Logan Newman, USA TODAY High School SportsSat, November 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM UTC·12 min readWith high school football teams deep in postseason play, USA TODAY High School Sports is narrowing down the regional lists to final nominees.
Following the release of the Midwest, West, Southeast and East regions, we're shifting focus to the Southwest.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith athletes from the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, the Southwest is a tricky watch list to narrow down. These states are full of Div. I-bound talent — players hailed by analysts, tracked closely by scouts, and making waves on the gridiron and stat sheets.
These players are all on the radar for consideration for the final ALL-USA Southwest Football Team and the ALL-USA Football National Team, both of which will be announced in December.
(Stats updated as of Nov. 14)
Quarterbacks
Keisean Henderson, Legacy School of Sports and Sciences (Spring, Texas) – Henderson has been one of the most dominant players in the nation, leading Texas in passing yards and passing touchdowns while completing 74.5% of his passes. It’s hard to choose his best game — he has five with 400-plus passing yards and six games with six or more total touchdowns. He has 4,402 total yards and 55 total touchdowns through 10 games.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHank Hendrix, Fayetteville (Ark.) – A four-star junior, Hank Hendrix has 3,495 passing yards at a 64.3% clip and 32 touchdowns to five interceptions with 155 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns. He has four games with more than 400 passing yards.
Angelo Renda, Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas) – Southlake Carroll has entered the top 10 of the Super 25, and Angelo Renda is a key reason why. With 3,148 passing yards at a 74.7% clip and 39 total touchdowns, he has led the Dragons to an 11-0 start.
Bowe Bentley, Celina (Texas) — Bowe Bentley has continued his surge as a top quarterback in Texas. Following a championship season, he has guided Celina to an 11-0 record, including four first-half touchdowns against Aubrey and five touchdowns against Lake Dallas. With a strong, accurate arm and good running abilities, he helps Celina average more than 47 points per game.
Luke Babin, Woodville (Texas) – The three-star Vanderbilt commit has 2,740 yards and 36 touchdown passes to four interceptions while running for 485 yards and five more scores. His eight-touchdown performance in Week 5 is among the highlights of the season, and it took until Week 7 for Babin to throw his first interception.
Running backs
Landen Williams-Callis, Randle (Richmond, Texas) - Elite junior running back Landen Williams-Callis has 2,400 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns through 11 games. He has multiple touchdowns in all but one game, and reached 200 or more yards in seven of the outings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRyan Estrada, El Dorado (El Paso, Texas) — The four-star Minnesota commit has been remarkable this year, rushing for 2,801 yards and 37 touchdowns on 195 carries through 11 games. He has seven games with more than 200 yards (and another with 198) and five games with more than 300, including a 343-yard, five-touchdown game on nine carries and a 321-yard, six-touchdown game with a 99-yard score.
John Hebert, Strake Jesuit (Houston, Texas) - Hebert is on pace to break his 3,542-yard, 38-touchdown junior year. Through 11 games, he has 3,182 yards and 38 touchdowns, with at least 197 yards in all but one. A three-star Houston commit, Hebert has been one of the most impressive running backs of the year.
Javian Osborne, Forney (Texas) - Osborne, a four-star Notre Dame commit, has been a bell horse for Forney this year, rushing for 1,714 yards and 27 touchdowns on 229 carries. He has multiple touchdowns every game that the 9-2 Jackrabbits have won.
Nikel Lewis, Hamburg (Ark.) - Nikel Lewis has accumulated 2,273 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns through 11 games, though he does have three fumbles. With four offers to play at the next level, he’ll be trying to maximize the end of the season in the playoffs.
Wide receivers
Jermaine Bishop, Senior, Willis (Texas) — Five-star Texas commit Jermaine Bishop is one of the top two-way players in the country, playing WR and DB for Willis. On offense, he has 67 receptions for 1,241 yards and 14 touchdowns.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJalen Lott, Panther Creek (Frisco, Texas) — Five-star Oregon commit Jalen Lott has 76 receptions for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns, as well as four more touchdowns on the ground and a passing touchdown. He has helped his team to a 9-2 record entering the second week of the playoffs.
