GAMES
RANKINGS
North Shore's 2018 team with Tony Bradford (No. 97) and Zach Evans (No. 3) face off tonight as opponents in the Tax Act Bowl
Former North Shore stars face-off in Tax Act Bowl in NRG Stadium
The 2022 Tax Act Texas Bowl pits the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Ole Miss Rebels tonight at NRG Stadium.
It also pits a pair of old teammates from one of the best high school teams in Texas High School Football history.
Texas Tech defensive lineman Tony Bradford Jr. and Ole Miss RB Zach Evans headlined the 2018 North Shore Mustangs, which won the UIL Class 6A DI State Title in one of the most historical games in Texas high school history, which ended on a last-second Hail Mary over state-power Duncanville 41-36. That team was named the National Champions by MaxPreps.
Bradford would go on to win the coveted Defensive Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Houston, and Evans would become a five-star recruit by all the national services.
On the way to their State title, North Shore would win three playoff games in NRG Stadium.
Now, they meet again as opponents.
“It’s exciting to watch two guys who played together in that stadium to get to compete against one another on the same turf,” North Shore coach Jon Kay said. “Both of those guys are immensely talented, and I know the community is pulling for both of them.”
Bradford has anchored the Texas Tech defensive line since his freshman season and is a team captain. Off the field, he has been even more impressive. He has earned a double major, served as a volunteer with the Texas Tech security department and is involved in countless community service organizations in Lubbock, which has earned him a position on the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. He is also a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy – college football’s premier award for community service.
He will be back in Texas Tech black and red next year for his final year of eligibility.
On the other side of the ball, Zach Evans continues to build his legacy. Evans was the No. 2 RB in the country in 2019 and was the MaxPreps Junior National Player of the Year in 2018. Evans played well at TCU for two seasons before transferring to Ole Miss last year. The uber-talent is set up for a breakout senior year and could be an NFL prospect this time next year.
As tonight's game carries on, don't be surprised if there is a faint chant heard throughout the stadium that is very familiar to the city of Houston.
The North Shore mantra... "Eastside... Eastside... Eastside."
RECRUITING: St. Thomas' Kopp releases Top 5, includes University of Houston
HOUSTON - The Elite 11 changed everything for Maddox Kopp.
The day Kopp got the invite, he received offers from Tulane and Texas State. Then Wyoming offered. Then it was Ole Miss. Then Colorado.
The recruiting buzz around the St. Thomas senior quarterback was definitely going and it hasn't slowed, despite him being unable to do camps as he originally planned this summer prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I was planning on going on the camp circuit and getting my name out there, because I felt like I was under-recruited and I had worked my tail off during the offseason just to prepare for that," Kopp said. "The Elite 11 gave me a platform and an opportunity to show that I do belong in that group of quarterbacks.
"It happened real fast and I just took it all in as much as I could, while staying focused on the season."
On Wednesday, Kopp narrowed his list to a Top 5 - Houston, Tulane, Wyoming, Colorado and Ole Miss.
"It was important for me to do that list and make it public just so I can focus on the schools I want to go into detail on," Kopp said. "It was a tough decision but it needed to happen."
The Top 5 is a mix.
The University of Houston is the hometown choice, now led by former West Virginia coach Dana Holgerson. Ole Miss gives the SEC option, Colorado is in the Pac-12, while Wyoming and Tulane reside in the Mountain West and American Athletic Conferences, respectively.
When asked what he's examining the most in his ultimate decision, Kopp said it all comes down to fit.
"There's a lot of things but the biggest is my fit in the program and my ability to play and contribute early on in my career," he said. "But there's so many things that go into a decision like this."
‼️ Top 5 ‼️
Blessed to be in this position! Thank you to all the schools that have recruited me to this point. These are my top 5 schools moving forward. (recruitment still open) @STHFootball pic.twitter.com/FMwbpWfLIn
— Maddox Kopp (@maddox_kopp) August 5, 2020
Having a Division I prospect in the Kopp household is nothing new.
Oldest brother Braden (2016 Houston Christian graduate) just graduated from Vanderbilt, where he played football. Miller (2018 Houston Christian graduate) is currently at Northwestern and Anderson (2019 St. Thomas graduate) is at Lamar University, both of whom play basketball.
So, now it's Maddox's turn.
"I've talked to them, bouncing ideas off of them, seeing what they think," Maddox said. "It's really helpful for me. My parents [Will and Deborah] play a big role in this too, so having all of them to talk to and run my thoughts through is really good for me. [Their biggest advice] has been to take it all in, you only get to go through this process once and making the decision is really big but you have to have fun with it.
"You're recruited to play college football but you also have to go to school there. So, they've said make sure you look at every aspect and that's what I've done."