2024 UIL State Track: Recruiting Notes and Observations

Observations and the latest recruiting notes on some of the state's top college football prospects, including WR Dakorien Moore, DT DJ Sanders, QB Keelon Russell, WR Taz Williams Jr. and more.

Top Storylines

LSU commits dominated with monster performances that received statewide and national attention. 2024 WR signee Jelani Watkins (Humble Atascocita) was the event's fastest man, posting a 10.19 to win gold in the 6A 100-meter dash. Watkins also ran anchor for the gold medal-winning 4x100 relay team, which posted the second-fastest time in the nation (39.14). 2024 RB signee Caden Durham (Duncanville) finished third in the 6A 100-meter with 10.46 and anchored the first-place 4x200 team with a 1:22.25 alongside 2025 WR commit Dakorien Moore2025 LB commit Charles Ross (North Shore) captured bronze in the 6A 4x100, finishing with a 10.56, an eye-popping time for a backer. 

2024 Texas A&M signee WR Ernest Campbell (Refugio) is among the state's most celebrated track athletes. He's won 11 medals in his career, including five individual and five team gold medals. His major accomplishment was winning his fourth consecutive 2A 100-meter dash title with a 10.49. Campbell will compete in football and track in College Station.

Texas Tech's formula for recruiting multi-sport athletes was displayed as the Red Raiders were well-represented. 2024 signee ATH J'koby Williams (Beckville) became a three-time state champion in the 2A 110-meter hurdles with a 14.19. 2024 signee S Malik Esquerra (Killeen Shoemaker) won gold in the 4A 100-meter hurdles with a 13.72. 2025 commit ATH Ramonz Adams (Bastrop) took home a bronze medal in the 5A triple jump. 2024 signee ATH Oliver Miles (El Campo) won silver in the 4A triple jump with a 48-2.50. 2024 preferred walk on Adam Hill (Albany) is a freakish athlete who showcased speed and power. He won gold in the 2A 300-meter hurdles and silver in the 2A shot put.

Recruiting Notes

Gilmer RB Will Henderson (5'11, 180) took home gold in the 4A 100-meter with a 10.40. He is the highest-rated unsigned prospect in the 2024 cycle and is looking to announce his decision quickly now that track is over. He took official visits to programs like UTSA, Texas Tech, SFA and Arizona. 

2025 Duncanville WR Dakorien Moore (5'11, 185) had a strong unofficial visit to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are now pushing to secure an official visit. The state's top-ranked prospect remains verbally committed to LSU, but Texas, Ohio State and Oregon remain in the picture. 

Fresh off of an official visit to Ole Miss, Duncanville 2025 QB Keelon Russell (6'3, 180) won a silver medal in the 6A 4x200. The Rebels are trending in the recruitment of the current SMU verbal, but he also has upcoming visits to see SMU and Florida. Alabama is also pushing hard following a recent offer. 

Bellville 2025 DT DJ Sanders (6'4, 290) is set to take official visits to Baylor, Michigan, Texas and Texas A&M. He would like to have a decision made around the start of the season. He has strong family ties at Baylor; his cousin is RB Richard Reese.

Jasper 2025 OT Demetris Dean (6'4, 270) is set to schedule his official visits. At this point in the race, Baylor, Houston, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Tulsa are the schools recruiting him the most aggressively. 

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff ATH Cameran Dickson (6'2, 175) has received eight scholarship offers, but it seems that TCU, Houston, and North Texas have separated somewhat. His first official visit with TCU is set for June 7. He is the younger brother of UNT OL Johnny Dickson. 

Richmond Randle 2027 RB Landen Williams-Callis (5'7, 170) boasts 31 scholarship offers, and he is one of the top recruits in the state regardless of class year. The most memorable moment of his recruitment thus far was a camp performance at Alabama, where he earned an offer from the Crimson Tide and spent some time with Nick Saban, who was still the coach then. 

Red Oak 2025 WR Taz Williams Jr. (6'0, 180) earned a silver medal in the 6A 4x200. On the recruiting front, the state's most offered prospect has switched up some of his official visits. He is now set to see SMU, Penn State, Michigan and Texas A&M. Arkansas and Missouri are still on the hunt and pushing to get a visit. He has canceled stops at USC and Ohio State.   

Fulshear 2025 DL Chance Bryant (6'3, 240) has been on the rise and now has offers flying in from numerous programs, but Houston and Tulsa are currently recruiting him the most feverishly. 

Yoakum 2026 ATH Xzavier Barnett (6'3, 190) is being heavily pursued by Jeff Traylor and Co. at UTSA, but he is also hearing from many SEC programs, including Texas, Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia and more. 

Iowa Colony 2026 ATH Jayden Warren (6'1, 180) is a prospect on the rise in Alvin ISD. Following his bronze medal performance in the 4A 4x200, Warren picked up offers from North Texas and Texas Tech. With his size, frame, and speed combo, he will be a major target. 

Iowa Colony 2025 Antoine Martin Jr. (5'11, 165) also ran on the bronze medal-winning 4x200 squad and has now collected double-digit offers. Early on, Pittsburgh and Kansas State offers have caught his eye. 

Lago Vista 2025 ATH Swayde Griffin (6'3, 180) has offers from Texas Tech, Arizona State and Minnesota. The Red Raiders have secured an official visit date (June 7) and are trending in his recruitment. He is a talented athlete who looks to concentrate on playing defensive back at the next level. He was 4A's state champion in the 110-meter hurdles. 

Frisco Panther Creek 2026 ATH Jalen Lott (6'0, 170) captured a gold medal in the 4A long jump and shared the podium with his sister Falyn Lott, who also won a gold medal. It was an incredible moment for the siblings who won gold in the same stadium as their father, James Lott. Falyn signed up with USC and is set to star in the nationally-rated track program. Jalen traveled with her and the rest of his family to Los Angeles immediately following the event for an unofficial visit. 

Winnsboro 2026 WR Camden Capehart (5'9, 155) won the 3A 100-meter dash with a time of 10.44. He is up to eight offers and has plenty of time to assess his recruitment, but Arizona State, UTSA and Cal stand out early on.

Palestine 2025 RB Jon Denman (5'10, 195) won silver in the 4A 4x200 with a 1:26.13. His recruitment recently hit warp speed, as he is now up to 16 scholarship offers. Baylor, Houston, Boston College, and North Texas are offers that are being closely monitored. 

This article is available to our Digital Subscribers.
Click "Subscribe Now" to see a list of subscription offers.
Already a Subscriber? Sign In to access this content.

Sign In