The 2026 Texas high school football season begins in full this week, and High School On SI has taken the offseason to list the top returning players by position. RELATED: Top Linebackers | Wide Receivers | Offensive Linemen | Quarterbacks | Defensive Lineman | Tight Ends | Preseason Top 25This week, we're naming our preseason all-state teams. North Crowley leads all schools with four players on our all-state teams. Shadow Creek is next with three players, and Cypress Ranch, Summer Creek, DeSoto and Waxahachie each have two players.Texas Tech and Texas A&M continue to mine the state for talent. They each have seven players committed on our preseason all-state teams. Texas is close behind with six players, SMU has four players, and Oklahoma has two. Texas High School Football 2026 Preseason All-State TeamsFIRST TEAM ALL-STATE OFFENSEQuarterbackKavian Bryant — Sr., Palestine WestwoodCollege: Texas TechAs a junior, he had 4,147 total yards of offense, according to 247sports.com. He threw for 3,407 yards, 37 touchdowns and one interception, and he ran the ball 95 times for 740 yards and seven touchdowns.Running BackSaRod Baker — Sr., DeSotoCollege: Texas TechBaker had a phenomenal 2025 playoff run that vaulted him to national prominence and a Class 6A DII State Championship. He finished the season with 3,096 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns. He also caught four touchdowns.Landen Williams-Callis — Sr., Richmond RandleCollege: TexasWilliams-Callis was High School On SI’s National Offensive MVP last season. In 2025, he ran for 3,502 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns on 10.8 yards per carry. He helped Richmond Randle to a 5A D-II state runner-up finish. He is 3,828 yards away from the Texas career rushing yards record set last season by Kaegan Ash.Wide ReceiverBenny Easter Jr. — Sr., Summer CreekCollege: Texas TechEaster Jr. followed an impressive sophomore season with an even more impressive junior season. He caught 89 passes for 1,309 yards and 19 touchdowns. His production has earned him four stars from 247sports.com.Julian Caldwell — Sr., ArgyleCollege: Texas TechCaldwell is a multi-sport athlete, and he uses his impressive speed to separate down the field. He created explosive plays throughout the 2025, and he ended with 94 receptions for 1,737 yards and 20 touchdowns.Tight EndJeramie Cooper — Sr., North Crowley College: UncommittedCooper is a tight end who can line up out wide and run routes like a wide receiver. He was second-team all state last season. His most recent scholarship offers are from Mississippi State, Stanford and LSU.Offensive LineKennedy Brown — Sr., Humble KingwoodCollege: Texas A&MBrown will return from a foot injury this season. He can play both sides of the offensive line at 6-foot-4, 285 pounds. He is a 5-star prospect, according to 247sports.com’s composite rankings. Ismael Camara — Sr., GilmerCollege: Texas Camara played mostly on the inside of the offensive line for Gilmer, and at 6-foot-6, 345 pounds, he mauled opposing defensive lineman throughout 2025. He is a 5-star prospect. DeMarrion Johnson — Sr., Tyler LegacyCollege: Texas A&MJohnson plays left tackle and he was second-team all-district in 2025. He is 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, and his nickname is ‘Big Juice.’R’Monie Edwards — Jr., Cypress RanchCollege: UncommittedEdwards is the first junior on the list. He played left tackle last season for Cy Ranch, and he showed his ability to kick out and be the lead blocker on many sweeps or tosses. FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE DEFENSEKaden McCarty — Sr., Cypress FallsCollege: Texas A&MMcCarty had 51 tackles, 26 for loss, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovered that he returned for a touchdown last season. He is a quick edge rusher who can be in the opposing backfield in no time. Amari Vickerson — Sr., Cypress Ranch College: SMUAs a junior, Vickerson had 50 tackles, 11 for loss, and six sacks. He can rush the passer and stop the