SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio area has been home to many of the state’s most-talented high school football players and this season is no different.
Close to 30 area prospects are expected to sign letters of intent in February to play college football at an FBS school (formerly Division-1).
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Many more will sign with an FCS school or another level of collegiate football. Before that day comes in February, an entire season needs to be played.
Here are the seniors who make up this year’s KSAT 12 Elite 12 recruiting list. Each player has a short video profile.
(Note: List compiled from major recruiting sites, Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine.)
1. Xavier Martin, Steele Dual-threat QB — Verbally committed to Texas Tech
Martin is the highest-rated skill player in the San Antonio area and latest Steele standout headed to Lubbock.
Martin scored 30 total touchdowns last season as he quarterbacked the Knights to the state semifinals.
Expectations will be high again this season for the athletic signal caller. Martin is ranked 35th overall in the state and listed as a 4-star recruit on 247.com.
He was named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Second Team Offense as an athlete.
2. Matthew Huhn, John Jay OL — Verbally committed to Houston
Huhn is San Antonio’s most-heavily recruited player of 2016. The John Jay offensive linemen has verbally committed to Houston, but received more than 30 FBS offers.
Those offers included Michigan, California, Oklahoma State and Baylor. Huhn anchors a Mustangs offensive line that is one of the best in the city.
He is a Top 100 Texas recruit on 247.com and Top 300 recruit on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Coach Gary Gutierrez said Huhn’s academics also brought about offers from seven Ivy League schools.
3. Frank Harris, Clemens QB — Verbally committed to UTSA
Harris is one of the most exciting players in the area. He put up astronomical numbers (combined 50-plus touchdowns) last season as he led the Buffaloes to the Division II Region Final.
Harris received more than a dozen FBS offers before verbally committing to UTSA, making him arguably the biggest local recruit to sign with the Roadrunners in Frank Wilson’s first season.
Harris is listed as a Top 100 Texas recruit on 247.com and Top 300 recruit by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
DCTF also named him preseason offensive MVP for District 27-6A.
4. Derek Kerstetter, Reagan OL — Verbally committed to Oklahoma State
Kerstetter anchors a Reagan line that is expected to once again lead the Rattlers to a district title.
Kerstetter is agile and a physical presence along the line. He received offers from more than ten FBS schools before verbally committing to Oklahoma State.
He is listed as a 3-star recruit on 247.com and Rivals, and was on Dave Campbell’s Top 300 Texas recruit list.
5. Joshua Croslen, Steele DT — Verbally committed to Minnesota
Croslen is an explosive defensive lineman who is part of another impressive Steele defense.
Croslen tallied six sacks last season with 13 quarterback hurries. He verbally committed to Minnesota after receiving more than 10 FBS offers.
Croslen is one of Dave Campbell’s Top 300 recruits and was named District 27-6A preseason defensive MVP by the publication.
6. Josh Adkins, Smithson Valley QB — Verbally committed to New Mexico State
Adkins put up monster numbers last season (combined 40-plus touchdowns) as he led the Rangers to the Division I Region Final.
Adkins received a handful of FBS offers, including two from Ivy League schools, before verbally committing to New Mexico State.
Adkins is rated as a 3-star recruit on all major recruiting sites and listed on Dave Campbell’s Texas Top 300 recruit list.
7. Travell Lumpkin, Steele RB — Offers from Colorado State, Houston, New Mexico, Texas Tech
Lumpkin is a physical runner who makes up the second part of Steele’s explosive senior backfield.
Lumpkin gained over 1,000 yards last season with 15 touchdowns and is poised for another big year.
He has not verbally committed, but many analysts believe he will only get better and will be a steal on the next level.
Lumpkin is Scout.com’s fifth ranked running back in the state and listed on Dave Campbell’s Top 300 Texas recruit list.
8. Ashton Smith, Stevens DB/OLB — Offers from Baylor, UTSA, Texas State
Smith blasted onto the recruiting scene after a big junior year where he helped the Falcons earn a playoff berth in District 28-6A.
Smith is a hard hitter with a nose for the football. He is listed as a top 50 safety recruit in the nation by Rivals.
Smith has not verbally committed but tells us LSU, Ole Miss and Tulane are in the mix along with the others listed above.
9. Preston Dimery, Kerrville Tivy DB — Verbally committed to Texas State
Dimery is one of the best safeties in the area and a key to the Antlers attempt to recreate last season’s magic.
Dimery is a solid tackler and his size helps him go after the ball in the air. Dimery is a 3-star recruit on 247.com and the site’s 11th ranked safety in Texas.
Dimery verbally committed to the Bobcats after receiving interest from a handful of schools. He is one of the cornerstones of Everett Wither’s first full recruiting class in San Marcos.
10. Bryson Carroll, Roosevelt Dual-threat QB — Verbally committed to New Mexico
Carroll, one of San Antonio’s most exciting signal callers, is primed for another big year for Coach Matt Carroll and the Rough Riders.
Carroll scored 27 total touchdowns last season and is rated as a 3-star recruit on 247.com and Rivals.
The dynamic playmaker verbally committed to New Mexico after receiving more than a handful of FBS offers.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football named Carroll the District 26-6A preseason offensive MVP and placed him on the publication’s Top 300 Texas recruit list.
11. Mychal Cooper, Taft WR — Offers from Navy, Air Force, Army, Nevada, New Mexico
Cooper’s size and strength (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) make him one of the most feared receivers and big-play threats in the area.
Cooper can out-jump most defenders and has solid speed in the open field. He is rated as a 3-star recruit by Rivals and has a handful of FBS offers.
Cooper just turned 17 years old and is unheralded in the state, but that may change as he looks to get Taft into the playoffs in District 28-6A.
12. Darren Thomas, Judson DT — Verbally committed to Texas State
Thomas will be the anchor of a young Judson defense that will look for a repeat performance of last season’s state semifinal run.
Thomas is solid off the line of scrimmage and has good closing speed. He is a 3-star recruit on 247.com and verbally committed to play for Everett Withers and Texas State after receiving more than a handful of offers.
Thomas was also named to the Dave Campbell Texas Football Top 300 recruit list.
The Next Six Seniors:
Bryce Rivers, Stevens QB — Verbally committed to UTSA
Chase Brown, Kerrville Tivy LB — Verbally committed to Tulsa
Logan Mann, Stevens WR — Verbally committed to Air Force Academy
Kyle Anderson, Reagan LB — Uncommitted
Will Chaney, Alamo Heights QB — Uncommitted
Reeves Mundschau, New Braunfels Canyon Punter — Verbally committed to Oklahoma