There’s a collective chip on Frisco Panther Creek’s shoulder that formed after its inaugural football season in 2022. Frisco ISD normally allows new schools a year of JV-only ramp up before integration into the Varsity level. But head coach Clint Surratt’s team played District 7-4A football in the school’s first year with no seniors. 

Then they notched a 3–3 district record to become the first Frisco school to make the playoffs in its opening season.

Even though they now have all four grade levels at their disposal, they still have the mindset of the new school that nobody gave a chance.

“We’re always going to be the underdogs,” junior Sentel Simpson said. “We have something to prove. Since we’re brand new, a lot of schools don’t respect us. But this season, we’re starting to get the attention from other schools.”

And Simpson is starting to get attention from Division I college programs.

The 6-foot-4-inch, 185-pound prospect earned district utility player of the year honors after starring on both sides of the football. He piled up 442 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in the backfield and also helped the offense out as a dynamic kick returner. 

But his ability as a rangy safety earned him an offer from UTSA on Jan. 23.

“I was kind of emotional, because this is what I’ve been working for,” Simpson said. “I got my first DI offer. After that, I knew it was just up from there.”

He was right. On June 4 Simpson attended the TCU mega camp and played his way into an offer from Indiana. He continued the offseason momentum with solid coverage reps in Panther Creek’s first State 7-on-7 tournament in College Station.

Simpson was far from the only standout on a Panther squad that went 4–1 over two days. Senior quarterback Braxton Roberts looked sharp all weekend ahead of his first season as a starter. He formed a great connection with wide receiver Cristian Trickett, who topped all athletes on Thursday with a top speed of 21.26 mph as calculated by Catapult data. 

“We’ve improved everywhere, I’ll just say that,” Roberts said. “Literally every single position, we’ve improved in.”

Roberts will suit up with his teammates for the first time this year, but he’s been with them every step of the way. The 6-foot-1-inch signal caller, who has an offer from Ouachita Baptist, was deemed ineligible all of last season due to transfer rules. But he still earned a captain role from the sidelines.

“We just always kept a good attitude, a positive attitude,” Roberts said. “(We) Still worked really hard. And I just really pushed my team.”

Now he’ll get the chance to toss the rock for them.