East Texas Dream Team
Jackson, Jenkins named MVPs on annual honor team
Lindale’s Jordan Jenkins and Pleasant Grove’s Landon Jackson are familiar names to the East Texas Preseason Dream Team.
Jenkins, a Dream Team selection a year ago at running back, is this year’s Preseason Offensive Most Valuable player, while Jackson is a repeat MVP on the defensive side of the ball.
The 13th annual East Texas High School Football Preseason Dream Team consists of players from the combined coverage areas of the Longview NewsJournal, Tyler Morning Telegraph, Marshall News Messenger, Texarkana Gazette, Kilgore News Herald, Lufkin Daily News, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, Panola Watchman, Palestine Herald-Press and Jacksonville Daily Progress.
Jenkins, who has given a verbal pledge to Baylor University, has rushed for nearly 3,000 yards in two varsity seasons for Lindale. A year ago as a junior, he carried 218 times for 1,422 yards and 27 touchdowns, caught 21 passes for 392 yards and three scores and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
That came on the heels of a sopho- more season that saw the 6-2, 205-pound speedster rushed for 1,504 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with 18 catches for 239 yards.
Jackson, meanwhile, has spent three seasons terrorizing opposing quarterbacks for Pleasant Grove. He has been a starter on both of the Hawks’ Class 4A, Division II state championship teams in 2019 and 2017.
OFFENSIVE MVP
JORDAN JENKINS
Lindale
Running back
6-2, 205
By the numbers: 218 carries, 1,422 yards, 27 touchdowns; 21 catches, 392 yards, 3 TD; 5 kickoff returns, 253 yards, 2 TD; Verbal to Baylor
DEFENSIVE MVP
LANDON JACKSON
Pleasant Grove
Defensive line
6-6, 257
By the numbers: 111 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 17 sacks; Has 37.5 sacks in three seasons; Verbal to LSU
OFFENSE
KAI HORTON
Carthage
Quarterback
6-4, 220
By the numbers: 253 of 415, 3,746 yards, 49 touchdowns, 6 interceptions CALEB BERRY
Lufkin
Running back
6-2, 215
By the numbers: 864 yards, 13 TD; Verbal to Washington KADEN MEREDITH
Longview
Running back
5-9, 185
By the numbers: 183 carries, 1,646 yards, 20 TD; 6 catches, 102 yards MASON COURTNEY
Carthage
Running back
5-11, 200
By the numbers: 231 caries, 1,679 yards, 18 TD; 39 catches, 471 yards, 5 TD MATTHEW BOWER
Union Grove
Fullback
5-10, 175
By the numbers:151 caries, 932 yards, 9 TD; 5 catches, 95 yards; Solid blocker for team that averaged 261.1 yards per game rushing MONTRELL SMITH
Carthage
Tight end
6-3, 220
By the numbers: 28 catches, 279 yards, 4 TD; Graded out at 90 percent with 17 knockdowns JALEN HALE
Longview
Receiver
6-2, 175
By the numbers: 7 catches, 164 yards, 3 TD; First freshman to play varsity football for Longview in John King’s 16 seasons DOZIE IFEADI T.K. Gorman Receiver
6-2, 200
By the numbers: 39 catches, 850 yards, 11 TD DYLAN FLUELLEN
Gilmer
Receiver
6-2, 180
By the numbers: 40 catches, 669 yards,
6 TD
TYRESE JONES
Spring Hill
Receiver
5-11, 175
By the numbers: 38 catches, 757 yards,
5 TD
DION DANIELS
Tyler Lee
Offensive line
6-4, 270
By the numbers: Three-year starter with “countless” pancakes, according to the coach TEE KELLUM
Carthage
Offensive line
5-10, 325
By the numbers: Graded out at 94 percent with 47 knockdowns CHRISTIAN WEBB
Pine Tree
Offensive line
6-3, 245
By the numbers: Key blocker for a team that averaged 37.5 points and 498 yards per game, had a 2,000-yard passer and a pair of 1,000-yard rushers and a 1,000-yard receiver JACKSON ANDERSON Mineola
Offensive line
6-3, 290
By the numbers: Verbal to Colorado TORIE PHILLIPS
PLEASANT GROVE
Offensive line
6-7, 295
By the numbers: Key blocker for defending state champs DEFENSE GARFIELD LAWRENCE
Tyler Lee
Defensive line
6-4, 240
By the numbers: 33 tackles, 4 sacks, fumble recovery, one defensive TD, one blocked punt CLAYTON SMITH
Texas High
Defensive line
6-5, 215
By the numbers: 72 tackles, 11 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles KYLON LISTER
Carthage
Defensive line
6-1, 245
By the numbers: 97 tackles,10 TFL, 7 QB pressures, three sacks, three fumble recoveries, one interception BRENT WARREN
Sabine
Defensive line
6-2, 200
By the numbers: 147 tackles, 8 sacks, 24 tackles for loss, one forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one derensive TD TABER CHILDS
Harleton
Defensive line
6-2, 215
By the numbers: 98 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three fumbles recoveries, 20 QB pressures JACK JANIS
Tyler Lee
Linebacker
6-1, 225
By the numbers: 95 tackles, 14 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, 3 PBU TREVION SNEED Mineola Linebacker
6-1, 225
By the numbers: 96 tackles, 15 QB presusres LYRIK RAWLS
Marshall
Defensive back
6-2, 195
By the numbers: 3 interceptions KYBRIEN JACKSON-JAMERSON Longview
Linebacker
6-0, 200
By the numbers: 60 tackles, 5 sacks, 9 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 forced fumble PEYTON SNOW
Winona
Linebacker
5-5, 160
By the numbers: 163 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 defensive TD DONOVAN ADKINS Kilgore Defensive back 5-10, 170
By the numbers: 57 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 PBU CAYDEN FORTSON
Sabine
Defensive back
6-0, 170
By the numbers: 70 tackles, 6 interceptions (2 returned for TD), 10 PBU, 1 fumble recovery, one KO return for TD DILLON WILLIAMS Nacogdoches Defensive back 6-0, 180
By the numbers: 63 tackles, 2 interceptions CALEB ENCARNACION
Lufkin
Kicker
5-10, 155
By the numbers: 52-55 PAT, 8-10 FG; 76 total points COOPER MCCLURE
Atlanta
Punter
5-11, 180
By the numbers: 22 punts, 38.4 average, long of 52 yards D.J. ALLEN
Gladewater
Utility
6-0, 200
By the numbers: 20 catches, 565 yards, 8 TD; 26 of 64 passing, 486 yards, 3 TD; 44 carries, 220 yards, 3 TD; 47 tackles, 3 interceptions JAVONTA THOMAS
Van
Return specialist
5-11, 180
By the numbers: Averaged 21.4 yards per return; Also caught 59 passes for 770 yards and 8 TD and rushed for 330 yards and four TD