Toray Davis, Fairview (Boulder, Colo.) — Toray Davis, a three-star UCLA commit, leads the state of Colorado with 1,360 receiving yards to go with 16 touchdowns through 11 games.
Buddah Harris, Rivercrest (Wilson, Ark.) — Through 10 games, Buddah Harris leads Arkansas with 1,245 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. He opened the playoffs with a 180-yard, three-touchdown performance to help Rivercrest win 48-8. He has three offers to play at the next level.
Ethan Feaster, DeSoto (Texas) — Ethan "Boobie" Feaster has been a key part of DeSoto's offense, recording 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns on 57 receptions. He made one of the best catches of the season, which you can see below.
Tight ends
Ian Premer, Great Bend (Kan.) — Ian Premer is making an argument as the best tight end in the nation. He is a dual-threat on offense, with 37 receptions for 719 yards and 14 touchdowns to go with 543 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He gets some occasional kick and punt return duties, and has six interceptions on defense.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJavion Martin, Willis (Texas) — Through 11 games, Javion Martin has 57 receptions for 873 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also plays defensive end, where he has three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and an interception.
Camden Jensen, Mullen (Denver, Colo.) — A three-star Michigan commit, Camden Jensen has 726 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 11 games for 8-3 Mullen.
Quentin Roy, Pine Bluff (Ark.) — Through nine games, three-star Georgia State commit Quentin Roy has 36 receptions for 741 receiving yards and five TDs.
Ben Kolar, Norman North (Okla.) — A three-star junior, Ben Kolar had 622 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for Norman North over the team's 11 games this season.
Offensive linemen
Felix Ojo, Lakeridge (Mansfield, Texas) — A five-star offensive tackle listed at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, Felix Ojo has helped Lake Ridge go 9-2 with two junior running backs exceeding the 1,000-yard rushing mark.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKaden Snyder, Salina Central (Kan.) — In a run-heavy offense — shoutout RB Cooper Reves, who has 2,400 yards — four-star Kansas OT commit Kaden Snyder has been a star, helping Salina Central go 10-1 and enter the semifinals. He is credited with 50 pancake blocks this season.
Kennedy Brown, Kingwood (Texas) — Kennedy Brown has reiterated his spot as one of the top junior linemen following a sophomore year in which he allowed zero sacks. He is ranked No. 4 in the nation on the 247Sports composite and as the No. 1 OT on ESPN.
Daniel McMorris, Norman North (Okla.) — OT Daniel McMorris has helped a young team with a sophomore quarterback, junior lead running back, and several junior receivers run an effective offense that averaged more than 30 points per game.
John Turntine III, North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) — Despite the graduations of many important players from its undefeated 2024 season, North Crowley has not lost a step in 2025. IOL John Turntine has helped the team go 10-1 and enter the playoffs as a favorite.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementKaeden Penny, Bixby (Okla.) — Ranked No. 13 in the class of 2027, the 6-foot-4, 280-pound IOL Kaeden Penny has been a key part of Bixby’s undefeated season and pursuit of an eighth straight championship for the Spartans.
Maxwell Robinson, Derby, (Kan.) — Four-star senior IOL Maxwell Robinson has helped Derby get to the semifinals and score 483 points per game on offense.
Sean Stover, Prosper (Texas) — Sean Stover plays as a center and IOL for the 10-1 Prosper team, serving as an anchor for a dynamic offensive line that also includes Div. 1-bound offensive tackles Zaden Krempin and Bryce Gilmorem.
