Austin, TX

Texas high school football: Top 10 linebackers in the Austin area

Published

2 years ago

August 25, 2024

$Texas high school football: Top 10 linebackers in the Austin area$

As the 2024 Texas high school football season draws near, the American-Statesman is ranking the best players by each position group.

High school reporters Rick Cantu and Colby Gordon will start with offensive linemen and end with quarterbacks next week.

Top 10 linebackers in the Austin area

(Players listed in alphabetical order)

Easton Aird, Lake Travis Cavaliers

Overshadowed last fall by the rest of the Cavs’ stars on the defensive side of the ball, he still made 76 tackles. Aird should have an even more productive season as a senior.

DEFENSE IS GOOD BUT: No. 2 Lake Travis believes passing prowess will spur trip back to state

Jackson Clowdus, Elgin Wildcats

A unanimous first-team all-district pick a year ago after 67 tackles, this senior will lead the Wildcats’ playoff push this fall.

Tieson Ejiawoko, East View Patriots

Ejiawoko, a junior, recently committed to Texas Tech. He was the district defensive newcomer of the year last fall and seems ready for an explosive season.

MORE RANKINGS: Top 10 defensive linemen in the Austin area

Garrett Lindgren, Liberty Hill Panthers

A tackling machine who had 104 stops as a junior, he might surpass that number with a good Liberty Hill defensive line in front of him and being a year smarter, bigger and faster.

[ As No. 7 Liberty Hill’s offense revs up to speed, its defense will lead the way in 2024 ]

Will Peeler, Austin High Maroons

A first-team all-district selection in a district that included Westlake, Lake Travis, Bowie, Anderson and Johnson, this senior is everywhere on defense for the Maroons.

Jahiem Porter, Cedar Park Timberwolves

If you don’t know about Porter, you will soon. He made 90 tackles last year, has an offer from North Texas and seems poised for a breakout junior year.

A STATE TITLE CONTENDER? Why Cedar Park comes in at No. 9 in our area countdown

Elliott Schaper, Westlake Chaparrals

The Statesman’s defensive player of the year last fall should be a monster for the Chaps again. Coming off a season in which he had 108 tackles and nine sacks, the senior committed to Duke over the summer.

REVENGE ON THEIR MINDS: No. 1 Westlake football hopes to redeem itself after 2 straight trips to state semifinals

Seth Warren, Georgetown Eagles

A third-team all-Central Texas pick as a junior ago after making 107 tackles, he’ll lead what should be a very good Georgetown defense this season.

OUR RANKINGS: Strong defense, solid WRs makes Georgetown a top-10 team

Gage Webb, Anderson Trojans

Made 93 tackles a year ago in just 10 games and could be even more dominant as a senior this fall when the Trojans drop to Class 5A.

MORE RANKINGS: Top 10 offensive linemen in the Austin area

Logan Wicketts, Cedar Park Timberwolves

Teams up with Porter to give the Timberwolves a dynamic duol tallied an impressive 108 stops as a junior last fall.

Also keep an eye on: Brandon Bradshaw, Pflugerville; Ousman Jabateh, Connally; Trae Small, LBJ; Trevin Candeh, LBJ; DeMarreo Alba, sr., Glenn; Joaquin Reynolds, McCallum; Caleb Nicholas, Liberty Hill

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Austin, TX

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Published

4 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Texas Plans Second Execution of the Year

Cedric Ricks spoke in his own defense at his 2013 murder trial, something most defendants accused of a terrible crime do not do. Ricks confessed that he had killed his girlfriend, Roxann Sanchez, and her 8-year-old son. He admitted he was aggressive and had trouble controlling his anger, stating that he was “sorry about everything.” […]

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Austin, TX

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Published

16 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Will the rest of Austin allergies seasons be as bad as cedar this year?

Austin had a particularly itchy and drippy cedar fever season to start the year. Many winter days, from late December into February, had high or very high ashe juniper (aka cedar) pollen counts.

Central Texas has a year-round allergy season with mold popping up at any time. For the more traditional spring and fall allergy seasons, forecasters at AccuWeather are predicting some of the allergens across the country will be worse this year than average.

Texas, though, is a different story.

For grass allergies, which happen now through September, AccuWeather estimates Austin will have an average season. However, just west of the Interstate 35 corridor in the Hill Country to almost El Paso, that season is expected to be worse than normal.

“Texas may experience above-average grass pollen for a few weeks,” AccuWeather’s allergy report said, “though the season could be shorter-lived compared to northern areas.”

It all depends on the weather

How much rain we get in the next six months and the perennial Texas heat will all affect the growing season for grasses and weeds, as well as the amount of pollen trees produce. The Farmers’ Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac are both predicting a wetter and warmer spring.

Rain helps plants grow, which can increase pollen production over time. However, rainfall during allergy season can also bring temporary relief by washing pollen out of the air. That’s what we’re expecting this weekend, with our first meaningful rain chance in nearly three weeks. Tree and weed pollen levels might briefly drop, but mold could spike because it thrives in damp, humid weather.

If spring continues with excessive heat like we saw in February, it could limit the growth of some plants and trees. Extreme heat can reduce how much they grow, and how much pollen they produce. On the other hand, if we get a healthy balance of rain and only slightly above-normal temperatures — not extreme heat — pollen counts could climb. That’s especially true as we head into April, typically our windiest month of the year, which helps spread pollen more easily.

How can you treat allergies in Austin?

If you are feeling the effects of allergies, here are some things you can do to lessen them:

Start taking allergy medication at least two weeks before your allergen’s season is supposed to start. Keep taking your allergy medication throughout your allergen’s season, even on low-pollen days.
Vary your allergy medication. You can take a nasal spray, an eye drop and an oral antihistamine at the same time to treat the different symptoms. If one kind of allergy medication isn’t working, consult your doctor about whether you should add a second one or switch out the medication.
Take a shower before going to bed.
Take off outside clothes or shoes when you get into the house.
Do a daily nasal wash such as a neti pot or saline spray.
Consider seeing an allergist to get drops or shots to lessen your reaction to the allergen.

Consider these household tips to improve your chances of keeping allergens away:

Change the filters in your house regularly during cedar fever season.
Vacuum and sweep regularly.
Change your sheets, especially your pillow regularly.
Keep doors and windows closed.
Clean out the vents in your home.
Have your home tested for indoor allergens such as mold.
Wash and brush the animals in your house to lessen the amount of allergens in the air.
Wear a mask outside or inside while you are trying to lessen the pollen or mold indoors.

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Austin, TX

Texas Primary: Breakdown of Texas races

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Democrats tried to stop a mid-decade redistricting effort, but were unsuccessful. Now, we are starting to see some of the candidates emerging in those newly drawn districts. FOX 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski gives a full breakdown.

Posted March 3, 2026 10:32pm CST

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