With the 2025 football season rapidly approaching, The Sporting News is taking a look at the top returning players by region and position.
These are the top 20 quarterbacks to watch in East Texas, back in order to help lead their teams to glory. This list includes a state champion QB going for his third title as well as another seeking to go back to AT&T Stadium and this time capture the gold.
(This list is in alphabetical order)
Ripken Birdwell, Hooks, Sr.
While his first name evokes a legendary baseball surname - and in fact, Birdwell is one of the state’s top shortstops a la Cal Ripken Jr. - he is also making a name for himself on the gridiron. A season ago, he set the single-season school record for passing yards (2,431), completions (151) and attempts (232) while setting single-game school records for passing yards (400) and TDs (five). He already holds the school’s career record in passing yards (4,670) and TDs (50, with 22 coming last season). In an October win against Hughes Springs, Birdwell completed 15-of-17 passes for 252 yards and three TDs and added a rushing TD.
Kayson Brooks, Kilgore, Sr.
In his first season to start behind center, Brooks flourished big-time for the Bulldogs, as he threw for 3,673 yards and 43 TDs while leading the Ragin’ Red to the UIL 4A Division I championship game. Brooks added nearly 350 yards rushing and five TDs. He’s back to help get Kilgore back to AT&T Stadium and perhaps finish the job this go-round.
Kavian Bryant, Palestine Westwood, Jr.
Chuck Cox
Bryant is considered one of the top Class of ’27 quarterbacks in not only Texas but the entire nation. In fact, Rivals lists him as the nation’s top Class of ’27 signal-caller. Last season, he threw for 2,442 yards and 34 TDs while completing 82.2% of his passes (120-of-146) as he helped lead Westwood to an 11-1 record. Bryant is also one of the more prolific basketball players in the state as both a point guard and shooting guard, averaging 30 points per game as a sophomore.
Braxton Bullock, Beckville, Sr.
As a junior, Bullock threw for 1,808 yards and 25 TDs and also added 419 yards rushing with three TDs while earning first-team All-District 10-2A honors. In the regular season finale, Bullock tied a school record with six TD passes, getting those in just barely more than a half in a decisive win against Ore City.
Nolee Carroll, Winnsboro, Sr.
Carroll was a first team All-District 7-3A DI selection after throwing for 2,771 yards and 23 TDs. Carroll returns, as does perhaps his favorite target, receiver Camden Capehart, a Mississippi State commit who is also the back-to-back UIL 3A state champion in the 100-meter dash.
Carter Cook, Mt. Pleasant, Sr.
Cook passed for 1,148 yards and 10 TDs in his junior season. During back-to-back wins late in the regular season against Jacksonville and Nacogdoches, Cook was a combined 17-of-23 passing for 328 yards and six scores. He added more than 400 yards and five TDs on the ground as well.
Zach Davis, Tyler Legacy, Sr.
In their first season playing in 6A, the Red Raiders got a boost from Davis, who completed 146-of-288 passes for 2,158 yards and 15 TDs. Though they fell short in a September game against crosstown rival Tyler High, Davis threw for 368 yards and four TDs.
Malik Gee, Tyler Chapel Hill, Sr.
Though he didn’t see much action at quarterback early in the season, Gee became the Bulldogs’ primary signal-caller down the stretch and ended up being the first-team All-District 9-4A quarterback while helping lead Chapel Hill to the fourth round of the 4A Division I playoffs. He threw for 1,153 yards and 13 TDs, four of those coming in a win against Henderson late in the regular season, while rushing for 521 yards and seven TDs.
Trevor Golightly, Edgewood, Jr.
Keep an eye on this Class of ’27 standout. As a sophomore, Golightly completed 227-of-363 passes for 3,470 yards and 40 TDs. He also posted solid numbers on the ground, scoring 12 TDs on nearly 630 yards rushing. In two postseason games, Golightly combined for 11 passing TDs and 720 yards, 507 of those coming in a second-round loss to Newton.
Caden Granberry, Tyler High, Sr.
Don’t let his size fool you. Though he stands at 5-foot-6, Granberry can definitely elevate the direction of his passes. Last season, he threw for 1,755 yards and 13 TDs, with three games where Granberry threw for three TDs. He is entering his third season to start behind center for the Lions, and in 2023, was named the District 7-5A Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Tyler Heath, Paris, Jr.
