oak.
Each year, we release our very own All-ETBlitz.com team for football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball and softball.
These team are a labor of love, because we try to include – based on statistics, their competition, and just a plain ol’ eye test – the very best of the best, named by position regardless of school or classification. It’s quite a process.
But it’s complete.
We should tell you that all award-winners aren’t a part of any of the rest of the team. That was done to free up spots for other players who also deserved recognition.
Without further delay, here is the 2024 All-ETBlitz.com Football Team. If someone you know made the cut, please share the news with them. Congratulations to all the young men here, and thanks for reading.
2024 All-ETBlitz.com Football Team
Most valuable player: KAYSON BROOKS, QB, Kilgore.
Brooks, a junior who helped lead the Bulldogs back to the UIL Class 4A Division I state championship game,completed236-of-336 passes for 3,300 yards, 40 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions; he also ran for 424 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries.
Runners-up: Jayden Sanders, WR/DB, Kilgore; Bryce Still, QB, Overton; Jesstin Starling, RB, Henderson; Jayden Edwards, WR, Overton.
Offensive player of the year: BRYCE STILL, QB, Overton
Still helped Overton to its best two back-to-back seasons in decades, finishing having completed 233-of-350 passes for 3,435 yards, 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He also ran for 688 yards and 17 touchdowns on 103 carries.
Runners-up: Jesstin Starling, Henderson; Jayden Edwards, Overton; Jayden Sanders, Kilgore; LaKeyleon Graves, WR, Kilgore; Josh Smith, RB, Arp.
Defensive player of the year: CAMERON CHRISTIAN, DL, Kilgore
Runners-up: Ja’Kalen Sheffield, DB, Kilgore; Gabe Miller, LB, Overton; Logan White, LB, Henderson; Wylie Mitchell, DL, Kilgore; Jayden Sanders, CB, Kilgore; La’Perrion Graves, LB, Kilgore
“Slash” player of the year: BRYCE WALLUM, QB/RB/DB/K/P, Troup
Many of you might remember Kordell Stewart, the former Pittsburgh Steelers athlete who played so many positions, he earned the nickname “Slash.” Bryce Wallum of Troup epitomized that role this season. He completed 88-of-143 passes for 1,355 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions as the Tigers’ starting quarterback; ran for 1,740 yards and 23 touchdowns on 176 carries; went 41-of-47 in extra point attempts and 5-of-8 in field goal attempts, a long of 32 yards; handled punting duties, in large part, for Troup, averaging 38 yards a punt; and on defense, had 38 tackles, two for loss, two interceptions and a caused fumble.
Runners-up: Cayden Tatum, SB / DB, Tatum; LaKeyleon Graves, WR/LB, Kilgore; Hunter McCandless, TE/FB/DL, West Rusk; Trent Wheat, QB/SB/DB, Leverett’s Chapel.
Newcomer of the year: BRENT WELLS, RB, Troup
Wells, just a sophomore, more than got the job done at the varsity level this year. He finished with 1,500 yards exactly and nine touchdowns on 226 carries, and caught 17 passes for 86 yards.
Runners-up: Gabe Miller, LB, Overton; Trayvion Watts, RB, Gladewater
Coaching staff of the year: CLINT FULLER, Kilgore; SCOTTY LAYMANCE, Overton
Kilgore’s coaching staff, led by Fuller, not only won district and took care of rival Chapel Hill this year, but reached the 4A Division I state championship game for the third time in program history, and the first since 2013. Laymance’s staff guided Overton to a second season of double-digit wins, a program that had only been winning one and two games a season prior to his arrival.
Runners-up: Clay Baker, Henderson; Sam Wells, Troup
Game of the year: Overton 45, Mount Enterprise 44, 2 OT, November 1, 2024
There were so many exciting games in the ETBlitz.com coverage area in 2024, and we tried to narrow it down. The winner – Overton-Mount Enterprise – was only by a hair over each of the ones below.
Runners-up: Kilgore 20, Carthage 15 (Aug. 30); Liberty-Eylau 44, Henderson 41 (Sept. 6); Gilmer 24, Kilgore 22 (Sept. 13); Henderson 27, Kilgore 24 (Oct. 4); Troup 25, West Rusk 23, 5 OT (Oct. 25, 2024); Overton 31, Mart 30 (Nov. 22).
All-ETBlitz first team
Quarterback: JAXSEN LUDLOW, White Oak.
Running back: JESSTIN STARLING, Henderson; JOSH SMITH, Arp.
Fullback: TRAVIS DIXON, Kilgore.
Wide receiver: JAYDEN SANDERS, Kilgore; JAYDEN EDWARDS, Overton; LAKEYLEON GRAVES, Kilgore.
Tight end: MASON BUDRO, Gladewater
Offensive line: LUCAS CANO, Gilmer; JOHNATHAN BATEMAN, Henderson; DANIEL GARCIA, Kilgore; TAYLOR RUTHERFORD, Tatum; A.J. DEWBERRY, Troup.
