Wayne Shanks Jr. is that dude at Kinkaid
The running back position is back in the recruiting spotlight after taking a back seat the past few seasons.
The Kinkaid School’s Wayne Shanks Jr. is front and center after earning a VYPE Offensive Player of the Year nomination, leading the Falcons to an SPC Championship as a sophomore.
Shanks played for Cypress Woods his freshman year, earning the District 16-6A Newcomer of the Year title in 2023.
So, what’s next for the junior-to-be?
“I’m working on my stock and showcasing my talent to colleges across the country,” he said. “I’m figuring out which schools are most interested in me and what a good fit would be.
“My strength is my versatility. I’m not going to say I’m better at one thing than another... I’m good at multiple things. If we need a fourth-and-two, I’m going to get the first down. You can put me at receiver, and I can make someone miss and go score. I can also fill a hole and make a linebacker miss for a big play.”
With his already impressive resume, it’s no surprise that Shanks has pulled offers from the SEC, ACC, and Big 12, to name a few.
“I’ll be visiting Kansas, Houston, TCU, SMU, and Baylor starting next week,” he said. “I’m excited to see the campuses and meet the coaches. I’m continuing to build my relationships with Texas, Texas A&M, and LSU.”
Oklahoma and Florida State have also recently offered.
For now, he’s locked in on the purple and gold—the Kinkaid Falcons.
“The education here is great,” he said. “If I’m struggling with something, my teachers are here to help. It’s just more attention. The people are very caring and take care of you here at Kinkaid.
“From a football perspective, no one works harder than us—in the classroom, the weight room, or on the football field. The coaches push us and hold us to the gold standard.”
The school has an impressive football lineage, with LSU’s Josh Williams and Dillon Bell (Georgia) and Micah Bell (Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Georgia) recently walking the halls.
Shanks is just the “next big thing” to come out of the prestigious private school inside the loop in H-Town.
