Postseason Preview: (5A) Players to Watch in Central Texas
Jack Densmore
In this article:
The playoffs are just around the corner but before they begin here are 10 players from 5A schools to keep an eye on in Central Texas.
1.
Austin Novosad
Austin
Novosad
6'4" | 195 lbs | QB
Dripping Springs | 2023
State
TX
(JR-QB) - Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
2021 Season: 3,011 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Novosad has been one of the most elite athletes overall in Central Texas. He consistently has big performances week after week. The Dripping Springs offense is nearly unstoppable with the trio outlined to start this list off and Georgetown will have its hands full at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.
2.
Preston Alford
Preston
Alford
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Dripping Springs | 2022
State
TX
(SR-RB) - Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
Stats: 1,062 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns
Much like Novosad, Alford has been unstoppable as well. He is fast, hard to take down and has excellent vision of the field. The Georgetown defense can almost not leave any lane open because he will not just get a few yards but may score as well.
3. Kyle Koch (SO-WR) - Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
Stats: 1,017 receiving yards, 17 receiving touchdowns
The last piece to the Dripping Springs offense puzzle is Koch, who has been Novosad's favorite target this season. Koch is a terror when in any kind of scoring position and to reiterate, the trio of Novosad, Alford and Koch create many problems for opposing defenses.
4. Dior Bradfield (SR-QB) - Weiss High School (Pflugerville, TX)
Stats: 2,752 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Bradfield is another player who has been consistent all season. The Wolves take on Veternas Memorial at 7 p.m. tonight, and the Patriots will face an uphill climb to defend against Bradfield and the rest of the Weiss offense.
5. Devin Matthews (JR-WR) - Seguin High School (Seguin, TX)
Stats: 53 receptions, 1,116 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns
The matchup between Seguin and Manor at 7 p.m. tonight is sure to be a good one. For the Matadors, Matthews represents part of the best of the team and is a favorite receiver target. He can score no doubt and has excellent hands. However, he will face a tough Manor team and the game could become a shootout fast so there will be pressure, which will make this game fun to watch.
6.
Quinten Joyner
Quinten
Joyner
5'10" | 190 lbs | RB
Manor | 2023
State
TX
(JR-RB) - Manor High School (Manor, TX)
Stats: 2,120 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns
On the Manor side, Joyner has been a beast all season and has ran opposing defenses ragged. He simply can not be stopped and will definitely keep the score close against Seguin, as the Matador defense will have their hands full.
7.
Jesse Medina
Jesse
Medina
6'0" | 190 lbs | QB
Austin Johnson | 2023
TX
(JR-QB) - Johnson High School (Buda, TX)
Stats: 2,360 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions
Medina and Johnson square off against Cedar Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, a team that has had struggles this season. For Medina, though, he has been consistently good all year, much like others here, but the Timberwolves do have a tough defense. Medina faces a great challenge which will continue to elevate him especially if Johnson pulls off the win and avoids a potential upset.
8.
Rett Andersen
Rett
Andersen
5'11" | 170 lbs | WR
Alamo Heights | 2023
State
TX
(JR-WR) - Alamo Heights High School (San Antonio, TX)
Stats: 33 receptions, 772 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns
Alamo Heights has been undefeated all season and for good reason. One of the reasons is Andersen, who has had a great year, especially when it comes to scoring. The Mules will face Edcouch-Elsa at 7 p.m. on Friday and given both the Alamo Heights defense and offense, the Yellowjackets will have to fight to pull off the upset.
9.
Noah Long
Noah
Long
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Liberty Hill | 2024
State
TX
(SO-RB) - Liberty Hill High School (Liberty Hill, TX)
Stats: 1,237 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns
Long is another player that has been a problem for opposing defenses. Not only that, but Long does plenty of special teams work as well. Liberty Hill squares off against Bastrop at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and given just how young Long is, he is eager to create some playoff magic. Given how much Liberty Hill runs the ball, Long will have plenty of opportunities to make his name even more known.
10.
Mason Shorb
Mason
Shorb
6'3" | 175 lbs | QB
Rouse | 2023
State
TX
(JR-QB) - Rouse High School (Leander, TX)
Stats: 2,870 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Shorb has essentially become a household name at this point but the work is not over yet. Rouse takes on Travis at 7 p.m. on Friday but given just how focused Shorb has been all season, he should have no issues. This quarterback is accurate, can thread the needle when necessary and has great field awareness. Rouse is a championship favorite this year but to get there, players like Shorb will need to play their best ball yet.
