YOU’RE GONNA DO WHAT?! | Nominees for boys Whataburger / ETB Player of the Year Award

We’re going to do something a little different here.

In football terms, we’re calling an audible.

We’ve said that the Whataburger / ETBlitz.com boys and girls Players of the Year for the 2024-25 school year will be announced tomorrow, on Sunday, June 15. That’s not changing.

But we’re going to do something right here in this very spot, right now, that old-school wouldn’t normally THINK of doing.

We’re gonna let y’all behind the curtain.

We’re about to tell you who the nominees are in advance.

That’s right: the boys winner that will be announced tomorrow WILL FOR CERTAIN come from this list. The panel will take a look at their statistics, a lot of them listed here; at their leadership and effectiveness as a part of their team; at how well they did; and then they will vote. The winners and the top four runners-up will be announced on Sunday.

Same thing with the girls, although this list is only the boys nominees. We’ll finish the girls list of nominees, have them up here on ETBlitz.com for you guys to see later today. The panel will also vote on them using the same criteria, and announce them alongside the boys winner Sunday.

Let me be clear: this isn’t normal. You wouldn’t see a newspaper or another media outlet simply tell you in advance who their nominees are. They MIGHT tell you after everything was said and done who their runners-up were.

But we want to be fully honest with you guys. So here are the nominees for the boys Whataburger / ETB Player of the Year for the 2024-25 school year.

WHATABURGER / ETBLITZ.COM BOYS PLAYER / ATHLETE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

ARP HIGH SCHOOL

Football

JOSH SMITH, running back / linebacker (junior): Finished the 2024 season with 1,500 rushing yards exactly on 193 carries (that’s 7.8 yards on average a carry) and 19 touchdowns, and averaged 136.4 yards a game over an 11-game season. In 193 carries, he fumbled only twice, and lost one of them. He also scored 12 two-point conversions and averaged 13.1 points per game. On defense, he had 81 solo tackles, 102 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss on the season, three sacks, three quarterback hurries, three fumble recoveries, one caused fumble, and averaged 9.3 tackles a game.

GILMER HIGH SCHOOL

Track & Field

LUCAS CANO, thrower, shot put / discus (senior): Cano began the University Interscholastic League’s first day by winning the Class 4A boys shot put in yet another trip to Austin, the winning distance a throw of 60 feet, 2 ¼ inches as the favorite in the event. Second-best was 58 feet, 10 inches. Later in the day, Cano became a double gold-medalist when he won the 4A boys discus state gold with a best of 194 feet, 2 inches, and second-best was 187 feet, 6. Cano was steady all season, never missing a beat, all the way to double gold at the state meet.

GLADEWATER HIGH SCHOOL

Track & Field

KINGSTON SHEFFIELD, triple jump (junior): Was excellent all season for Bears track & field, then made the most of it twice on two huge stages: at the UIL State Track & Field Championships at the University of Texas in Austin, like Gilmer’s Cano, where Sheffield took gold in the boys Class 3A triple jump. He had a best of 49 feet, 2 ¾ inches there. Then, he went to the Texas Track & Field Coaches Association (TTFCA) Meet of Champions at Antonian College Prep High School in San Antonio, and against 26 of the best from around the state, won that too, at a best of 44 feet, 7 inches.

HENDERSON HIGH SCHOOL

Football

JESSTIN “MEATY” STARLING, running back (junior): Had 1,377 yards and 22 touchdowns on 195 carries in the 2024 season, an average of 7.1 yards a carry, and 137.7 yards per game. Had seven games of rushing for over 100 yards (in 10 games played). Also had eight catches for 75 yards. Averaged 13.2 points per game.

Baseball

KAYNE BRANTLEY, pitcher / outfielder (senior): Batted .417 over 32 games played for the Lions. In 96 at-bats, scored 28 runs, had 40 hits, including a home run, four triples, and three doubles. He finished with 23 RBI, one behind Macen Jones’ team-leading 24. He had 16 stolen bases and was only caught stealing once. On the mound, he had a 1.83 ERA, and in 12 appearances, finished allowing 20 walks, having faced 192 batters. He allowed 40 hits and struck out 42.