run from the interior. He is 6-foot-3, 300 pounds. Cameron Hall — Sr., Mansfield Summit College: TexasHall is a versatile defensive lineman who can do it all for Mansfield Summit. He had 10 sacks in 2025 as well as 18 tackles for loss. Xavier Muhammad — Sr., Shadow CreekCollege: MichiganMuhammad is a multi-sport athlete who will play this season at Shadow Creek after playing previously at South Houston. He has also played tight end. LinebackerCooper Witten — Sr., Argyle Liberty ChristianCollege: OklahomaThe son of former Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, Cooper was prolific at linebacker in his junior season. He had 87 tackles, nine for loss, two sacks, seven forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and four pass deflections. He is committed to Oklahoma, where Jason is the tight ends coach. Jhadyn Nelson — Sr., Houston Langham CreekCollege: Texas TechNelson was an all-district selection last season after he had 59 tackles, three sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception returned for a touchdown. Braylon Williams — Sr., Arlington LamarCollege: SMUWilliams was a tackle machine in 2025. He had 101 total tackles, 13 for loss, and five sacks and was named first team all-district. Defensive BackJayQuan Snell — Sr., Waxahachie College: Texas A&MWatch Snell’s highlight reel if you want to watch big hits. He is a versatile defensive back who is not afraid to be physical. Last season, he had 86 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.Jerry Outhouse Jr. — Sr., North CrowleyCollege: UCLAOuthouse is a cornerback who was named to the District 3-6A first-team as a junior. He has long arms and is not afraid to run toward the line of scrimmage to make a tackle. Brandon Sherrard — Sr., Shadow Creek College: TexasSherrard had his junior season end due to a shoulder injury, but even in a short season, he had 22 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble. James Foster III — Jr., LancasterCollege: UncommittedFoster III is a big safety who can play close to the line of scrimmage. He is a top-20 national prospect in the class of 2028, and he has interest from Texas, Miami (FL) and Notre Dame, among others. FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE SPECIALISTSReturn ManTrenton Thomas — Sr., Summer CreekCollege: Texas A&M Texarkana KickerAndres von der Meden — Sr., TomballCollege: Texas A&MPunterDeclan Ham — Sr., LewisvilleCollege: ArkansasSECOND TEAM ALL-STATE OFFENSEQuarterbackWeston Nielsen — Sr., BastropCollege: Arizona StateRunning BackTristan Willis — Sr., CE KingCollege: Georgia TechLathan Whisenton — Sr., Midway-WacoCollege: Notre DameWide ReceiverDamarion Champ Mays — Jr., North CrowleyCollege: UncommittedJaylen Addai — Jr., Shadow CreekCollege: UncommittedTight EndDylan Jaeger — Sr., Round RockCollege: TCUOffensive LineBrian Swanson — Sr., South Oak CliffCollege: TexasJai’Storm Knight — Jr., Cornerstone Christian-San AntonioCollege: UncommittedJasper Ngokwere — Sr., RichardsonCollege: VanderbiltQua Ford — Sr., TexasCollege: SMUKaeden Scott — Sr., San Antonio RooseveltCollege: Texas A&MSECOND TEAM ALL-STATE DEFENSEDefensive LineZane Rowe — Sr., Denton GuyerCollege: OregonKe’Drid Smith — Jr., Pleasant GroveCollege: UncommittedK’Adrian Redmond — Sr., DeSotoCollege: Texas TechEzekiel Ayangbile — Sr., Langham CreekCollege: Miami (FL)LinebackerAston Whiteside — Sr., Burleson CentennialCollege: Texas A&MAaron Williams — Sr., Fort Bend Ridge Point HometownCollege: North CarolinaCade Haug — Sr., Katy College: SMUDefensive BackMontre Jackson — Sr., Garland Lakeview Centennial College: TexasJoshua Banks — Sr., AtascocitaCollege: Texas TechMikhail McCreary — Sr., San Antonio JohnsonCollege: OklahomaBrock Lacey — Jr., North CrowleyCollege: UncommittedSECOND TEAM ALL-STATE SPECIALISTSReturn ManJordan Smith — Sr., WaxahachieCollege: UTSAKickerBeckett Cocke — Sr., College ParkCollege: UncommittedPunterBlake Bordelon — Jr., SintonCollege: UncommittedAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow