With high school football wrapping up their seasons and new champions will be crowned soon in each division; we took a look at some of the top players from our area and what their futures may look like.
College football, like Texas high school football, is its own animal. It carries a personality and a life of its own in the football world. For many football fans, they prefer the college level compared to the higher-level professional level because of the broad talent, the heart of the players, and the competitiveness of conference play. Whether you cheer for your alma mater, your local college team, or have a favorite across the county, it’s always an exciting time to watch the incoming freshman players come in and make a name for themselves.
In Palo Pinto County and the surrounding area, we have seen some amazing talent on the football field over the years, and the recent ones have been no different. We did some research on some of the top players from the local teams and got a peek at what is possibly coming for their futures at the next level. Players like Preztynn Harrison of Mineral Wells, Ry Reed of the Gordon Longhorns, and more.
Preztynn Harrison is a top 75 ranked player in the state of Texas, which is an accolade of its own, with the best talent in the country coming from the Lone Star State. Harrison is listed at 6-ft 4-in tall and 220 lbs. on his Top247 profile, and as a tight end. He committed to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the fall, choosing Lubbock over Arkansas State, University of North Texas, Texas State University, and University of Texas at El Paso.
His commitment was announced in March, prior to his senior season even beginning. Harrison is a multisport athlete, also competing in basketball and track and field throughout high school. During his sophomore season, according to 247sports.com, he qualified for the state track meet in the high jump event, clearing a height of 6-4, and was a long jump regional competitor. His offer from Texas Tech came back in January of 2024, followed by UNT, TSU, ASU, and finally UTEP, and he went for his official visit to the campus and football program in June of 2024.
According to their X (formerly Twitter), fellow Ram Seniors Owen Gadd and Kadin Kaspar have also received college offers, both from Howard Payne University but no word on making that next step official for those two seniors, who just wrapped up their high school football careers with a trip to the playoffs with the Rams.
In six-man football, big college offers are a little rarer, unless you’re a Gordon Longhorn. A trio of Longhorn juniors have already received offers from great programs, Ry Reed received an offer from University of North Texas, a Division I program, while three Longhorns, including Ry Reed, have received offers from the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys, a top Division III program. The HSU Cowboys have won back-to-back championships in the ASC and are a heavily sought out program. Fellow juniors, Stryker Reed and Brayden Walters have received their offers from HSU just in the last week.
All three Gordon Longhorns are multisport athletes, playing basketball and running track as well, and doing it all well. Ry Reed was the recipient of football player of the year and State tournament offensive player of the year, as well as All-State in all three sports. Walters also competes in basketball, track, and baseball, and was a unanimous All-State Receiver, named All-State in basketball, and was the Catcher of the year. And finally Stryker Reed is also a four-sport athlete and was named the offensive player of the year and First Team All-State in football and basketball.
As of now, this talented group of football players from both schools have yet to put pens to paper and sign letters of intent, but as the year goes on we can expect to see what these young men decide to do with their futures, and can more than expect more offers to roll in for some, as well as offers coming for some of their teammates as the season closes.
