NUMERO UNO | Gilmer’s Camara the lone ETBlitz-area player named to the 2026 Whataburger Preseason Super Team

Football players from all over the state, of course, make up the 2026 Whataburger / Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Super Team – Kilgore’s Jayden Sanders, Carthage’s K.J. Edwards and so many other East Texans have been a part of that team, that honor, in the last few years.

Gilmer offensive lineman Ismael Camara is continuing that tradition. Camara, all 6-foot-6, 330 pounds of him, has been named to the Whataburger Preseason Super Team. The Buckeye, a native of France, allowed no sacks and had 170 pancake blocks a year ago, won the offensive lineman of the year award in his district, and is headed to Texas after completing his senior season this fall.

Here’s where Camara’s commitment was reported on Sports Illustrated: 5-Star OT Ismael Camara Commits to Texas Football.

This time out, Camara was the only player in the ETBlitz.com coverage area to make the Whataburger Preseason Super Team.

Joining him…

Offense (first team)

Preseason offensive MVP: Richmond Randle running back and recent University of Texas verbal commitment Landen Williams-Callis.

First team offense: Palestine Westwood quarterback Kavian Bryant, DeSoto running back Sarod Baker, Argyle wide receiver Julian Caldwell, Humble Summer Creek wide receiver Benny Easter Jr., Tre Moore of Pflugerville Weiss; offensive linemen Kennedy Brown (Humble Kingwood), Camara, Peyton Miller of Anna, Kaeden Scott of San Antonio Roosevelt, and South Oak Cliff’s Brian Swanson. Karece Hoyt of Frisco Lone Star was named offensive utility player.

Second-team offense: Quarterback Colton Nussmeier (who was recently ruled ineligible at Denton Ryan; Flower Mound Marcus); CaDarius McMiller (Tyler, the former John Tyler); running back Lathan Whisenton (Hewitt Midway); wide receivers Julian Cromartie (The Woodlands College Park), Trenton Yancey (Duncanville) and Alvin Mosley (Fort Bend Crawford); offensive linemen Jackson Cook (Austin Westlake), Qua Ford (Texas High), Keyon Hemphill-Woods (Columbus), DeMarrion Johnson (Tyler Legacy), and Jasper Ngokwere (Richardson); and utility player Kobe Haynes of Whitney.

Third-team offense: quarterback Carson White (Iowa Colony), running backs Keldrid Ben (Montgomery) and Jayshon Gibson (Richland); receivers Trey Haralson (Tyler), Aden Starling (Alvin Shadow Creek) and Briceson Thrower (North Forney); offensive linemen Tristan Dare (Southlake Carroll), Sidney Rouleau (Brook Hill), Caleb Siler (Gunter) and Luke Wilson; and finally, utility player Derrick Martin of Lewisville.

Defense (first team)

Preseason defensive MVP: Cedar Hill defensive tackle Jalen Brewster.

First team defense: Cameron Hall, defensive lineman, Mansfield Summitt; Denton Guyer defensive lineman Zane Rowe; defensive lineman George Toia, of Trophy Club Byron Nelson; edge rusher Kaden McCarty of Cypress Falls; linebackers Jhadyn Nelson (Houston Langham Creek) and Cooper Witten (Argyle Liberty Christian and yes, that is former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten); and defensive backs Brandon Sherrard (Shadow Creek), John Meredith III (North Crowley), and Waxahachie’s Jay Quan Snell.

Hutto’s Jaiden Fields is the first-team utility player.

Second-team defense: Defensive linemen Amari Vickerson (Cypress Ranch), Khyren Haywood (Denton Guyer), Raiden Cook (Barbers Hill) and Ezekiel Ayangbile (Houston Langham Creek), edge rusher Xavier Muhammad (South Houston); linebackers are Braylon Williams of Arlington Lamar and Port Arthur Memorial’s JaMarquis Hudson; and defensive backs are Taelyn Mayo (Lewisville), Montre Jackson (Garland Lakeview Centennial), Jerry Outhouse Jr. (of North Crowley) and Karnell James (Manvel). Dhillon McGree of DeSoto is second-team utility.

Third-team defense: Defensive linemen Sedrick Marsh (Waxahachie), K’Adrian Redmond (DeToso), Jason Johnson (of Humble Atascocita) and Finn Walker of Connor Oak Ridge. Brayden Booth of South San Antonio is the choice at edge rusher, and a couple of linebackers got the call: Bridge City’s Bryce Breeden of South San Antonio. Rounding out the third team are the defensive backs: Mikhail McCreary of San Antonio Johnson; Isaiah Udom of South Oak Cliff; Trenton Blaylock of Humble Atascocita; and Davontrae Kirkland of Waco University. The third-team utility player choice is Smithson Valley’s Hunter Haug.

Again, this is the PRESEASON Whataburger Super Team. In November, the public – you guys, and me, I guess – will get to vote on roughly 300 nominees to fill the 40 spots up for grabs on both offense and defense, to be announced in January.