Before the 2024 UIL football season, Rick Cantu and Colby Gordon, who cover high school athletics, ranked the top ten teams from the Austin region.
With almost twenty-five prospects for Division I football, the squads feature potential greats on offense and defense.
Here we are at the American-Statesman’s annual Top 10 preseason countdown for Central Texas.
Now, who is the top dog? Is Wimberley the one? Was he a participant in the Battle of the Lake? Other than that person?
This is it: the definitive list of the one hundred best high school football players from the Austin region for the upcoming 2024 season.
Below you’ll find our rankings as well as detailed information about each power in the Austin area:
Central Texas’s Preseason Top Ten The Georgetown Eagles
In the bi-district playoff game, the Georgetown football team lost after winning six games. While the Hoyas are adjusting to a sophomore quarterback, they boast a strong receiving corps and a top-tier defense coached by Seth Warren.
Nine Cedar Park Citrus Washington State Timberwolves
After advancing to the playoffs with wins over New Braunfels Canyon and Angleton, the 9-4) football team from Cedar Park fell short in the regional quarterfinals against A&M Consolidated. Running back Trae Hill is expected to have another successful season with a new quarterback.
Lions of Dripping Springs
Last year, the Dripping Springs football team reached the playoffs with an 11–4 record but ultimately fell short in the quarterfinals. George Zimmerman, the head coach, is aiming for a record-tying ninth consecutive postseason berth.
Here’s what the team has to say: Dripping Springs is trying to unseat Lake Travis and Westlake as the district’s top teams.
Liberty Hill Panthers, ranked seventh
The Liberty Hill football team finished 10-5 and lost by seven points in the semifinals of the state tournament. As a result of realignment, the Panthers will spend less time on the road than in prior seasons. Alister Vallejo is someone to keep an eye on this season.
Listen up, Liberty Hill! In 2024, when their offense gets going, their defense will be the one to beat.
The Jaguars
The LBJ football team lost in the area round of the playoffs despite finishing 8-4. With quarterback Ali Scott at the helm, the Jaguars, who dropped from 5A to 4A, might make a deep run.
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The Vandegrift Vipers ranked fifth in the nation, were 10-1 during the regular season before suffering a bi-district playoff defeat. Daeshon Morgan will head a stout defense that will see the debut of a quarterback who guided the junior varsity squad to a perfect 2023 campaign.
Fourth Weiss Wolf Pack
Even though they won their district, the Weiss football team lost in bi-districts despite a 9-2 record. The Wolves have dropped from 6A to 5A and added running back DJ Dugar via transfer. He joins Adrian Wilson, another FBS commit, and running back.
Third place Wimberley Texans
The Wimberley football team lost in the state semifinals after going flawless in the regular season for the second year in a row. With the starting quarterback and linebacker coming back from injury, the Longhorns are well-positioned for another successful season.
Three questions about three important members of a talented new-look whiteley squad.
Lake Travis Cavaliers
After an 11-3 record and an 8-2 regular season, the Lake Travis football team fell to rival Westlake, 21-14, in the fourth round of the playoffs. Still, they’re missing a few key players from last season’s squads and have every reason to believe they can make a run at the playoffs.
Listen to the squad: number two Lake Travis is optimistic that their passing ability will encourage a return to the state
The top-ranked Westlake Chaparrals
Before their disappointing loss just one game short of the state championships, Westlake football compiled 14 victories.
With well over half of their starting lineup returning, this skilled squad could benefit from having area defensive player of the year Elliott Schaper back.