Quarterbacks With Rising Stock In the Playoffs
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Round 3 of the Texas high school football playoffs has been nothing short of amazing! You could apply the lyrics of the song “Deep In The Heart Of Texas” to every game. The stars at night are always big and…
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Continue ReadingRound 3 of the Texas high school football playoffs has been nothing short of amazing! You could apply the lyrics of the song “Deep In The Heart Of Texas” to every game. The stars at night are always big and bright on the gridiron in the Lone Star state. Let’s take a look at a few quarterbacks who deserve credit and recognition for shining bright at the highest level of high school competition.
Keelon Russell Keelon Russell 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Duncanville | 2025 State TX , QB, jr
School: Duncanville
Standing at 6’4″ and 175 lbs, Keelon Russell Keelon Russell 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Duncanville | 2025 State TX has been on a tear in the 2023 Texas playoffs. Heading into the 3rd round, Russell has been leading Duncanville and showing the state and nation that he is the real deal at quarterback. Russell has been uber impressive with his arm and legs in the Duncanville scheme. Paired up in the backfield with LSU commit Caden Durham Caden Durham 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Duncanville | 2024 State TX has made read options and RPOs an unmatched weapon for the school of champions. Russell dominated The Woodlands Highlanders this past weekend and won his head-to-head matchup against Wisconsin commit Mabrey Mettaeur. Look for the junior to garner greater collegiate interest as he works the playoff rounds with his cannon arm and Vince Young-esk scrambling style. The scoreboard is never stagnant when Russell is at the helm!
Jett Surratt Jett Surratt 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Carthage | 2026 State TX , QB, so.
College: Carthage
Carthage’s Jett Surratt Jett Surratt 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Carthage | 2026 State TX is a flat-out field general! Last week against Pleasant Grove Surratt completed 58.6 percent of his attempts for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns against a stout Pleasant Grove defense. His pocket presence and ability to calmly extend the play long enough for receivers to create separation was a sight to see. Surratt has enough arm strength to make any throw on the field and his IQ allows him to play beyond his sophomore status. Remember this name for the next two years in Texas high school football. The son of Bulldogs head coach Scott Surratt, the super sophomore threw for 280 yards and five touchdowns to lead Carthage to a 49-7 area win over Van Alstyne the week prior. He also threw five touchdowns in a bi-district win over Liberty-Eylau. The defending Class 4A Division II state champs will go as far as Surratt takes them and if history holds true; Surratt has his eyes set on a repeat.
Derek (DJ) Lagway Derek (DJ) Lagway 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Willis | 2024 State TX , QB, sr.
School: Willis
Derek (DJ) Lagway Derek (DJ) Lagway 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Willis | 2024 State TX is one of the country’s most electrifying players. Lagway led the Wildkats to a historic undefeated 10-0 season in District 13-6A. Lagway had the unbeaten Wildkats rolling in the playoffs but unfortunately ran across the defending state champs Desoto Eagles in the Alamodome. Lagway started off the game with a 65-yard quarterback draw for the inaugural score. Lagway showed power In last week’s win over Tomball Memorial, the five-star Florida pledge threw for five touchdowns to lead Willis to its first regional semifinal since 1994 when Michael Bishop was at the helm. The Wildkats came up short against Desoto but it was not due to a lack of production from Lagway. Look for the number 2 overall quarterback in the 2024 recruiting class to move on to the Florida Gators and make some serious noise as a freshman next year.
Tom Von Grote Tom Von Grote 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Byron Nelson | 2024 TX , QB, sr.
School: Byron Nelson
Tom Von Grote Tom Von Grote 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Byron Nelson | 2024 TX has been the type of leader in the playoffs that does whatever needs to be done. Be it throwing for 300 yards, rushing as a dual-threat quarterback, or handing the ball off to a hot running back. Von Grote is getting the job done with his arm and legs for the unbeaten Bobcats. In playoff wins over Crowley and Midland, he combined to throw for 561 yards and six touchdowns and rush for 162 yards and three more scores. This past weekend against Coppell in Arlington, Von Grote completed 55.6 percent of his passes in a defensive slugfest. Von Grote ended up being the player of the game and kept the program undefeated.