Austin
Novosad
6'4" | 195 lbs | QB
Dripping Springs | 2023
State
TX
(JR-QB) - Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
2021 Season: 3,011 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions
Novosad has been one of the most elite athletes overall in Central Texas. He consistently has big performances week after week. The Dripping Springs offense is nearly unstoppable with the trio outlined to start this list off and Georgetown will have its hands full at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12.
2.
Preston Alford
Preston
Alford
5'11" | 190 lbs | RB
Dripping Springs | 2022
State
TX
(SR-RB) - Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
Stats: 1,062 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns
Much like Novosad, Alford has been unstoppable as well. He is fast, hard to take down and has excellent vision of the field. The Georgetown defense can almost not leave any lane open because he will not just get a few yards but may score as well.
3. Kyle Koch (SO-WR) - Dripping Springs High School (Dripping Springs, TX)
Stats: 1,017 receiving yards, 17 receiving touchdowns
The last piece to the Dripping Springs offense puzzle is Koch, who has been Novosad's favorite target this season. Koch is a terror when in any kind of scoring position and to reiterate, the trio of Novosad, Alford and Koch create many problems for opposing defenses.
4. Dior Bradfield (SR-QB) - Weiss High School (Pflugerville, TX)
Stats: 2,752 passing yards, 32 passing touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Bradfield is another player who has been consistent all season. The Wolves take on Veternas Memorial at 7 p.m. tonight, and the Patriots will face an uphill climb to defend against Bradfield and the rest of the Weiss offense.
5. Devin Matthews (JR-WR) - Seguin High School (Seguin, TX)
Stats: 53 receptions, 1,116 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns
The matchup between Seguin and Manor at 7 p.m. tonight is sure to be a good one. For the Matadors, Matthews represents part of the best of the team and is a favorite receiver target. He can score no doubt and has excellent hands. However, he will face a tough Manor team and the game could become a shootout fast so there will be pressure, which will make this game fun to watch.
6.
Quinten Joyner
Quinten
Joyner
5'10" | 190 lbs | RB
Manor | 2023
State
TX
(JR-RB) - Manor High School (Manor, TX)
Stats: 2,120 rushing yards, 27 rushing touchdowns
On the Manor side, Joyner has been a beast all season and has ran opposing defenses ragged. He simply can not be stopped and will definitely keep the score close against Seguin, as the Matador defense will have their hands full.
7.
Jesse Medina
Jesse
Medina
6'0" | 190 lbs | QB
Austin Johnson | 2023
TX
(JR-QB) - Johnson High School (Buda, TX)
Stats: 2,360 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 4 interceptions
Medina and Johnson square off against Cedar Park at 7 p.m. on Friday, a team that has had struggles this season. For Medina, though, he has been consistently good all year, much like others here, but the Timberwolves do have a tough defense. Medina faces a great challenge which will continue to elevate him especially if Johnson pulls off the win and avoids a potential upset.
8.
Rett Andersen
Rett
Andersen
5'11" | 170 lbs | WR
Alamo Heights | 2023
State
TX
(JR-WR) - Alamo Heights High School (San Antonio, TX)
Stats: 33 receptions, 772 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns
Alamo Heights has been undefeated all season and for good reason. One of the reasons is Andersen, who has had a great year, especially when it comes to scoring. The Mules will face Edcouch-Elsa at 7 p.m. on Friday and given both the Alamo Heights defense and offense, the Yellowjackets will have to fight to pull off the upset.
9.
Noah Long
Noah
Long
5'10" | 175 lbs | RB
Liberty Hill | 2024
State
TX
(SO-RB) - Liberty Hill High School (Liberty Hill, TX)
Stats: 1,237 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns
Long is another player that has been a problem for opposing defenses. Not only that, but Long does plenty of special teams work as well. Liberty Hill squares off against Bastrop at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and given just how young Long is, he is eager to create some playoff magic. Given how much Liberty Hill runs the ball, Long will have plenty of opportunities to make his name even more known.
10.
Mason Shorb
Mason
Shorb
6'3" | 175 lbs | QB
Rouse | 2023
State
TX
(JR-QB) - Rouse High School (Leander, TX)
Stats: 2,870 passing yards, 38 passing touchdowns, 5 interceptions
Shorb has essentially become a household name at this point but the work is not over yet. Rouse takes on Travis at 7 p.m. on Friday but given just how focused Shorb has been all season, he should have no issues. This quarterback is accurate, can thread the needle when necessary and has great field awareness. Rouse is a championship favorite this year but to get there, players like Shorb will need to play their best ball yet.