Kicker: EDDIE JIMINEZ, Kilgore
Defensive line: JACKSON TUCKER PHILLIPS, Kilgore; WYLIE MITCHELL, Kilgore; TYLER HAGLER, Gilmer; ALEX GUILLEN, Gilmer.
Linebacker: LA’PERRION GRAVES, Kilgore; LOGAN WHITE, Henderson; GABRIEL MILLER, Overton.
Defensive back: JA’KALEN SHEFFIELD, Kilgore; JAYDEN SANDERS, Kilgore; ANTHONY NEWMAN, Henderson; DRE’ SANDERS, Kilgore
Punter: JAXSEN LUDLOW, White Oak.
Utility: CAYDEN TATUM, Tatum
All-ETBlitz second team
Quarterback: BRADY McCOWN, Gilmer
Running back: RAYSHAUN WILLIAMS, Kilgore; TRILLYON BUTLER, Gilmer.
Wide receiver: LEMARION COLEMAN, Henderson; BRENDAN WEBB, Gilmer; JAVON TOWNS, Kilgore.
Tight end / fullback: HUNTER McCANDLESS, West Rusk
Offensive line: EATHEN OATES, Overton; JADEN PASTOR, Kilgore; FELIPE ROCHA, Gilmer; AB MARTIN, Arp; MASON THOMPSON, Gladewater.
Kicker: BRAYDEN PATE, Gilmer
Defensive line: XAVIOR MOORE, Tatum; JET BATES, Gilmer; VARIAN WILLIAMS, Henderson; KIYUN PELLUM, Henderson.
Linebacker: JAMARIAN DUNCAN MORGAN, Kilgore; ISAIAH WATTERS, Kilgore; tie – KASH HOLLEMAN, Overton, LUKE SKILLERN, Troup.
Defensive back: JAVON TOWNS, Kilgore; BRENDAN WEBB, Gilmer; LUKE SIGLER, Tatum; JACORY WALDON, Kilgore; AMAURI MORTON, Gilmer.
Punter: ERICK GARZA, Henderson
Utility: HUNTER McCANDLESS, West Rusk.
All-ETBlitz third team
Quarterback: JaCORIE BRADLEY, Tatum
Running back: BRENT WELLS, Troup; COLE JACKSON, West Rusk.
Fullback: JULIAN BAROCIO, Arp
Wide receiver: GEREMIAH NOBLE, Gilmer; BRAYDON BRATCHER, White Oak; BRYSON BOBBITT, Overton.
Tight end: JAXON SCHMINKEY, Arp
Offensive line: DERION ANDREWS, Gilmer; COOPER BRIDGES, White Oak; KELTON LEE, Sabine; VANCE FLETCHER, Overton; KAYDEN MAYO, Troup.
Kicker: Tie — IVAN NAVARRO, Henderson; JACKSON FURLOW, Overton.
Defensive line: CAM ROBINSON, West Rusk; MYLES BRADLEY, Sabine; DAMARION TOLBERT, Tatum; tie – ADRIAN VARGAS, West Rusk; CARSON FORD, Leverett’s Chapel.
Linebacker: JUSTIN WEIR, Overton; CAMERON VENABLE, White Oak; TREVOR KIND, Henderson.
Defensive back: GRANT ADCOCK, Tatum; JACOB OSBURN, Overton; JAMES PIERCE, Troup; CHRIS SANCHEZ, West Rusk; MASON ROWE, Overton.
Punter: GRAFTON MORGAN, Gladewater
Utility (Tie): RYLAN HOLLEMAN, Overton; TRENT WHEAT, Leverett’s Chapel.
All-ETBlitz honorable mention
Quarterback: LUKE BROWN, Gladewater; VINCE HOWARD, Henderson.
Running back: JAMARRI GIPSON, Tatum; TRAY WATTS, Gladewater.
Wide receiver: BRAYSON WOODS, Gladewater; LOGAN LADWIG, White Oak; tie – JASE REASONER, West Rusk; DeMARCUS WADE, Arp.
Tight end: JORDAN ERVIN, Henderson.
Offensive line: GARRETT BONEY, Overton; COLLIN BURROWS, Kilgore; ISAAC HUBBARD, Gilmer; JOSE LUNA, West Rusk; HARRISON FREEMAN, Tatum.
Kicker: JOVANNY JAIMES, Sabine.
Defensive line: ISAIAH VASQUEZ, Henderson; BI’SYN WILLIAMS, Kilgore; AMARION MINTER, Gladewater; tie – CASCH CAMERON, Arp; CADEN STARKEY, Troup.
Linebacker: DEVIN McDONALD, Gilmer; KADIN VOSS, Sabine; BRAYDEN PATE, Gilmer.
Defensive back: SCOTTY BRIETENBERG, White Oak; HAYDEN HUML, Troup; TRACE HAYNES, Gilmer; tie – PAULIN MARTINEZ, West Rusk; KEMMONTREA McGREGOR, West Rusk.
Punter: EDDIE JIMINEZ, Kilgore.
Utility: JAVON TOWNS, Kilgore.