Preseason Review: Featuring Smithson Valley Rangers

Coming off a 14-2 season and a 6-1 district run, Smithson Valley cemented itself as one of the top programs in Texas under longtime head coach Larry Hill. The Rangers paired a dominant defense with a high powered offense led by OC Glenn Hill, who recently accepted the head coaching job at Navarro ISD. Now, former Smithson Valley star and New Mexico State/UTSA quarterback Josh Adkins returns to his alma mater as the new offensive coordinator. After playing college ball and gaining valuable experience, Adkins steps into a big role with high expectations. With Hill still leading the program and Adkins taking over the offense, the Rangers are set to keep their championship standard alive in 2025.   Smithson Valley 2025 Football Schedule   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Aug 29 – vs SA Roosevelt</li>   <li>Sept 4 – @ Brennan</li>   <li>Sept 12 – vs Madison</li>   <li>Sept 19 – @ Boerne-Champion</li>   <li>Sept 26 – vs Pieper</li>   <li>Oct 10 – @ Wagner</li>   <li>Oct 17 – @ Seguin</li>   <li>Oct 24 – vs New Braunfels</li>   <li>Oct 30 – @ MacArthur</li>   <li>Nov 6 – vs Victoria East </li> </ul>    Ty is on the verge of a major breakout, and it's easy to see why. Standing tall in the pocket with a calm presence, he commands the offense with maturity and confidence well beyond his years. His arm talent jumps off the tape whether it's layering throws into tight windows or launching deep balls with touch and velocity, Ty consistently delivers strikes to all three levels of the field.   What separates Ty is his ability to process quickly and stay poised under pressure. He doesn't just play fast he plays smart. He's able to manipulate defenders with his eyes, anticipate openings before they develop, and extend plays without sacrificing discipline. His mobility is a quiet weapon: he escapes the rush effortlessly and can make defenses pay with his legs when they lose contain.   With offers already in hand from Texas Tech, TCU, North Texas, UTEP, and UTSA, Ty's trajectory is heading nowhere but up. He has all the tools to become a nationally recruited quarterback — the arm, the mindset, and the leadership intangibles that college programs covet. Expect his offer list to grow fast as the fall unfolds.     Caleb is a tone-setter on defense a true field general who brings energy, physicality, and instinct to the linebacker position. He plays with a high motor and a relentless mindset, showing no hesitation when it's time to fill gaps or shoot through creases to disrupt plays in the backfield.   What stands out most is Caleb's ability to diagnose plays quickly. Whether it's reading pulling guards, tracking the back on zone schemes, or recognizing screens and misdirection, he reacts with confidence and closes fast. He's a strong tackler in space, wraps up well, and rarely gives up yards after contact. His pursuit from sideline to sideline is consistent and dependable, making him a factor on every snap.   Caleb also shows upside in coverage he's comfortable dropping into zones, communicates well with the secondary, and understands spacing. He's the type of linebacker that coaches trust to lead a defense, and his impact shows up both on the stat sheet and in the film room.     Colton plays with an edge that jumps off the film. He's aggressive, instinctive, and always around the football. Whether he's stacking and shedding blocks or scraping laterally to shut down outside runs, Colton plays with excellent leverage and discipline.   He brings a physical brand of football to the linebacker spot not afraid to meet ball carriers in the hole and delivers clean, violent tackles. His football instincts are clear in the way he times blitzes, anticipates plays before they unfold, and reacts without hesitation. Colton's motor is non-stop, and he thrives in high-pressure situations.   He's also shown flashes of versatility, able to contribute on special teams, rush the passer, and drop into coverage when needed. Colton is the kind of player who does the dirty work, sets the tone for the defense, and earns respect through effort, toughness, and production.     Caleb is a dynamic edge defender with explosive get off and a relentless motor. He consistently wins off the line with quick hands, violent bursts, and the ability to bend the edge while staying low and balanced. His first step is a real weapon it puts offensive tackles on their heels from the snap.   He plays with great effort and instincts, showing the ability to disrupt both the run and pass game. Caleb doesn't just rush blind he sets the edge with discipline, keeps contain, and knows when to crash down or stay home. He's shown the ability to counter with inside moves and doesn't rely solely on speed; there's a technical polish to his game that shows he studies his craft.     [player_tooltip player_id='1507682' first='Justin' last='Roberts'] is a disruptive interior force who brings power, quickness, and a high motor to the defensive line. He plays with heavy hands and consistently wins at the point of attack by using leverage and strength to collapse the pocket or clog up running lanes.   What makes Justin stand out is his ability to penetrate and create chaos in the backfield. He's not just a space eater he's a playmaker. His first step quickness allows him to shoot gaps and beat slower interior linemen, and once he gets in the backfield, he finishes with authority. He shows good awareness in tracking the ball and rarely gets washed out of plays.     Hudson Wood is a relentless edge defender who brings a mix of power, quickness, and technique to every snap. He plays with a high motor and has a knack for getting into the backfield, whether it's beating tackles with speed off the edge or using well timed hand moves to disengage and collapse the pocket.   Hudson shows great discipline in his pass-rush lanes and rarely overruns plays. He understands leverage, sets the edge well in the run game, and consistently forces offenses to adjust protections his way. What makes him stand out is his ability to finish whether it's wrapping up in space or forcing errant throws, he makes his presence felt on nearly every drive.     Caden is an explosive edge rusher who plays with controlled aggression and a relentless approach. His first step is quick and disruptive, allowing him to gain immediate leverage off the snap and force offensive linemen into recovery mode. He's got a natural feel for timing his rush and knows how to turn speed into power when collapsing the pocket.   What separates Caden is his motor he plays through contact, chases plays down from the backside, and never takes a rep off. He's physical at the point of attack, sheds blocks with strong hands, and shows the ability to set the edge in the run game. Whether he's asked to rush wide or stunt inside, Caden finds ways to affect the quarterback and disrupt rhythm.    Smithson Valley looks primed to make another deep run toward a state championship. With a roster full of experience, physicality, and discipline on both sides of the ball, this team checks all the boxes of a true contender. They play with an edge, execute at a high level, and have the kind of depth and leadership that championship teams are built on. If they stay healthy and continue to build momentum, don't be surprised if Smithson Valley is playing under the bright lights in December once again.

Coming off a 14-2 season and a 6-1 district run, Smithson Valley cemented itself as one of the top programs in Texas under longtime head coach Larry Hill. The Rangers paired a dominant defense with a high powered offense led by OC Glenn Hill, who recently accepted the head coaching job at Navarro ISD. Now, former Smithson Valley star and New Mexico State/UTSA quarterback Josh Adkins returns to his alma mater as the new offensive coordinator. After playing college ball and gaining valuable experience, Adkins steps into a big role with high expectations. With Hill still leading the program and Adkins taking over the offense, the Rangers are set to keep their championship standard alive in 2025.