KLEIN COLLINS SENIOR CHRIS GANT JR. ALWAYS HAS A PLAN.
Having grown up in an athletic family, the dream has always been to be a Division I athlete dating back to elementary school.
“I’ve been in pads for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I just love the game and now that I have the opportunity to play in college... I’ve been praying for this. I have put so much work into my craft and it has paid off.”
The 5-foot, 10-inch defensive back has verbally committed to the University of North Texas and will be on campus in 2024.
“I really like their scheme on defense, and I see that they have a plan for me,” he said. “They also offer architectural engineering, and that is what I want to pursue as a career.”
Maybe he should be in marketing? Gant has taken advantage of his popularity and built his own brand... CG13.
“With NIL becoming so popular, I just thought I should create my own brand and get ahead of the process,” he said. “It was just for fun at first, but then it started to be a little business. I do jackets, hoodies, hats – things like that.”
Gant’s father, Chris Gant, was a star at the University of Pittsburgh for basketball, and Junior only recently hung up the high tops.
“I played basketball until my junior year, and it really helps your football skills,” he said. “Your reaction time and footwork are so
important in basketball, and the safety position is very similar to playing defense on the court. I’m glad I kept with it.
“My Dad has always coached me up my entire life and has guided me through my athletic career. He’s been at this level and has given me some great advice.”
As he embarks on his last season of high school football, he has set some lofty goals.
“Klein Collins has never been to State, and that is our goal,” he said. “We have the talent and the chemistry to do it. I also just want to have fun with my guys one last time. This feels like the stuff you see in movies, right?
“I’m looking to get six interceptions and about 70 tackles. I’m going to leave it all out there.”
People always say you're a reflection of those you surround yourself with.
If that's true, Ezekiel Ayangbile has been blessed with one of the strongest support systems imaginable.
His mother, Ciera Ayangbile, was a standout thrower for Virginia Tech's track and field program. His father, Duane Brown, was a first-round NFL Draft pick out of Virginia Tech who went on to play 16 seasons in the league, earning five Pro Bowl selections while becoming one of the most respected offensive linemen of his generation.
So, when Ayangbile walks into a room, it's hard not to notice.
At 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, the Langham Creek senior looks every bit the part of a future Power Four defensive lineman. But what stands out even more than his size is his maturity. Having grown up around professional athletes, he carries himself with the same confidence, humility and professionalism that have been modeled for him his entire life.
"I have had an amazing circle around me my entire life," Ayangbile said. "From my grandparents, to my mom, to my dad... they've always preached to be a great person first.
"Being around the game with my dad, I've had people like DeAndre Hopkins, J.J. Watt and Russell Wilson speaking life into me at a very young age. Not just my family. Not a lot of kids have that type of circle that always has their back."
That foundation has shaped far more than his football career.
Originally, Ayangbile's future appeared to be on the offensive line, where he began his high school career at tackle. But Langham Creek's coaching staff saw something different. They envisioned him wreaking havoc on defense.
The move changed everything. As he settled into his new role, Ayangbile immersed himself in studying the game's elite pass rushers.
"I started watching players like Myles Garrett and Kayvon Thibodeaux and their technique," he said. "I just worked on my own moves to get my bag up."
With a relentless motor, long arms and explosive first step, Ayangbile has developed into one of the premier defensive line prospects in Texas, attracting national attention before committing to the University of Miami. The Hurricanes' resurgence under head coach Mario Cristobal made the decision an easy one.
"It's getting ready to be like the glory days of the '90s and early 2000s," he laughed. "Miami ain't playing games no more."
For Ayangbile, the attraction went beyond the uniforms and tradition.
"What drew me was their development," he said. "They are producing NFL first-rounders at my position, and that's what I want. They know what they're doing."
While football has opened countless doors, it doesn't define who he is.
Away from the field, Ayangbile enjoys expressing himself creatively through writing and music, passions that allow him to slow down and reflect away from the demands of football.
"I'm really into writing," he said. "If I can write what I want, I can put something on paper. I also am getting into music in a big way."
Ask him what legacy he hopes to leave behind, and the answer has nothing to do with tackles, sacks or recruiting rankings.
"What really means the most to me is that people see my character," he said. "I want to impact people on and off the field and be known as a great teammate and friend."
With NFL bloodlines, elite talent and a future in one of college football's premier programs, the spotlight will continue to follow Ezekiel Ayangbile.
But if you ask him, the greatest measure of success won't be found in accolades. It will be found in the impact he leaves on the people around him.
Shadow Creek defensive lineman Xavier Muhammad enters his final season of Texas high school football with a new jersey, a new environment, and the same relentless approach that has fueled his career.
One of the offseason’s biggest storylines was Muhammad’s move from South Houston to Shadow Creek, a transition prompted by his father accepting a job within the district.
