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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.
BREAKING: 2025 Galveston Ball 5-Star ATH Williams Commits To Texas
Everybody says ‘Everything’s bigger and better in Texas’ and the players seen on a Friday night in the lonestar state are no exception to that saying.
Today one of those individuals made his commitment and decided to play for one of the biggest brands in sports that just so happens to be in-state.
2025 Galveston Ball five-star Athlete Jonah Williams has committed to Texas over LSU, Texas A&M, Oregon, and USC a week before he opens up his senior season against Manvel on the 29th.
Though many people had predicted the talented Ball super-star to land with another in-state school Texas A&M, it became a battle between LSU and Texas down the stretch with Texas edging them out.
“The fit, the relationships with the coaches, the life after football,” Williams Said. “You can’t give up an opportunity like that when you’re born and raised in Texas.”
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Early playing time and development were big factors for Williams recruitment as he is an early grad, along with Texas having two safeties who will be leaving after this year and a coach who’s been where he wants to be, Texas was the easy choice.
“I want to get on the field as early as possible,” he said. “Coach Gideon the safety coach there started as a true freshman and knows what it takes to be able to get that playing time early and develop me into the player I am trying to become.”
Williams commits to Texas as a dual-sport athlete where he will play football and baseball for the Longhorns.
“Being able to display my God-given talent in both baseball and football is just truly a blessing. Texas is a ‘Blue Blood’ in both sports so the ability to be able to compete in at a high level in both sports and win some natty’s is something that means a lot to me.”
Now committed, the five-star will look to have a big senior year in his last round wearing the purple-and-gold.
But before the season begins, he has one message for Longhorn fans.
“Longhorns let’s win the natty already… it’s been overdue!”