Heath turned in an impressive sophomore campaign, as he threw for 2,241 yards and 25 TDs as well as 307 yards rushing and four TDs, earning himself first-team All-District 7-4A honors. In the regular-season finale, Heath threw for 353 yards and six TDs as the Wildcats downed Nevada Community. His goal now is to better those numbers, as well as get the Wildcats into the playoffs after ending up 5-5 in ’24.
Alton Henderson, Marshall, Sr.
Last season, the Mavericks made it to the third round of the 5A Division II playoffs, with Henderson playing a key role. He passed for nearly 1,400 yards and 13 TDs for a team which generally favors running the ball. On that note, Henderson picked up nearly 700 yards on the ground, reaching the end zone 10 times. In an October win against Nacogdoches, Henderson completed 11-of-12 passes for 200 yards and three TDs while adding another TD rushing.
Vince Howard, Henderson, Sr.
Though he only had five TD passes in the 2024 season, Howard still threw for 1,227 yards and also had five rushing TDs for the Lions, who finished 6-4, highlighted by a win against 4A Division I runner-up Kilgore. Howard wants to put up more numbers, not to mention more wins, for the Lions this season.
DeJuan Johnson, New Diana, Jr.
Keep an eye out for this dual-threat specialist when talking about the best Class of ’27 quarterbacks in the state. Johnson has already amassed more than 5,600 yards of total offense in his first two seasons with the Eagles. He made a larger jump in 2024, completing 65% of his passes (96-of-148) for 2,177 yards and 29 TDs while adding 1,284 yards rushing with 18 scores. Johnson’s play was a big reason the Eagles finished undefeated in the regular season.
Jaxsen Ludlow, White Oak, Sr.
Though the Roughnecks finished 5-5 a season ago, Ludlow was definitely a player to watch as he threw for more than 2,100 yards and 23 TDs while adding 875 yards and 11 TDs on the ground. He was an honorable mention All-State pick and earned second-team All-State honors as a punter. Playing for his father, White Oak coach Mike Ludlow, the younger Ludlow wants to exceed those numbers while getting his team into postseason play.
Jonathan Morgan, Clarksville, Sr.
Morgan is one of the best-kept secrets in East Texas. As a junior, he passed for 2,874 yards and 37 TDs while adding eight more TDs rushing in helping Clarksville to a playoff appearance. Morgan is back not only determined to lead the Tigers back to the playoffs but get them to much greater heights in ’25.
David Richardson, Athens, Sr.
Richardson was less than 100 percent healthy through most of his junior season. In fact, he played seven games with a torn ligament in his foot. But through all of that, he still threw for 1,900 yards and 26 TDs while earning first-team All-District 8-4A honors. In an October win against Rush, Richardson completed 19-of-24 passes for 270 yards and four TDs in just three quarters.
Jett Surratt, Carthage, Sr.
The son of ultra-successful Carthage coach Scott Surratt, the younger Surratt has helped continue the Bulldogs’ run of state titles that has spanned three decades. As a junior last season, he threw for 3,378 yards and 53 TDs while completing 68% of his passes in leading Carthage to the UIL 4A Division II title, the 10th state title won by Scott Surratt since taking over the Bulldogs’ program, while becoming the first coach ever in Texas high school football to win 10 championships. Jett Surratt has been a part of two of his father’s state title runs, and is seeking to cap his career at Carthage with a third.
Jett Taylor, Grand Saline, Sr.
A two-way starter who also plays safety, Taylor turned in a phenomenal junior year both throwing and running with the football. He rushed for 1,909 yards and 28 TDs and added 1,593 yards through the air with 15 TDs for the Indians, who finished 11-1. In a postseason win against Hooks, Taylor passed for 189 yards and two TDs and rushed for 239 yards and three more scores.
Sean Walker, Grapeland, Sr.
Walker threw for more than 1,100 yards and 14 TDs while adding nearly 500 yards and eight TDs rushing for the Sandies, who reached the 2A Division II quarterfinals. He completed 12-of-17 passes for 166 yards and a TD while adding 105 yards rushing and two TDs as Grapeland avenged a regular-season loss to Overton with a 31-23 win in the third round of the playoffs.
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