West Texas: Top Defensive Players In Far West TX for 2024
The 2023 West Texas high school football season ended about a month ago. But we’re already looking forward to the 2024 campaign. Here are 15 Defensive Players to Watch in Far West Texas for 2024: Guillermo Aguilar, Hanks: Emerging as…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023 West Texas high school football season ended about a month ago. But we’re already looking forward to the 2024 campaign. Here are 15 Defensive Players to Watch in Far West Texas for 2024:
Guillermo Aguilar, Hanks: Emerging as one of the top defensive backs in Far West Texas, Aguilar had 63 tackles, 7 passes defended and 3 INT for the Knights in 2023. Hanks reached the Class 5A, D1 playoffs and look to go farther in 2024.
Felipe Aguilar Jr., Americas: Out of the five Americas players who recorded 60+ tackles in 2023, Aguilar Jr. is the lone non-senior. So he’ll be counted on heavily by the Trail Blazers next season to become a leader after collecting 60 tackles as a junior.
Jayden Blair, Bel Air: The 6-foot-0, 205-pound Blair was a force all season long from his DE position as he racked up 65 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 6.0 sacks and, most impressively, 20 QB hurries for the Highlanders.
Jonathan Hernandez, Eastwood: The 6-foot-1, 245-pound Hernandez used his tremendous size, speed and quickness to terrorize opponents in 2023 as he amassed 52 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 8 sacks and 12 QB hurries. Hernandez should attract recruiting attention this spring and summer.
Jose Holguin, Franklin: Holguin was stellar this past season for a Franklin team that missed the playoffs by one game. Holguin finished with close to 100 tackles, and should approach or even surpass that number in 2024.
Dorian Jaramillo, Pebble Hills: Few defensive players in Far West Texas had a better year than Jaramillo in 2023. His numbers from his junior season are impressive: 121 tackles, 8.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 16 QB hurries.
Theodore Locklin, Canutillo: Locklin had an outstanding junior season for the Eagles, which advanced to the second round of the Class 5A, D2 playoffs. He amassed 87 tackles, 13.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 INT. Canutillo returns many of their top defensive players in 2024. Watch out for the Eagles.
Jayden Macias, Parkland: Macias collected 87 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks and 6 passes defended for a Parkland defense that keyed an above .500 season and Class 5A, D1 playoff spot for the Matadors.
Raniyen Orr, Burges: Orr emerged this past season as a tough, gritty cornerback for the Mustangs. He collected 47 tackles and 3.0 TFL as a junior. He’ll be counted on to contribute even more as a senior in 2024.
Edwin Reyes, Mountain View: Reyes was one of Mountain View’s best tacklers in 2023 with 78 stops and 4 QB hurries. Could he reach 100 tackles in 2024?
Damian Rivas, El Paso: Rivas had a tremendous junior season for EPHS, averaging over 7 tackles per game from his LB spot. In 5 games he had 37 tackles. Because the Tigers lose many of their top tacklers from this past season, El Paso will definitely count on Rivas heavily in 2024.
Devin Rubalcava, Del Valle: An ILB for the Conquistadores, Rubalcava enjoyed an outstanding junior campaign with 89 tackles (53 solo), 13.0 TFL and a forced fumble. Del Valle finished 9-2 and looks to advance farther in the playoffs next season.
Christian Saenz, Montwood: Saenz is a fearless, hard-hitting safety for the Rams, collecting over 90 tackles as a junior.
Dominic Soto, Eastlake: Soto was one of the top DBs in Far West Texas this past season with 100 tackles, 3INT and 7 passes defended. Eastlake will look to move up the district standings and qualify for the playoffs in 2024.
Thibaut Spilliaert, EP Coronado: Just a sophomore, Spilliaert made 71 tackles, 4.0 TFL and 3 INT for a Thunderbirds team that went 4-4 (5-5 overall) in a highly competitive district but missed the playoffs.