Under the Radar Friday Night Heroes: Top Performers in 2023

Photo: Prep Redzone

Chris Hunt

October 31, 2022 @ 05:17 AM

3 stars. 4 stars. 5 stars. Everyone knows about those players. The players in this article don't have any of those, but what they do have, is a chip on their shoulder. They play hard, they play fast, and lead their teams to the win column on Friday nights. From El Paso to Tyler, and Corpus Christi to Amarillo, the state of Texas never lets us down when it comes to providing top-notch football talent.   We start by heading to Round Rock, just north of Austin, to take a look at a 220 pound junior running back who is flying under the radar a bit.   RB Demani Stewart - 5'11" 220 / @DemaniStewart1 (Class of '24)   Junior Stats (through 9 games): 797 rush yards and 9 touchdowns   One half of the Westwood Warriors' ground attack, Stewart combines patience with outstanding vision and contact balance to stand out on Friday nights. He burst onto the scene earlier this season with a 214 yard, 3 touchdown performance. He's a big, physical downhill runner - the type that every college program needs in their running back room. Think of him as the 'thunder' in a thunder/lightning tandem. Has enough elusiveness to sidestep defenders and make them miss in the open field. Will have a big senior season. Very underrated, largely unknown, running back in Round Rock.   Does not have any offers yet, but expect that to change as his senior season gets underway.   OT/DT Jack Ziebell - 6'4" 320 / @Jack_Ziebell (Class of '23)   Ziebell is a self-made man up front for the Warriors. A two-way player, he's a throwback blue collar, lunch pail type of football player who gets after it with a mean streak. As an offensive tackle, he wins in the run game with brute strength. Completely overpowers defensive linemen and doesn't allow them to get to their gaps. As a defensive tackle, he gets into the backfield consistently and puts a stop to the opponent's run game. Will be a steal for a smaller program looking for physicality in the trenches.   DE Darren Powell - 6'3" 220 / @Dezzy4487 (Class of '24)   Junior Stats (through 7 games): 29 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks   Powell is a long, athletic defensive lineman at McNeil High School in Round Rock that lives in the backfield. Explosive first step and active hands allow him to easily rip by guards and wreak havoc against the run. Flying under the radar, but hopefully not for long. Will need to move outside on the next level, as he's only 220 pounds. Huge upside.   DT Lisiate Tiki Hola - 6'3" 270 / @Tiki_Hola (Class of '26)   Freshman Stats (thru 7 games): 22 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks   Just a freshman, Hola is the man in the middle for the Bastrop Bears. He keeps his pads low, plays with good leverage, and has a motor that's always at 100. When runs bounce outside, he moves laterally well and flashes nice sideline-to-sideline speed. Always around the football, and never takes a snap off. It will be fun to watch him continue to develop in the years to come.

3 stars. 4 stars. 5 stars. Everyone knows about those players. The players in this article don't have any of those, but what they do have, is a chip on their shoulder. They play hard, they play fast, and lead their teams to the win column on Friday nights. From El Paso to Tyler, and Corpus Christi to Amarillo, the state of Texas never lets us down when it comes to providing top-notch football talent.