The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Tomball Cougars football team.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
Klein Oak Panthers
Klein Collins Tigers
Klein Bearkats
Magnolia Bulldogs
Klein Cain Hurricanes
Magnolia West Mustangs
Tomball Memorial Wildcats
Klein Forest Golden Eagles
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
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VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Ian Thomas, Tomball
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Micah Rhodes, Klein Oak
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ty Miller, Magnolia
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mike Brown, Klein
ON THE CUSP: Magnolia Bulldogs
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Klein Oak Panthers
Matt Powell (VYPE)
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The Tomball Cougars are coming off another solid season after finishing 9-3 in 2025 and advancing to the area round of the playoffs. Dave Handal enters his fourth season as head coach and, as always, will have his team playing a disciplined, physical brand of football. Tomball's offense will be led by a dynamic rushing duo in national recruit Ian Thomas, the reigning District Offensive Newcomer of the Year, and senior Tre'Von Johnson, a second team all-district selection. The pair combined for 2,217 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025. Paving the way up front will be senior offensive lineman Jacob Minutti. Senior quarterback Kymani Pettway is poised to take over under center as Jaxyn Faldyn moves on to the collegiate level. Defensively, the Cougars return a talented secondary led by senior defensive backs Chance Green, a second-team all-district selection, and Caleb Gafford, a first-team all-district pick, who will look to shut down opposing passing attacks. In the trenches, senior defensive linemen Bennett Tucker, a first-team all-district selection, and Andrew Siegert will anchor the defensive front. Tomball also boasts one of the state's top special teams weapons. Texas A&M-committed kicker Andres Von Der Meden, the reigning District Special Teams Player of the Year, returns after another outstanding season, giving the Cougars a major advantage in the kicking game.
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Klein Oak went 5-5 a season ago just missing out on a playoff berth but with a number of returners coming back this fall, the Panthers look to be a playoff contender in 2026. Junior running back and national prospect Micah Rhodes returns to the backfield after rushing for 1,309 yards a year ago. Joining Rhodes in the backfield will be senior quarterback Andre Phillip II (West Virginia commit), who is primed for a breakout season after limited playing time last season. Blocking for the dynamic backfield duo will be senior offensive linemen Ke’Lan Foster (first-team) and Xavier Smith (second-team). The Panthers defense is loaded with Division One talent starting on the defensive line with junior Max Farmer (first-team), senior Andrew O’Leary (first-team) and junior Phillip Hawkins (second-team). Manning the middle of the defense will be senior linebacker Zack Ruysenaars (first-team) along with junior Somtochukwu Okorie (second team). Returning in the secondary will be all-district selections senior Quincy Carter (UTSA commit), senior Meachem Hall (first team) and junior Antonio Dural.
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The Klein Collins Tigers, under the direction of head coach Adrian Mitchell, reached double digit wins in 2025 with a 11-2 overall record reaching the Regional Semifinal round of the playoffs. The Tigers enter the 2026 season returning only six starters from a year ago and will look for players to step up this fall. Returning offensively for Klein Collins is senior running back Tyce Hudson (second team) who rushed for 620 yards last season and paving the way for Hudson will be senior fullback Kannon Dartez. In the passing game, senior quarterback Brylon Jefferson steps in to replace District MVP Braydon Schoggin. Jefferson will look to get the ball to his playmaker on the outside in senior wide receiver Quincy Armstead. Defensively, senior linebacker Aden Earl (second-team) is the leader in the middle along with senior Landon Hedrick while senior defensive back Jonathan Colon (second-team) holds down the backend. Up front, senior defensive lineman William Faye will look to wreck havoc in the opponents backfield. While the Tigers have more new faces going into this season, don’t be shocked to see them back in the playoffs in 2026.
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Klein enters 2026 under new direction as interim head coach David Perez takes over. The Bearkats snapped a seven-year playoff drought last season, reaching the Bi-District round of the playoffs and finishing with a 6-5 overall record. While District Offensive MVP Edward Kelly Jr. has graduated and taken his talent to SMU, the Bearkats still have more than enough fire power offensively. Senior quarterback Carter Latelle was set to be the starter a year ago before a season-ending injury a year ago but he returns healthy and ready to take over as the Bearkats signal-caller. Latelle will look to get the ball to his playmaker on the outside in junior wide receiver Mike Brown, who is set for a breakout season. Junior running back David Godley will open up the passing game in the rushing attack. Blocking up front for the high-flying Klein offense will be sophomore offensive lineman Ethan Henderson (first-team all-district) and senior David Collom. On defense, senior defensive lineman Trenton Marshall (first-team) will anchor the trenches and senior defensive back Dyson Washington Jr. will be the vocal leader in the secondary. Sophomore linebacker C’Ivion “Cash” Hines will be a player to watch out for in the middle as he steps into a bigger role this fall.
