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

The New York Mavericks rode Friday night into Moody Center and stunned the host Austin Gamblers, scoring a 173-88.5 victory on the opening night of Gambler Days weekend. Also, rider had to be taken away on a stretcher after a scary fall.

Mavericks anchor Mauricio Gulla Moreira took the mount on the team’s final ride needing a score to keep his team in the hunt. Moreira did just that, lasting for the full 8 seconds aboard Triple Aught, good for 86.25 points, leaving it to Gamblers ace Jose Vitor Leme to try and save the game for the home team.

Needing a score of 84.75 for the win, the defending two-time league MVP came up short, lasting just 4.29 seconds aboard Haymaker. Leme’s quick exit left the crowd in a hushed silence as the suddenly hot Mavericks improved to 5-7 on the season, after an 0-4 start. The Gamblers lost for the third time in four outings and now stand at 6-6.

The game closed out four exciting matchups on the evening and pitted the host and two-time regular season champion Gamblers against an upstart first-year expansion team. Hudson Bolton, 18, led off for the visitors and turned in a qualified ride aboard Barracuda that gave the Mavericks 86.75 points right out of the chute.

“To kick it off for my team with a leadoff score was a pretty good feeling,” said Bolton, the overall third pick in the 2024 PBR draft. “It doesn’t get much better than that, coming in here as the underdog and getting booed and being able to contribute to the win in this atmosphere. It is a lot of fun.”

Dalton Kasel (from Muleshoe) answered for the Gamblers with a qualified ride aboard Ridin Salty, good for 88.5 points, which gave Austin the lead. But the bulls took charge from there.

Maverick riders Leonardo Castro, Davi Henrique de Lima and Braidy Randolph (from Stephenville) all failed to cover their bulls in the two through four spots.

The Gamblers had chances to pull away, but Kaique “Iceman” Pacheco was bucked from Constant Payne in 4.57 seconds. Rockdale’s Ezekiel Mitchell was in trouble from the start aboard Mama’s Boy as the bull’s initial kick pushed him off center and he ended up in the dirt after 3.34 seconds.

Ramon de Lima still could have salted away the win for Austin but came up just short of a qualified ride, lasting just 7.80 seconds aboard Locomotive, setting the scene for the eventful showdown between rookie and superstar in the final ride.

Texas Ratter rider Brady Oleson was hurt in a frightening scene Friday. He was tossed from Fast Flow and landed on his head and Oleson tried to rise, he fell back to the ground. Oleson was taken from the arena via stretcher. There were no immediate updates available on his condition. The Outlaws improved to 8-4 while the still struggling Rattlers dropped to 4-8.

In the first game of the night, the Florida Freedom defeated 2022 league champion Nashville Stampede 177-86.5. Florida got scoring rides from Alex Cerqueira (89.75) aboard The Kraken and Elizmar Jeremias (87.25) aboard Black Gold.

Veteran Silvano Alves rescued the Stampede from being shut out with a qualified ride aboard Coco (86.5). The win raised Florida’s record to 5-7. Nashville fell to 7-6 . Florida phenom John Crimber, (Decatur) the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft was jettisoned by Bangarang in 3.11 seconds.

A thrilling second game went to the Oklahoma Wildcatters in a 180-178.25 come-from-behind win over the Arizona Ridge Riders. No. 4 rider Josh Frost turned in what proved to be the winning ride when he bested Gaucho for 87.5 points. Oklahoma improved to 5-6-1 on the season. With the loss, Arizona fell to 4-8.

Cassio Dias came through for the Kansas City Outlaws in the third match with a 90-point ride to defeat the Texas Rattlers 178.5-174.5. Dias took to his bull, Boujee Boy, needing 86.25 points to overtake the Rattlers. Dias turned in a masterful performance and was in complete control.

Still, the Outlaws had to see if Texas Rattler closer João Ricardo Vieira could produce a qualified ride that would have given the defending champs the win. Vieira was no match for his bull, Stryker, getting bucked off in just 2.32 seconds.

The opening night of Gambler Days weekend featured a pregame concert by musical artist Shaboozey. The Gamblers face defending league champ and current cellar dweller, Texas Rattlers on Saturday second night of Gambler Days weekend. The match will be important for the in state rivals as each looks to right their seasons.

Texas has struggled throughout the schedule while the Gamblers are looking for consistent scoring in the middle of their lineup.