While changing schools presented a new challenge, Muhammad’s adjustment has been anything but difficult — quickly finding his footing with the Sharks.
“I love it there,” Muhammad said. “The guys welcomed me right away when I moved over, and I’m excited to keep building with them, make plays, win games and chase a State championship. I’m just trying to have fun and enjoy my final journey through high school.”
Muhammad’s path to becoming a standout defensive presence began long before the Friday night spotlight. It started in little league, where his size introduced him to a higher level of competition at an early age.
“My football journey started when I was in little league,” he said. “I actually always had to play up because I was bigger than everybody else in my grade, so I had to play with the 2026 class growing up.”
That early adjustment helped shape the athletic foundation Muhammad continues to rely on today — one that extends beyond football. Basketball has also played a significant role in developing the coordination and footwork that separate him on the edge.
“Basketball definitely helps translate to the football field with my coordination and my footwork, especially for my size,” Muhammad said. “A lot of people with my size aren’t always coordinated, so basketball really helps with that and most definitely translates to football.”
As Muhammad enters his final season, he understands the viewership that comes with being one of Shadow Creek’s standout defenders — and he plans to turn it into an advantage.
“I plan on just being disruptive on the field and using that target on my back,” he said. “If people are focused on me, it lets other people get free and make big plays, and I think that’s going to be the main factor for us to make a deeper playoff run.”
That selfless mentality shows the mark Muhammad hopes to leave with the Sharks before beginning his next chapter at Michigan. More than individual honors, he wants his time at Shadow Creek to be remembered through the culture he helped strengthen.
“I want to leave a legacy where people never forget about me,” he said. “Every year they bring me up or compare future players to me and talk about how I impacted the team.”
At 6-foot-4, Keyon Hemphill-Woods has a presence that speaks for itself. Yet the Columbus senior’s identity is shaped by far more than his imposing frame — it’s rooted in a mindset he has carried since middle school.
That perspective comes to life through the chain he often wears during photo opportunities, which boldly reads, “Me vs. Me, Big Key.” The phrase isn’t just a trademark; it’s a reminder of the standard Hemphill-Woods continues to chase.
“My mom gave me the nickname ‘Big Key’ because I’ve been big all my life,” Hemphill-Woods said with a smile. “Then my coaches always preached that it’s ‘you vs. you.’ So I put the two together, and it’s been my motto ever since eighth grade. Eventually I got the chain, and I just thought, ‘Yeah, that’s gonna be me from here on out.’”
Hemphill-Woods’ self-driven approach has elevated him into one of the state’s premier talents along the offensive front. Primarily known as an interior force, the senior has proven more than capable of sliding outside to handle bookend tackle duties when called upon. His adaptability and physicality earned him District 12-3A Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year honors last fall, paving the way for his commitment to Texas in April.
As a team, the Cardinals turned in an 11-3 season a year ago, highlighted by a Region III Final appearance. Though former district rival Yoakum denied Columbus the opportunity to defend its 2024 UIL state title, all signs point toward another pursuit of the throne — especially with Hemphill-Woods protecting the trenches and quarterback Adam Schobel directing the offense.
The featured standouts of the 2026-2027 Columbus Cardinals football teamMatt Powell (VYPE)
Still, the path to becoming “Big Key” wasn’t built overnight.
“Freshman year was a time for me to learn from the seniors in front of me and recognize the work ethic that goes into training,” Hemphill-Woods said. “I needed that because during my sophomore season (2024 State Championship), I had to put it all on the floor as my first year starting on varsity. At this point, I look at it like I have to play at a college level now — not just as a senior. I gotta go bigger and better, show up for my teammates, and represent Columbus as a whole.”
That same confidence extends into his everyday interactions, where his charisma and influence allow him to connect with younger athletes and teammates alike.
“I think my character shows through how I communicate with my team, the middle schoolers, and just being myself,” Hemphill-Woods said. “I’m normally the funny, goofy type, but when it’s time to work, I’ll flip the switch and get to it. Overall, it’s about giving back to the younger groups and helping make them better, because we were them once.”
Hemphill-Woods’ Texas roots run deep, making one potential partnership a natural fit.
“I’ve always wanted to be sponsored by Whataburger. That’s just been one of my dreams,” he said, once again flashing his signature grin. “I’ve spent a lot of time and money there, so Whataburger, please help me out.”
And if that partnership ever comes to fruition, Hemphill-Woods already knows exactly what will be on the menu.
“You can’t go wrong with the honey barbecue chicken-strip sandwich, or just a regular double meat bacon cheeseburger.”
The name “Big Key” represents something more profound than size, recognition, or the attention that comes with being a Texas commit. It reflects the example Hemphill-Woods strives to set — competing against himself, uplifting those around him, and leaving Columbus better than he found it.
Dana Strange (VYPE)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The featured standouts of the 2026-2027 Columbus Cardinals football teamMatt Powell (VYPE)