BRIAN BIGGS, pitcher / first baseman / outfielder (senior): Really shined on the mound. Had 83 strikeouts in 11 starts, 49 2/3 innings pitched. Allowed 39 hits in facing 235 batters, and had a 3.66 ERA. Finished at the plate with a .299 average, with 20 hits, a double, 10 RBI and 15 runs scored.

KILGORE HIGH SCHOOL

Football

KAYSON BROOKS, quarterback (junior): Was named the most valuable player on the All-ETBlitz.com 2024 Football Team, having completed 236-of-336 passes for 3,300 yards, 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions, and ran for 424 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries.

Football / basketball

JAYDEN SANDERS, defensive back / wide receiver (senior): On defense at his natural position as a DB, Sanders finished the season with 46 tackles, 14 pass break-ups, and three interceptions. On offense, he had 54 catches, 958 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was the overall most valuable player for District 9-4A in football, was named to the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Rising 100 along the way, and to the DCTF / Whataburger Super Team, chosen by the fans in a vote where 300,000 votes were cast. That award was presented here locally, at the Kilgore store. Sanders was also named the most valuable player for 16-4A in basketball. He averaged 12.6 points, five assists, 4.7 steals, 4.4 rebounds and just over one blocked shot a game for the Bulldogs in what would be coach Jeff Coleman’s final season leading the team – coach Coleman retired just after season’s end.

LEVERETT’S CHAPEL

Football, Track & Field

TRENT WHEAT, quarterback / football, shot put / track & field (senior): Trent Wheat’s complete final stat-line was not available when I had to run with this, but this will give you an idea just how good, and historic, Wheat’s 2024 season was for the Lions, who have a six-man program. Wheat set a new record for one player for rushing yards in a single season, and that new mark is 2,519 yards, shattering the old one of 1,720 yards by Daniel Thompson back in 2006. He also is now third on the list of rushing yards in a single game, with a 411-yard performance against East Texas Home School this past year. Twice in 2024, Wheat ran for nine touchdowns in a single game – six-man football is far more wide-openn, and it’s not strange for both teams to go well over 80 points in a single game. He did it against Apple Springs, and also against East Texas Home School. And he now also owns the record for rush touchdowns in a single season: the new mark is 51 (the old number was 27, set by Clay White in 2012). And in track, Trent represented LC at the UIL State Track & Field Championships, finishing ninth in the state in the 1A boys shot put, a best of 42 feet, 1 ¾ inches (the 1A winner had 51 feet, 3 inches).

OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL

Football, basketball and baseball

BRYCE STILL, quarterback in football, point guard in basketball, pitcher and outfielder in baseball (senior): Is there ANYTHING this guy cannot do? Still was a three-year starter in football and saved his best for last, and that’s saying something. As a senior quarterback for coach Scotty Laymance, he led them to a comeback win over Mount Enterprise in overtime in the ETBlitz.com Game of the Year, was the offensive MVP as a part of the All-ETBlitz.com Football Team, and completed 233-of-350 passes (66 percent) for 3,435 yards, 42 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, and threw for an average of 264 yards a game. The Mustangs also upset playoff heavy Mart in the second round. In basketball, averaged 12.5 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game in 29 of 30 total games for the Mustangs’ basketball team, helping the Mustangs to a 24-6 record and a district championship. And in baseball, just over a week ago, he and his teammates got all the way to the UIL Class 2A, Division II state championship game, losing there to back-to-back state champ Collinsville. Final stats didn’t look to be complete; Overton went 31-9 to finish the season. But Still through 25 games had an inside-the-park home run in a playoff game, five doubles, and 13 total hits; we’re fairly certain his final numbers are just fine. A multi-time winner of the Whataburger / ETBlitz Player of the Week award, and a DCTF / Panini America Quarterback of the Week award-winner, as well.

