Willis Wildkats
The Woodlands Highlanders
Grand Oaks Grizzlies
Conroe Tigers
Oak Ridge War Eagles
Caney Creek
Cleveland Indians
*Teams in bold are projected playoff contenders
VYPE PRESEASON AWARDS
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Camden Hughes, College Park
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Trey Finney, Willis
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Magnus Herndon, The Woodlands
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kaden Copelin, The Woodlands
ON THE CUSP: Conroe Tigers
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Coming off a historic season that saw them clinch their first undefeated district title in school history and finishing with a 11-2 record, the College Park Cavaliers enter the 2026 season with high expectations. Though the Cavaliers are under new leadership with Michael Buro at the helm, there is plenty of talent returning that has them primed for another big season in 2026. The offense is led by returning quarterback Camden Hughes who was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 as he threw for 2,638 yards and 33 touchdowns to go along with 424 yards on the ground and nine rushing touchdowns. Hughes will look to get the ball to his playmakers, specifically Clemson-commit wide receiver Julian Cromartie, senior wide receiver Brian Snodgrass and move-in tight end James Skaer. Running backs Duke Stephens and Antonio Booker will look to help open up the passing game as they combined for 1,691 yards on the ground in 2025. Senior offensive lineman Diego Dudley will anchor the offensive line and look to pave the way for the Cavaliers high flying offense. On defense, it starts up front with national recruit junior defensive lineman RJ Wyms (Defensive Newcomer of the Year) and Jordyn Grant, who is the anchor in the trenches. On the outside, cornerbacks Jordan White (Columbia commit) and James Cabbarus (New Mexico commit) will look to shut down both sides of the field.
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The Willis Wildkats are fresh off another double-digit win season under head coach Trent Miller and a regional final appearance in 2025. While the Wildkats lost District MVP Jermaine Bishop Jr. to the Texas Longhorns, they still return more than enough firepower for another deep run in 2026. All eyes will be on rising sophomore quarterback Linc Frazier who was the Offensive Newcomer of the Year after throwing for 4,232 yards and 43 touchdowns in 2025 and they will have depth at quarterback with senior Parker Stephenson. Move-in athlete Trey Finney will look to fill Bishop’s role as the explosive playmaker along with seniors Daylen Wilkerson and Preston Stephenson. Up front, senior Owen Griffin will anchor the offensive line and pave the way for junior running back Jamarcus Williams. Flipping to the defensive side of the ball, seniors AJ Edwards and Waylan Nolen (first-team) will look to get to the quarterback and help free up senior linebacker Cayden Williams (North Texas commit) who was a first team all-district selection last season. In the back end junior Jamal Lagway and senior J’Lynnd Kellow (Mississippi State commit) will look to control the airway.
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Once again The Woodlands Highlanders reached the playoffs advancing the area round of the playoffs in 2025 and finishing with a 9-3 overall record. The Highlanders will be without two-year starter Jack Daulton who is off to TCU. Enter junior Kaden Kopelin who is eager and ready to start his era at quarterback in the red and green. Kopelin will have weapons getting the ball to senior tight end Colton Weddel (second-team) as well as receivers Bryson Bourn (second-team) and Carter Cass (second-team). Running backs Jason Haskins (first-team) and move-in Solomon Woods (junior) will look to provide a stable rushing attack. Defensively the Highlanders return one starter from a year ago in senior Magnus Herndon who was a first team all-district selection as he recorded 64 tackles, 16 sacks and 18 tackles-for-loss. Senior linebacker Vincent Lewis will look to step up as a leader defensively as well. While the Highlanders will feature a number of new faces this season, they look to be a playoff contender again in 2026.
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Grand Oaks made history in 2025, reaching the playoffs for the first time in program history and winning their first ever playoff game before exiting in the Area Round of the playoffs. Under the direction of Shaun McDowell, the Grizzlies look to be a playoff contender in 2026 as well. Senior wide receiver Darnell Jackson Jr. (Utah-commit) has world class speed and is the leading receiver coming back for the Grizzlies offense. Quarterbacks Pierceson Lackey (senior) and Harley Adams (junior) will both look to get Jackson Jr. the ball while athlete Brian Victorian will be used both in the backfield and in the passing game. Paving the way for the Grizzlies up front will be offensive linemen Ryan Scroggins and Aiden Cruz. For Grand Oaks defense, senior defensive lineman Trey Lott and senior linebacker Jase Sutton will control the front seven. The Grizzlies made history last season and plan to make more history in 2026 with a deeper playoff run.
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After just missing out on the playoffs in 2025 with a 6-4 record overall, the Conroe Tigers look to be on the cusp of playoff contention in 2026 under the direction of coach Cedric Hardeman. Starting in the trenches, senior offensive lineman Kingston Tupuola is the leader along the O-Line and will look to help protect senior returning starter at quarterback Cameron Nunley (second team). Nunley has weapons to get the ball to in junior athlete Keino Hopkins, senior Jackson Taylor and senior Josiah Cirilo. Defensively, Alexander Coey is primed for a big senior season coming off a first team all-district selection as he finished with 26 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss and he will have help in the trenches as juniors Kaleb Franklin-Martinez and Cassius Melton look to step up in bigger roles. The Tigers secondary will have big holes to fill as first-team, all-district selections Xavier Harmon and Damian Horace head to the college ranks.
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Oak Ridge is entering year two under head coach Tyler Blackshire who is looking to continue building the culture within the program. In 2025, the War Eagles finished sixth in the district with a 4-6 overall record. Senior defensive end Finn Walker (Kansas State-commit), a first team all-district selection, returns to anchor Oak Ridge’s defensive line along with senior Chase Leonard and junior Jeremy Bassue. Both were both all-district selections as well. In the secondary, junior Chris Salem and Nico Chavez will look to shut down opposing offenses. Offensively, the War Eagles graduated quarterback Drayton Urbay and wide receiver James Scott and will look for underclassmen to step up in their absence. On the offensive line, the War Eagles return senior JoAngel Dorado who was a second team all-district selection in 2025.
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Caney Creek is under new direction going into the 2026 season as Taylor Cobb takes over the program. Cobb will look to change the culture within the Panthers program as he inherits a team who went 1-9 a year ago. The Panthers return junior quarterback Peyton Beckett who will look to get the ball to junior wide receiver Amarien Hughes who was a second team all-district selection. Sophomore running back Derek Thompson will lead the rushing attack as junior offensive lineman Jhorany Cornejo paves the way up front. Defensively, the Panthers lost six starters to graduation and will look for underclassmen to step into a bigger role this fall.
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Cleveland enters year two under head coach Ajani Sanders and while the Indians currently have a 36 game losing streak, Sanders is looking to break that going into 2026. Returning for Cleveland defensively in 2026 will be all district selections senior linebacker Seth Quintero (first team) and junior defensive back Aspen Williams (second-team). Offensively, returning quarterback Zack Nickson will look to get the ball to wide receiver Dontrell Punch and tight end Sergio Gonzales. With 13 total starters returning, expect for the Indians to get back in the win column this fall.
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