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The Kinkaid School's Wayne Shanks Jr. (Arizona commit)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“Going from middle school to high school, I came up with it off the top of my head, and from there it just stuck with me,” Shanks said. “A couple of guys at Kinkaid helped me start doing the shivering motion, and it kind of became my thing. I feel like it’s definitely helped set me apart.”
Shanks' signature "Too Cold" poseBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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That identity has followed Shanks into one of the most dominant stretches of his career. The three-star Arizona commit erupted for 2,461 all-purpose yards and 31 touchdowns last fall, propelling the Falcons (9-2) to back-to-back SPC 4A championships while earning MVP honors and All-SPC recognition along the way.
Few organizations can rival the legacy that The Kinkaid School has built, boasting 34 SPC titles — seven of which have come in the last ten seasons alone. Shanks’ dynamic playmaking as a centerpiece in head coach Nathan Larned’s offensive scheme has the Falcons positioned to chase a third straight championship.
The modern running back has evolved into much more than a ball carrier, and Shanks embodies that shift. Drawing inspiration from the all-around skill sets of NFL stars such as Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey, he has embraced the role of a complete offensive weapon capable of changing the game in multiple ways.
“I think my versatility and being able to do a little bit of everything on the field has helped me establish myself,” he said. “Whether I need to catch passes, run somebody over, contribute on special teams, return kicks or punts — it’s wherever I need to be to help the team.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
That same selfless approach will be critical as Kinkaid looks to extend its championship streak to three.
“We’re going to need a strong foundation of team chemistry to get there,” Shanks said. “We’d be the first team to do it in the SPC (4A), so it’s about holding each other accountable, staying connected, and making sure the work we’ve put in throughout the offseason shows up on the field.”
The recognition surrounding Shanks has only expanded his platform, but he understands the impact of football reaches far beyond what happens on Friday nights.
“Football is only going to last so long, so you have to build the way people view you beyond the sport,” he said. “You want to be someone who is family-oriented, shows good sportsmanship, and genuinely cares about other people. It takes a lot of discipline and preparation to become the person you want to be, and I have my parents and Jesus Christ to thank for helping me get there. That’s the type of person I want to be known as.”
As Shanks continues to carve his place in Kinkaid history, “Too Cold” represents more than a celebration — it’s a reflection of the humility, confidence, and commitment that have guided him throughout his journey.
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Randle's Landen Williams-Callis (Texas commit)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Yet, despite the heightened profile surrounding his future, Williams-Callis remains the same reserved presence that has defined his rise to national prominence.
“I try to be more vocal as a leader, but I can’t change who I am,” Williams-Callis said. “I’ve always been the type to keep my talking to a minimum, let my work speak for itself, and lead by example.”
Now entering his final high school campaign, Williams-Callis finds himself on the doorstep of legendary status. With 7,554 career rushing yards under his belt, LWC is on the verge of surpassing his cousin, former Lamar Consolidated standout and NFL running back Jacquizz Rodgers (8,302), for No. 2 on the Greater Houston-area all-time rushing leaderboard.
Furthermore, the prolific every-down back has his sights set on another historic milestone after a season that produced Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year recognition and his third consecutive District MVP award — fueled by an astounding 3,502 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns. Matching that level of dominance would put Williams-Callis within striking distance of Mount Enterprise’s Kaegan Ash (11,382) and Sugar Land’s Kenneth Hall (11,232) for the title of Texas high school football’s all-time leading career rusher.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
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Collectively, Randle’s motivation stems from a chance to finish what they started. The Lions (15-1) were denied a repeat UIL title last December in a 35-19 defeat against South Oak Cliff in the 5A Division II State Championship. Now moving to 5A Division I, Williams-Callis is once again at the center of a team in pursuit of its second state title.
“I’ve been trying to get the guys on track heading into this season,” he said. “We lost at State, but don’t let that get in the way of what we can do. We’ve got to come with it, work, put our heads down, and get ready for what’s next.”
For Williams-Callis, the pursuit of greatness has never been defined solely by the numbers attached to his name. Records, accolades, and recognition are simply byproducts of a daily commitment to maximizing the talents he believes were given to him for a reason.
“You know, I’m definitely going to celebrate with my teammates and my family, but I don’t think it’ll really hit me in the moment,” Williams-Callis said. “When we won State, I didn’t know how to process it at first. We work toward those goals every day, so when it finally happens, it almost feels normal. I think it’ll probably feel the same way. No matter what happens, I’m giving all the glory to God.”
The records may tell the story of Williams-Callis’ production, but they don’t fully capture the player or person behind them.
“What keeps me going is knowing I can’t take the God-given talents I have for granted,” he said. “Every day, I want to get to it. I want to prove I’m the best at what I do, be known as a good person, and be remembered as the greatest to ever come through Houston.”
A player whose reputation has grown louder with every accomplishment, Williams-Callis has always operated the same way: prepare, compete, and let the results follow. Now, as his time at Randle nears its conclusion, he has one more opportunity to show why the process matters most.
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The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Kinkaid Falcons football team.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
3. Episcopal Knights
4. Second Baptist Eagles
5. The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
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Others to Watch: Concordia Lutheran Crusaders, Cypress Christian Warriors, Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles, Houston Christian Mustangs, Lutheran South Academy Pioneers, St. John’s School Mavericks, St. John XXIII Lions, St. Pius X Panthers, The John Cooper School Dragons
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1. The Kinkaid School Falcons
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Did someone say “three-peat”? Kinkaid made its title defense look inevitable a year ago, as head coach Nathan Larned watched his Falcons dominate en route to a second straight SPC 4A championship and a 9-2 overall record.
Arizona-bound tailback Wayne Shanks Jr. spearheads the pursuit of the team’s third consecutive trophy, coming off another astronomical All-SPC campaign in which he amassed nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards and 31 combined scores.
