The Denton area has become well known for sending football players to the next level, and this year’s senior class features plenty of touted recruits.
A total of 11 local seniors have already committed to Division I college football programs heading into this fall with a few others potentially poised to follow. Not to mention the many other athletes each year who head off to play within the non-DI ranks at programs across the state and nation.
Let’s take a look at all of the local DI commits thus far, along with a few of the top uncommitted players.
Local DI football commits
Ryan’s Dillon Arkansas, LB, TCU
Arkansas is set to join his brother, Rice linebacker DJ Arkansas, in the collegiate ranks after announcing his commitment to TCU in May. Dillon has long been a crucial part of Ryan’s defense and racked up 73 tackles (53 solo), three tackles for loss, two interceptions and one forced fumble along with one touchdown apiece on offense and defense last year.
Ryan’s Marcus Garcia, OL, Texas A&M
Garcia was a bit of a late riser on the recruiting trail who worked his way up to committing to Texas A&M in April for both football and track and field after a strong 2023 season. The standout offensive tackle is poised to again help anchor Ryan’s offensive front after he was a force upfront last fall with 42 pancakes, zero sacks allowed and an overall grade of 89.
Ryan’s Ty Haywood, OL, Alabama
Haywood is considered one of the nation’s top offensive linemen with a five-star rating from 247Sports and committed to national power Alabama in July. The senior offensive tackle will anchor the other side of Ryan’s line opposite Garcia after putting together a second straight impressive season last fall in posting a 92 overall grade, 58 pancakes and no sacks allowed.
Ryan’s Lorenzo Hill, WR, UTEP
Hill garnered interest from power conference programs across the country before ultimately committing to UTEP in late July. The speedy wide receiver looks poised for a big senior year after putting his dynamic athleticism on full display as a junior last fall, when he hauled in 35 passes for 555 yards and five touchdowns as Ryan’s leader in receiving yards.
Ryan’s Trae Williams, DB, Air Force
Williams rounds out the Raiders’ five FBS football commits thus far after announcing his commitment to the Air Force Academy in July. The standout defensive back heads into his third year as a crucial part of Ryan’s secondary after posting 36 tackles (24 solo), six pass breakups and three interceptions along with one touchdown in limited action offensively.
Guyer’s Jackson Shockley, TE, Tulsa
Shockley is one of three Wildcat seniors pledged to FBS programs thus far after announcing his commitment to Tulsa in July. The standout tight end looks poised for a strong senior season with Guyer after posting 11 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns across seven games last fall, according to Guyer’s MaxPreps page.
Guyer’s Kevin Sperry, QB, Oklahoma
Sperry is a new addition to the Wildcats’ program this fall after transferring from Carl Albert High in Oklahoma this spring. He has been committed to the University of Oklahoma since March 2023. The senior quarterback aims to end his high school career with a bang after throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 31 touchdowns in leading Carl Albert to a state title last year.
Guyer’s Xavier Ukponu, DL, Wisconsin
Ukponu is the most recent FBS pledge in the Wildcats’ senior class, having announced his commitment to Wisconsin early this month. The senior standout, who holds Guyer’s all-time bench press record at 380 pounds, is poised to anchor the program’s deep defensive line this fall after posting 31 tackles (17 solo), six tackles for loss and one sack last season.
Argyle’s Will Krzysiak, WR, Harvard
Krzysiak is the Eagles’ lone senior DI pledge thus far in 2024 after he announced his commitment to Harvard in June. The standout wide receiver has been one of Argyle’s top threats outside each of the last two years and is coming off a highly productive junior season in which he tallied 58 catches for 1,090 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Lake Dallas’ Josiah Jones, DB, Kansas State
Jones is another player who transferred into the area before this season as he joined Lake Dallas from Westlake High School in California, then announced his commitment to Kansas State earlier this month. The standout defensive back also held scholarship offers from Georgia, Louisville and UTEP before choosing the Wildcats and looks poised to anchor Lake Dallas’ secondary this fall.
Sanger’s Luke Thompson, RB, Drake
Thompson is the most recent local senior committed to a Division I program after he announced his commitment to Drake on Aug. 17. The standout running back racked up 191 carries for 854 yards and seven touchdowns last year, numbers he’ll look to build on for Sanger this fall while also potentially seeing some playing time defensively at linebacker.
Top uncommitted seniors
Tyler Brown, ATH, Aubrey
Brown picked up his first DI scholarship offer from North Texas last summer, and has only seen his recruitment pick up with offers coming in from Texas State, UTSA, UTEP and Stephen F. Austin. The standout senior has elite track speed as last year’s 4A state champion in the 200-meter dash and is poised to star for Aubrey again this fall at wide receiver, defensive back and returner.
Braeden Mussett, ATH, Ryan
Mussett is another of the area’s dynamic athletes with Division I offers from Houston, Texas State, North Texas, UNLV, Missouri State and Grambling State, according to his X account. The senior showed off his strong athleticism at both wide receiver and quarterback last fall and looks poised to remain a key factor all over the field for Ryan.
Weston Chaney, OL, Argyle
Chaney is one of the key senior leaders of what looks to be a hulking Argyle line this fall and has earned plenty of collegiate interest with double-digit DI offers, including two from FBS schools Air Force and Army. The standout offensive lineman is coming off a strong junior season in which he posted a 92% blocking grade with 14 knockdowns.
Tyler Roberts, OL, Argyle
Roberts stands tallest among Argyle’s group of sizable offensive linemen at 6-foot-10 and 300-plus pounds and holds several Division I offers of his own from UTEP, Air Force, Bryant, Dartmouth and Yale. The standout senior looks poised to build on an impressive junior year in which he had a 90% blocking grade and 16 knockdowns.
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