JAYDEN EDWARDS, wide receiver and defensive back in football; shooting guard in basketball; outfielder in baseball: Another multi-tasker with the hardware to prove it: a Whataburger / ETBlitz Player of the Week award-winner, a Built Ford Tough award-winner in football, and if there were any other awards, we’re sure he won them, too. After a simply ridiculous three-year varsity career as a receiver, the dynamic duo with Still, Edwards saved his best for last, too. He had 80 catches, 1,501 yards, 22 touchdowns, averaged 18.8 yards a catch, 125.1 yards a game, and a long of 97 yards (I told you the numbers were ridiculous). Over 29 of 30 possible games in basketball, averaged 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists a game. His 62 percent field goal percentage led the team. He had 92 steals on the season and that also led the team (by four over Still). In baseball, again incomplete numbers, but with 25 games left, had 15 hits, 21 RBI, two inside-the-park home runs (one in the playoffs), and six doubles, along with eight stolen bases.

RYLAN HOLLEMAN, wide receiver and defensive back in football; shooting guard, point guard in basketball; pitcher, catcher in baseball (junior): Yet another Overton athlete that could legitimately win this award, and yet another reason Overton athletics had an unbelievable run – and there are others, as well. In football, had 28 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns on offense; had 60 tackles, one for loss, three punt returns, and averaged 17 yards a return. In basketball, averaged 8.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals a game. He hit 48 percent of his shots. In baseball, the most up-to-date statistics are these (right before the title game against Collinsville): his pitching record was 12-0 with a 2.19 ERA, 58 strikeouts and 40 walks. He had a .457 batting average with six doubles, a triple, eight home runs, and 38 RBI. Holleman and teammate Braxton Harper were recently named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association’s All-State Team.  

SABINE HIGH SCHOOL

Basketball

HUDSON McNATT, point guard / shooting guard (senior): This much is certain: if you’re a Sabine basketball fan and the clock is ticking down, you want the ball in hands of Hudson McNatt. If you’re playing Sabine, and the clock is ticking down, you want the ball OUT of the hands of Hudson McNatt – and as soon as humanly possible. McNatt came into the season as the reigning, defending most valuable player from the district the previous year, and he and the Cardinals – and the entire district – had to deal with the Tatum juggernaut, the eventual state champion, this year. But McNatt was the scariest player on the court most nights. He averaged 21.6 points, 6.7 rebounds (four on the defensive end), 1.6 assists, and 2.4 steals a game) over 32 games played by coach Ian Story’s Cardinals. McNatt finished the season with 691 points scored, and a multi-time Whataburger / ETB Player of the Week award-winner.

Track & Field

SAM BLACK, shot put / discus (senior): A multi-time state track meet qualifier and medal-winner, by the end of his career at Sabine, Sam had pretty much set up a second residence at Austin every May. Black won silver in the boys 3A discus at the UIL state meet, his best throw traveling 180 feet, 10 inches. Two more inches and Black would be a gold medalist: he was second by just one inch. He also threw at state in the boys 3A shot put representing the Cardinals, and finished fourth. His best was 56 feet, 9 inches – the winner was less than three feet in front of Sam (59 feet, 7 ¾ inches). Black was dominant in his events all season, and in fact, most of his high school career.

TATUM HIGH SCHOOL

Basketball and football

JaCORIE BRADLEY, point guard / shooting guard, basketball, and quarterback, football (senior): This Eagle, who was a key, a focal point, of coach Brett Carr’s UIL Class 3A, Division I state championship team in 2005, averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds and six assists a game on the road to the title. He won the District 16-3A most valuable player award, and to no one’s surprise, was an all-state and all-region selection. On the way to their title, the Eagles finished 35-2 this season. He was also the starting quarterback in football.

Football, basketball, baseball, track & field

CAYDEN TATUM, running back, football; shooting guard, basketball; pitcher / utility, baseball; high jump, track & field (senior): You’ve heard of Jack of all trades, master of none? How ‘bout, Jack of all trades, master of every freaking one of them? That’s what this guy was, from his kick return for a touchdown against Winnsboro in the lightning-delayed season opener to helping the Eagles win a state title in basketball, to going to the state track meet, to being named the MVP of the all-district team in baseball, Cayden Tatum OF Tatum was everywhere, all the time. On the football field, opponents always had to know where Cayden was, and he was a choice of the coaches on the all-district team as first-team running back. In the state title run for basketball, Tatum only lost twice, and throttled Columbus in the state championship game at The Alamodome in San Antonio, 84-49. They led 50-19 at the half and Cayden had two points, three rebounds and two assists. Defensively, he was invaluable all season. He finished eighth in the state at the state track meet in the boys 3A high jump (6 feet, 2 inches), and just recently, here’s how he finished for coach Dustin Russell’s baseball Eagles: he batted .340, had two triples, four doubles, had 11 RBI, and then pitched 22 2/3 innings, with a 0.30 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