Senior QB Ross Wynne was the picture of efficiency, throwing for more than 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns against just one interception. Fellow senior Eli Ferber (Davidson College commit) will be tasked with buying time up front, allowing Wynne to send air mail to receivers Drake Olson and Jordan Young.
Defensively, Kinkaid boasts two dynamic weapons in the linebacker corps: Thomas Smith (All-SPC) and Miles Comarda, both of whom also contribute at tight end on offense. Providing pass coverage will be free safety Nate Chambers, joined by rising sophomore Malcolm Campbell.
2. St. Thomas Eagles
Matt Powell (VYPE)
St. Thomas turned in an impressive 8-3 mark in 2025, advancing to the Regional stage of the ensuing TAPPS Division I playoffs. Though its postseason run was halted by Legacy Christian Academy (Frisco), the Eagles remain poised to re-enter the State conversation in head coach Raymond Davis’ second season at the helm.
The team’s massive offensive line — anchored by senior Connor Edmondson and junior Tate Erb—could be the deciding factor, as many battles are won in the trenches. Signal-caller Pierce Jacobson operates behind the wall, looking to take the next step after a junior year that saw him pass for nearly 1,800 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding 428 rushing yards and 11 more scores. Running back Myles Stewart should remain a difference-maker, carrying the momentum of a second-team all-state showing highlighted by 873 all-purpose yards and eight trips to the end zone.
Flipping the field, cornerback Logan Debose headlines a St. Thomas defense that surrendered fewer than 16 points per contest last fall. The Houston commit and first-team all-state selection creates an island on the perimeter, working opposite senior Kohen Alexander (second-team all-state) as safety Pryce Cravens patrols the back end. Seniors Khairan McQueen (first-team all-district) and Rylan Kimpson (second-team all-district) generate pressure up front, with middle linebacker Vontrell Benton locking down the interior.
3. Episcopal Knights
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
Few would be surprised to see Episcopal competing for the SPC 4A title once November arrives. That was the case a year ago, when the Knights (6-5) narrowly fell 31-21 to rival Kinkaid in the championship showdown. History suggests another clash could be on the horizon in 2026, as EHS looks to end The Kinkaid School’s championship streak and capture the program’s first banner since 2023 — and the first of head coach Jimmy Moynahan’s tenure.
Back to command the offense from behind center is Donovan Warren, who threw for roughly 2,400 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding more than 500 yards and five scores on the ground. Only a junior, Warren’s stock as a collegiate recruit continues to rise, already holding offers from UTSA, Missouri State, and UNLV as his development progresses.
He’s joined in the backfield by senior Brooks Allen, a formidable power runner who racked up nearly 700 yards and 15 scores last season. Those numbers could climb behind an imposing offensive front led by Princeton commit Dillard Jennings and Liam Fanning (Sr. OL/DL), giving Warren the time to connect with pass-catchers Tramon Williams Jr., Tyler Williams, and Reed Fowler.
Listed as an athlete, Fowler will rarely leave the field, handling the majority of his reps at safety while continuing to make an impact in Episcopal’s air attack. Adding stability to the defensive unit will be edge rusher Deacon Morgan, as well as juniors Desmond White at cornerback and Gus Harkins at linebacker.
4. Second Baptist Eagles
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
A familiar face takes over at SBS, as defensive coordinator Keith Page ascends to the head coaching position following Beck Brydon’s resignation last December.
With 11 seasons spent inside the program, Page offers the continuity needed to maintain the Eagles’ already superb culture. Second Baptist’s 7-7 record last fall may have flown under the radar, but the Eagles found another gear when it mattered most. Their postseason surge culminated in a second consecutive TAPPS Division II State Championship appearance, where All Saints’ Episcopal once again stood in their way.
Defense figures to be the strong suit, particularly in the secondary. Athlete Peyton Jones is a true two-way talent who has earned most of his recognition as a defensive back (second-team all-state), yet continues to make his mark as a wide receiver. Cornerback Dillan Whitfield, a first-team all-district selection, also returns to the mix, joined by district second-teamers Gray Koerner (Sr. CB) and Will Newhouse (Sr. OLB).
Meanwhile, senior lineman Griffin Lewis paves the way for the SBS attack, which will rely on quarterback Casey Dunn and running back Edric Jasmine to set the tone. The Eagles also possess the rare luxury of a next-level specialist in junior kicker Luc Normand, who announced his commitment to Texas Tech in June.
5. The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
Dana Strange (VYPE)
Fresh off an astounding 11-1 campaign that saw coach Kolby Hull and company advance to the Regional stage of the TAPPS Division II playoffs, TWCA enters the fall with unfinished business. The Warriors were ousted by district rival Second Baptist, but return motivated to rewrite the ending and potentially secure the program’s first State Final Four appearance since 2019.
Replacing Santiago Fernandez (Army West Point) under center is no small task, but younger brother Emilio Fernandez welcomes the opportunity. The sophomore signal-caller will have plenty of support, as The Woodlands Christian Academy boasts a loaded arsenal of weapons designed to help him thrive.
The most versatile of the group is junior athlete Baron Meacham, a three-phase contributor who earned second-team all-state honors after compiling more than 1,600 all-purpose yards and 21 scores. First-team all-district wideout Julio Fernandez — another sibling of Santiago and Emilio — provides a 6-foot-3 target and senior presence, while junior running back George Hromanik looks to take on a larger role in 2026.
Senior Blake Hollas (DE/MLB) leads the charge on defense, coming off a first-team all-district showing in which he totaled 48 tackles (10 TFL). Fellow senior Hank Muhlbauer (second-team) also helps fortify the Warriors’ front seven.
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