Defensive linemen
Jamarion Carlton, Tempe (Texas) — The 6-foot-5, 270-pound defensive lineman had 68 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble, 21 QB hurries and six pass breakups, according to his X account. A Baylor commit, Carlton is ranked as a top-100 player on 247Sports.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJalen Brewster, Cedar Hill (Texas) — Jalen Brewster, the No. 5 player in the junior class, outsizes everyone around him on the field to a laughable degree. He breaks through the offensive line quickly in part due to size, and in part due to mobility and quickness. He has running packages on offense, including out of the wildcat, and had three touchdowns in a game.
Landon Barnes, Duncanville (Texas) — Landon Barnes is a key player on a Duncanville team that has gotten stronger as the season has progressed. With a team-high 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks plus a forced fumble, he has helped lead a Panthers defense that allows about 14 points per game through nine games.
Carter Buck, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) — Carter Buck is very quick off the edge, able to get around and through offensive linemen with agility, even with his 6-foot-5.5, 250-pound size. He has 42 solo tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, eight hurries, three forced fumbles and an interception, according to MaxPreps.
Zane Rowe, Guyer (Denton, Texas) DE — Zane Rowe, a four-star junior, offers a combination of force and speed as he gets around the edge, which he also uses as a tight end in offensive packages. He has 44 solo tackles, 21 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 23 QB hurries, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Linebackers
Cooper Witten, Liberty Christian (Argyle, Texas) — The top-ranked junior at his position, Cooper Witten has been a dominant force on defense, accumulating seven forced fumbles and recovering four over eight games. He has 61 solo tackles, 26 assisted tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception. He does this while playing as wide receiver on offense, where he has 709 yards and 12 touchdowns.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCord Nolan, Bixby (Okla.) — Cord Nolan leads Bixby in tackles (35 solo and 21 assisted) and is second in tackles for loss with 15, and has a pair of sacks. The three-star Texas Tech commit is all over the field and an important piece for the undefeated Spartans.
Dejon Ackerson, Putnam City (Oklahoma City, Okla.) — With 25 solo and 26 assisted tackles, 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three passes defended, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery, Dejon Ackerson has played a key role for Putnam City.
Bryson Castile, Bowie (Arlington, Texas) — Bryson Castile has been credited with a remarkable 78 solo tackles and 45 assisted tackles to go with 17 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He is a three-star Houston commit.
Carson Crawford, Sr., Carthage (Texas) — Carson Crawford has 54 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss, five sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. He is a Colorado commit.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBraylon Hodge, Sr., Cherry Creek (Englewood, Colo.) — Braylon Hodge, a four-star Oregon commit, is the No. 12-ranked linebacker in the nation, and has accumulated 37 solo tackles, 74 assisted, nine tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
Defensive backs
Jermaine Bishop, Senior, Willis (Texas) — A two-way star, Jermaine Bishop has been credited with 16 solo tackles, 13 assisted, two interceptions, three passes defended, two forced fumbles and three tackles for loss this season.
Toray Davis, Fairview (Boulder, Colo.) — Toray Davis has a keen eye for the ball, and his six interceptions are among the most in Colorado. Additionally, he has three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJohn Meredith III, Junior, Trinity (Euless, Texas) — The No. 1 junior on 247Sports Composite, John Meredith III reads the defense well and has a quick break to the ball. In plays like his goal-line interception, you can see how he sees the play unfold before it happens.
JayQuan Snell, Junior, Waxahachie (Texas) — A five-star junior, JayQuan Snell attacks the ball hard and delivers monster hits, known for taking footballs or helmets with him. He was credited with nine solo tackles and four passes defended against Duncanville.
Xaier Hiler, Senior, Ryan (Denton, Texas) — A four-star senior, Xaier Hiler has been credited with 22 solo tackles, 14 assists, a tackle for loss, two interceptions, 10 passes defended and one fumble recovered this year.
Gabriel Osborne Jr., Junior, Putnam City (Oklahoma City) — Gabriel Osborne Jr., a four-star junior, has three interceptions and 10 passes defended this season for an 8-2 Putnam City team.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Keisean Henderson among All-USA Football Southwest Region finalists
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