KLEIN FOREST QB JAYLEN BRAGG HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE’S ENTERING HIS SECOND SEASON WITH THE PROGRAM.
The incoming senior has adapted nicely to Forest, after transferring in following his sophomore year. But that doesn’t mean it was easy for the Golden Eagles signal-caller.
“Transferring schools is already difficult as it is,” said Bragg. “But, transferring as a quarterback is even harder in my opinion, because you have to undertake that leadership role in a new place. So, I came in and I just wanted to establish myself as a leader on the team, and my teammates accepted me.
“I feel like the whole transferring process has helped me to persevere – look through the bad times and push on.”
If his junior season was any indication, Bragg has shown that he can sling it just as well as anybody. Additionally, his explosive acceleration is enough to give any defensive coordinator a headache. But, according to the dual- threat Bragg, those aren’t even his greatest assets.
“As a player, I feel like my pocket movement and awareness helps me to stand out,” he said. “I can thank my trainer, J.P. Tillman, for that. I’ve learned how to evade the blitz and progress as a runner and passer.”
However, what’s most interesting about Bragg are the lengths he has gone to in order to improve throughout his football journey.
“My brother started playing football when I was about six, and I wanted to follow his footsteps,” Bragg said. “But, I ended up getting sick. I was diagnosed with HSP (an autoimmune disease), and I was out of the game for about four years.
“That’s really what kept me going whenever I came back. I really missed the sport and it was that drive to get back on the field that fueled me.”
That drive of his might very well lead to his aspirations becoming a reality, someday.
“Obviously, I want to go to college and play football, and hopefully get a shot to play pro,” he said. “If that doesn’t work out, I’m thinking about going into the radiology field – doing something in the medical field because of my history with it. My main goal right now is getting that shot to go to the next level.”
Before he can look to the future, Bragg will steer the ship for the Klein Forest offense one last time. After finishing 5-5 and narrowly missing the playoffs in 2022, it goes without saying that he’ll be dead-set on changing the narrative.
“This year I feel like it’s KF versus everybody,” he said. “I don’t think 5-and-5 really showed how good we were last year. If you look at the box score of all those games, we were up in the fourth quarter. We just need to finish games. It’s kind of like a ‘revenge tour’ this season.”
Houston-area high school track and field teams delivered standout performances at the 2025 UIL State Championships.
Class 6A Highlights
Lamar High School Boys: Achieved their first state title since 1956, overcoming a 14-point deficit. The 4x400-meter relay team—Ryan Johnson, Jordan Godfrey, Devin Carpenter, and Bailey Hashmi—secured victory with a time of 3:11.94.
Shadow Creek High School Girls: Captured their first-ever state title, highlighted by a national-record-setting 4x200-meter relay (1:33.71). Additional podium finishes included silver medals in the triple jump and 300-meter hurdles.
Atascocita High School: Mia Maxwell set a state meet record in the 100-meter dash (11.04) and won the triple jump. Her sister, Mariah Maxwell, claimed gold in the 200-meter dash.
Class 5A Highlights
Iowa Colony High School Boys: Dominated by winning all three relay events, setting new 5A state meet records in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, and securing the team title with 74 points.
Fort Bend Marshall High School Girls: Clinched their third state title since 2021, finishing with 60 points. A pivotal win in the 4x400 relay propelled them from third to first place.
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Additional Achievements in CLASS 6A
Mayde Creek’s Elijah Ferguson: Won the 400 meters.
Klein Collins’ Andrew Jones: Won gold in the110 and 300 meters hurdles.
Cy Springs won the 4x100 relay
Dekaney won the 4x200 relay
Lamar won the 4x400 relay
Tompkins’ Etoro Bassey won the high jump
Atascocita’s Jackson Norris won the long jump
Seven Lakes’ Robert Austin won the pole vault
Grand Oaks’ Tyler Grant won the discus
Katy’s Adam Carter won the shot put
Summer Creek’s Brooke Lloyd won the 400 meters
Bridgeland’s Rowan Saacke won the 3200 meters
Tomball’s Naomi Booker won the 100 and 300 meter hurdles
Summer Creek won the 4x400 relay
Summer Creek’s Brianna Rivers won the high jump.