Football, basketball, track & field

LUKE SIGLER, wide receiver / defensive back, football; small forward, basketball; long jump, track & field (senior): Sigler went both sides of the ball in helping the Eagles return to the playoffs in football, including upsets of Winnsboro and Daingerfield the first two weeks of the season and then into the DCTF 3A state poll. Basketball, of course, brought the run to the state title, and Sigler and Bradley each scored 26 points; Sigler was named the MVP of the state championship game against Columbus, with the 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. And he finished the athletic school year with a trip to the state track meet at the University of Texas in Austin, competing in the boys 3A long jump. He finished fifth, with a best of 21 feet, 9 ½ inches – the winner went 24 feet, 1 ¼ inches.

TROUP HIGH SCHOOL

Football

BRYCE WALLUM, quarterback / kicker / punter / defensive back in football (senior): Wallum is on this list, quite frankly, because of doing so many things and so many things well. He was the Tigers’ starting quarterback for a team that finished second only to New Diana in district play. He completed 88-of-143 passes for 1,355 yards, 17 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions. He ran, though, for 1,740 yards and 23 touchdowns on 176 carries: an average of 9.9 yards a carry, and 145 yards a game. His longest carry of the season: 97 yards. He had nine games in which he ran for at least 100 yards. He caught three passes for 15 yards. He only fumbled two times all season and only lost one. He scored two two-point conversions, but he hit 41 of 47 extra point kicks, and 5-of-8 field goals, a long of 32 yards.

WEST RUSK HIGH SCHOOL

Football, baseball

COLE JACKSON, running back / linebacker in football;  pitcher / utility in baseball (senior): Jackson, in football, had 637 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 127 carries, averaging 5 yards a carry and 64 yards a game. On defense, though, he had 105 tackles, which led the team, and averaged 10.5 a game. He had a sack and a caused fumble. In baseball, over 28 games, Jackson batted .364. He had 27 hits, including a home run, a triple and three doubles. He had 16 RBI and scored 14 runs, a sacrifice fly, only struck out eight times, reached on fielder’s choice five times, and had an on-base percentage of .462. He also had five stolen bases. On the mound, he made 13 appearances. He had a 1.51 ERA and threw far more than any other Raider: 60 1/3 innings. He allowed just 13 earned runs. He walked 18, and had 91 strikeouts this season. He’s also West Rusk’s career strikeouts leader.

WHITE OAK HIGH SCHOOL

Football, baseball

JAXSEN LUDLOW, quarterback / punter in football; pitcher / utility, baseball (junior): White Oak went from not being able to win a game in 2023 to winning half of their games in 2024. Ludlow at quarterback was a big reason why. He went 143-of-244 for 2,103 yards, 23 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions in his junior season. He averaged 210 yards passing a game, and also ran for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns on 113 carries, averaging just under 88 yards a game. He had four games where he ran for more than 100 yards in them. He also punted for the Roughnecks, kicking 24 times for 926 yards, an average of 38.6 yards a kick, a long of 54 yards, and he landed seven of them inside the 20-yard-line. Then in baseball, Ludlow hit .395, had 30 hits, including three doubles, and had 11 RBI; scored 32 runs; he walked 11 times and struck out only six all season; he reached on an error six times and reached on a fielder’s choice on five occasions. He had an on-base percentage of .505, which means he reached base almost exactly half of the times he went to the plate.

Track & field

KYLER PRIEST, pole vault, track and field (senior): Priest helped set the tone early, on the very first day, of the state track meet for athletes from the ETBlitz.com area, as he won the 3A boys pole vault early that morning. Priest’s best of 16 feet, 6 inches won the gold medal.