GAMES
RANKINGS
Wayne Shanks Jr. is that dude at Kinkaid
Shanks the "Next Big Thing" 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.
Allen, Umeh, Toon headline All-VYPE private school team
The Greater Houston private school ranks were loaded with playmakers across the city.
Kinkaid and Houston Christian have the bragging rights as the only Space City teams to win their respective titles, but who were the real game-changers who propelled their teams all season?
Who can forget the performances turned in by super-athlete Cole Allen of St. John's and Wayne Shanks of Kinkaid or the punishing tackles of Obinna Umeh of St. Thomas?
Canon Toon of Second Baptist School was a human-highlight reel with his legs and arm.
Take a look at the 2024 All-VYPE Private School Team
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The 2024 ALL-VYPE PRIVATE SCHOOL TEAM
(In alphabetical order)
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACKS
David Capobianco, Kinkaid
Tanner Huckfelt, Concordia Lutheran
Patrick Rice, Frassati Catholic
Canon Toon, Second Baptist School
Santiago Villarreal, TWCA
...
RUNNING BACKS
Cole Allen, St. John’s
Dean Calhoun, John Cooper School
Langston Davis, Second Baptist School
Amir Brooks, St. Pius X
Jaden Jones, Concordia Lutheran
John Kelly, Cypress Christian
Cannon Kampwerth, FBCA
Wayne Shanks Jr., Kinkaid
Brandon Thomas, Episcopal
...
WIDE RECEIVERS
Cooper Brown, St. Pius X
Logan Bartee, Episcopal
Mason Dominy, Concordia Lutheran
Beau Ellis, TWCA
Blake Hamilton, FBCA
Jordan Manuel, Kinkaid
Braedon Robinson, Lutheran South
Nate Tidwell, St. Thomas
...
OFFENSIVE LINE
Wyatt Childers, St. John’s
William Cook, TWCA
Gavin Geisler, Concordia Lutheran
Jake Ghiselin, St. Thomas
Sam Griggs, Kinkaid
Ian Harper, FBCA
RJ Lee, Second Baptist School
Lucas Mensing, Second Baptist
T.J. Walker, Second Baptist
...
SPECIALISTS
Bennett Cooper, Houston Christian
Mario Gonzalez, FBCA
Michael Taylor, St. Thomas
…………
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Kevin Baptiste, Second Baptist School
Kristopher Carlson, Kinkaid
Tyler Cesarski, Episcopal
Prince Holiday, TWCA
Jonah Kalu, FBCA
Trace Langin, St. Thomas
Jack Reid, St. Thomas
Alexander Rustay, St. John’s
Jackson Staley, Kinkaid
Joe Trickett, Houston Christian
Obinna Umeh, St. Thomas
...
LINEBACKERS
Grayson Boeker, TWCA
Bryce Butler, Second Baptist School
Brooks Edwards, Episcopal
Luken Koehn, Concordia Lutheran
Nico Lara, FBCA
Riley Meekins, St. Pius X
...
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Blake Coogan, St. Thomas
Jaxon Coleman, Concordia Lutheran
Cooper Chambers, Kinkaid
Ethan Dishman, Second Baptist School
Greg Guidry, Houston Christian
Blake Hamilton, FBCA
Brayden Hinote, TWCA
Yahya Mir, St. John’s
Devonte Taylor, Episcopal