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Magnolia made some noise in 2025 finishing with a 9-2 overall record, clinching a share of the district title and making the playoffs for the first time in 6A before bowing out in the Bi-District round. The Bulldogs lost a number of starters defensively from a year ago but return six starters offensively going into 2026. Senior quarterback Chase Lowery (first-team all-district) returns to lead the Bulldogs offense and will look to get the ball to his playmakers in senior tight end Aiden Slansky and senior wide receiver Trace Snellman. Bulldogs’ senior running back and first-team all-district selection Cash Ferrell will be back to establish the rushing attack while senior Javier Matute (second-team) and junior Ethien Davis (second-team) pave the way for Ferrell up front. Defensively, senior linebacker Ty Miller (first-team) will lead the defense coming off a big junior season recording over 100 tackles. While the Bulldogs will need underclassmen to step up this fall, the Bulldogs will be a team in the hunt for the playoffs once again.
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Klein Cain broke a streak of six straight playoff appearances in 2025 finishing with a 4-6 overall record but with 14 starters returning, head coach James Clancy and the Hurricanes will look to get back to the playoffs in 2026. Offensively, the Hurricanes bring back senior running back Eyan Johnson (second-team all-district), who rushed for 780 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago. Blocking for Johnson up front will be senior offensive lineman Ryan Worrell who was a second-team all-district selection last fall. While the Hurricanes will have to replace multi-year starter Zach Johnson at quarterback, whoever steps into the roll will have weapons to get the ball to in senior wide receivers Cooper Karns (first-team) and Tyson Freeman. On the other side of the ball, senior defensive linemen Christian Lovell, Jaemin Gilstrap and Kenyon White will control the trenches while senior defensive back Christian Redeo looks to shut down opponents passing attacks.
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Magnolia West is looking to turn things around this fall after the Mustangs finished with a 2-8 record overall in 2025. Luckily for the Mustangs, they return 11 total starters from a season ago. Junior Chase Corwin will take over the reins at quarterback after appearing in five games last fall. Corwin will look to get the ball to wide receivers Tyler Barber (senior) and Carson Cooksey (junior) while senior running back Gage Jordan leads the rushing attack. Defensively for the Mustangs, senior defensive back Dawson Campbell (second-team) is the only all-district selection returning and will look to step into a leadership role in 2026. Other players to watch out for Magnolia West defensively will be senior defensive lineman Payton Bjorgaard and senior linebacker Lincoln Whitehorn.
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Tomball Memorial goes into the 2026 season with hopes of getting back into the playoffs for the first time since 2023 after the Wildcats finished with a 4-6 record last fall. Offensively, the Wildcats return second-team all-district selection Carson West, who will lead the rushing attack and look to free up the passing game for new starting quarterback Jacob Kubeczka. Kubeckza will have some weapons to get the ball to in senior wide receivers Ryan Surratt and Carter Hamilton (second-team) while senior Lars Lewis anchors the offensive line. On defense, junior lineman Nicholas Gill will control the line of scrimmage while linebacker Justus Loucks (junior) and Santiago Rios (sophomore) look to shut down opponents run game.
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The Klein Forest Golden Eagles finished with a 2-8 overall record in 2025 but will return 10 starters from a year ago. Coming back to lead the offense in 2026 will be senior running back Dejaune Etheridge, who accounted for 1,369 yards of total offense last fall. Quarterback Jaylen Williams will take over as the signal-caller and will look to get the ball to senior wide receiver Kenyon Davis. Defensively for the Golden Eagles, senior defensive lineman Marc Bennett will be the leader of the front seven while senior defensive back Edmond Simmons looks to step into a bigger role this fall. With a 16-year playoff drought, look for the Golden Eagles to make some noise and get back into the playoff conversation in 2026.
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CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE 2026 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE PHOTOSHOOT
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE
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