Atascocita’s Jayden Kimble won the discus.
Seven Lakes’ Janey Campbell won the shot put.
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Additional Achievements in CLASS 5A
Lamar Consolidated's Brielle Lawson: Won the discus event.
Kingwood Park's Courtney Daniel: Secured gold in the shot put.
Barbers Hill's Jayden Thrower: Defended his triple jump title with the second-best mark in 5A history.
The “Square” name is synonymous with Greater Houston football.
At the legendary Jack Yates High School, the Square name is royalty—there’s been a Square playing for the Lions dating back to the mid-1920 until the late 2000s.
The last of the Third Ward football family to make waves was Damion Square, who helped lead Alabama to three BCS National Championships under Nick Saban. The defensive lineman went on to play nine seasons in the NFL and is now the defensive line coach at the University of West Alabama.
Well, there’s a new Square emerging—Micah Square, who just graduated from Hamilton Middle School in Cy-Fair ISD. He’s currently zoned to Cy-Fair High School.
The 6-foot, 165-pound incoming freshman is a dual-sport athlete: roaming the outfield and pitching in baseball, while also running deep routes in football.
“I was born when my dad was playing at Alabama,” Micah said. “I don’t remember that, of course, but I do remember being around the locker rooms in Kansas City and with the Rams. I was really close with Keenan Allen, Denzel Perryman, and Rayshawn Jenkins and their families.”
While Dad was a football star, Mom has a strong football lineage too. Brandi Square’s brother is Robby Ashford, who currently plays quarterback at Wake Forest and was also a college baseball player at Oregon.
“My first love is football because all of my family played the sport and were legends,” he said. “Baseball is sort of new. My uncle influenced me to play, and it really keeps me in shape for football. Baseball gives me a lot of practice tracking down balls and taking the right angles in the outfield. It translates to football. I’m playing some quarterback too, so baseball keeps my arm in shape and strong.”
With the name comes expectations.
“When I’m out there playing, I don’t really feel the pressure of living up to the Square name,” he said. “Yes, I want to live out my dreams, but my dad is just my dad. He doesn’t put pressure on me either. I’ve learned to just have a ‘goldfish’ memory. If something great happens or something bad happens, you just have to move to the next play. That’s my mentality.”
While wide receiver is his natural position, he’s expanding his skill set at quarterback.
“I have big hands and feel like I can catch anything thrown my way,” he said. “When my team needs a play, they know I can go up and get it. I’m learning the quarterback position very quickly, and my arm strength is really good. Being a receiver helps me escape the pocket fast and break tackles if I need to.”
Nicknamed “Baby Hulk” by his junior high peers, the Class of 2029 prospect also has a creative side.
“I’m really into fashion, and I love to paint custom shoes,” he said. “I’m pretty artistic, but I also like to ride bikes on my neighborhood trails and play video games.”
He knows the recruiting process could come quickly as he rises to varsity play, but he’s got a grounded mindset.
“I’m not going to overthink anything,” he said. “I just want to get up to speed with the tempo of the high school game and get on the field as soon as I can. I’m just looking to win a state championship and carry on the Square name.”
Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves—Micah is still just a pup who hasn’t even been to a high school athletic period yet.
“I love old-school cartoons... like the original ‘Teen Titans’ and ‘Avatar,’” he laughed. “I’m a Philly cheesesteak guy who loves Lamborghini Urus’.”
He’s a Square at heart.
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From His Father...
"Micah is a really driven and engaging young athlete. He's so focused on getting better and has that competitive spirit. With his physicality and desire to improve, he's got a strong foundation for success in whatever he puts his mind to. His likable personality will also take him far, both on and off the field."
