Vote now: Who is the top returning quarterback in East Texas?
As the 2023 Texas high school football season quickly approaches, SBLive is taking a look at the top players in the Lone Star State by position and region.
With preseason practice underway, SBLive Texas is taking a look at the top returning teams and players around the state by region, starting with the toughest position in sports.
>> SBLIVE'S 2022 ALL-EAST TEXAS FOOTBALL TEAMS, AWARDS
After highlighting the top 20 quarterbacks in North Texas and top 20 in Central Texas, and South Texas, we examined the 20 best quarterbacks in East Texas entering the 2023 season. From Tyler, to Longview, to Texarkana, to Fort Arthur, there is no shortage of arm talent.
Now, we want to hear from you.
Scroll down below and read up on the 20 nominees and cast a vote for your pick in the poll below. Voting is open until Saturday, Aug. 15 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
TOP 20 QUARTERBACKS IN EAST TEXAS ENTERING 2023
Timpson senior Terry Bussey, a five-star prospect and maybe the nation's most productive returning high school player.
Photo by Dustin Nguyen
Terry Bussey, 5-11, 180, Sr., Timpson
A five-star recruit, Bussey the top uncommitted prospect in Texas and was one of the nation's best all-around high school football players last season. The first team all-SBLive East Texas selection earned 2022 Mr. Texas Football and Texas Sports Writers Association Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year. All Bussey did last season was rack up a mind-blowing 4,773 total yards of offense (2,596 rushing, 2,177 passing) and a silly 72 touchdowns (46 rushing, 26 passing). As if that wasn't impressive enough, Bussey also recorded 115 tackles and four pick-sixes on defense at safety and returned three kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns. All that's left for Bussey and the Bears to do this year is win a state title. Timpson has lost in the state semifinals three straight seasons.
Demitrius Brisbon, 6-1, 180, Jr., Tyler Chapel Hill
An electrifying performer most every time he touches the ball, Brisbon passed for 2,211 yards and 32 TD and rushed for 1,403 yards and 15 more scores as a sophomore last season. He led the Bulldogs to a 12-3 record and a trip to the state semifinals. Brisbon also earned honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 3A All-State Team. Expect the SMU commit to put up video-game-like numbers again in 2023.
Calan Castles, 6-3, 220, Sr., Beckville
A two-way starter at quarterback and linebacker, Castles had a solid junior year last season, leading the Bearcats to 10-2 record with 77-7 playoff win over Bogata Rivercrest. He threw for 1,844 yards and 25 touchdowns and ran for 389 yards and four more scores. He also recorded 106 tackles on defense. Castles earned District 10-2A Division I Offensive Newcomer of the Year accolades. Including Castles, Beckville returns 18 starters, so the Bearcats could be set up for a deep playoff run in 2023.
Cash Cross, 6-2, 195, Sr., Center
Cross put up some awfully big numbers in the Piney Woods last year, throwing for 2,187 yards and 30 touchdowns and rushing for 568 yards and seven more scores. The Roughriders finished 8-4A with a playoff win over Texarkana Liberty-Eylau. For his efforts, Cross snagged a spot on the All-District 8-4A Division II First Team. He will lead what should be another explosive Center offense in 2023.
Brady Driver, 6-2, 190, Sr., Sulphur Springs
They call him Brady Driver. Sorry, couldn't resist. As a junior in 2022, Driver finished with 1,337 passing yards and 17 touchdowns in eight games. The Wildcats finished 7-4 and made the playoffs a year ago. Driver, who is also a baseball standout for Sulphur Springs, was a First-Team All-District 8-4A Division I selection last year. With some of his weapons returning, Driver could have a monster 2023 season.
Fernando Espinoza, 5-10, 160, Sr., Price Carlisle
With Espinoza at the controls on offense, Carlisle put together an 11-2 season that culminated with a trip to the regional semifinals. As a junior, he threw for 2,817 yards and 27 touchdowns to earn District 11-2A Division II Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player honors. Espinoza, a multi-sport athlete, should have another big season for Carlisle.
Kyler Finney, 6-0, 185, Sr., Winnsboro
Finney was one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Texas last season, accounting for 4,309 yards and 55 touchdowns (3,405, 40 touchdowns passing, 904, 15 scores rushing). Those dizzying numbers helped Finney earn honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 3A All-State Team. He led the Red Raiders to a 10-2 record and a bi-district victory over Atlanta. Finney is a Harding University commit.
Lamarion Goodwyn, 6-1, 235, Sr., Palestine Westwood
A two-way starter for the Panthers, Goodwyn threw for 1,280 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 732 yards and eight more scores to lead Westwood to a 5-6 season and a playoff berth. Goodwyn earned a First-Team All-District 9-3A Division I selection at quarterback. He also played defensive line for the Panthers, who return 15 starters (7 offense, 8 defense).
Josh Green, 6-1, 195, Sr., Whitehouse
Following in the starting quarterback footsteps of NFL star Patrick Mahomes at Whitehouse, Green threw for 2,499 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 837 yards and 16 more end zone visits. That performance helped the Wildcats go from a two-win season in 2021 to an 8-3 finish and a playoff berth last year. Green landed District 8-5A Division II Offensive Most Valuable Player honors for his standout junior season. Patrick would be proud.
Peyton Harrison, 6-1, 170, Jr., Atlanta
After starting as a sophomore last season, Harrison has tremendous upside. In 2022, the pro-style quarterback threw for 1,223 yards and 12 touchdowns to lead the Rabbits to a 7-6 record and a postseason berth. Harrison earned a spot on the All-District 6-3A Division I First Team. He is likely a future Division I recruit.
Ahkhari Johnson, 5-11, 180, Sr., Texarkana Pleasant Grove
Talk about coming back strong. After missing most of 2021 with an injury, Johnson was a force of nature last season. He threw for 1,710 yards and 21 touchdowns with three interceptions and rushed for 856 yards and 12 touchdowns on 117 carries. The Hawks finished 11-3 and reached the regional finals. Johnson, an Arkansas commit, was last year's District 7-4A DII Co-Offensive Most Valuable Player.
Chase Johnson, 6-2, 195, Jr., Daingerfield
One of the most prolific passers in the state, Johnson is coming off of a monster sophomore season. He threw for 3,456 yards and 42 touchdowns, the ninth-most yards among returnees in Texas in 2022. Johnson also rushed for 714 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a 10-3 record and a trip to the regional semifinals. He was also honorable mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association's Class 3A All-State Team.
Jacoby LaCook, 5-11, 170, So., Leonard
LaCook burst onto the scene as a freshman last season, throwing for 1,260 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 655 yards and six more scores. The Tigers finished 6-4 and missed the playoffs in 2022, but have several returning starters this season. LaCook earned District 8-3A Division II Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. He also plays some wide receiver and defensive back.
Lane Lynch, 6-1, 170, Sr., Kerens
Although the Bobcats only won three games last year, Lynch led them to the playoffs as a junior. The pro-style quarterback threw for 2,041 yards and 20 touchdowns. Lynch, who is also a multi-sport standout, earned a First-Team All-District 8-2A Division I selection last season. He will look to lead Kerens back to the playoffs with 17 returning starters.
Shawn Robertson, 5-10, 155, Sr., Emory Rains
Another solid dual-threat signal-caller, Robertson put up good numbers despite a 2-8 finish for the Wildcats last season. He threw for 868 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 848 yards and nine more scores. That led to a District 5-3A Division I First-Team selection for Robertson. He is also an all-state pitcher on the diamond for Rains.
Collier Slone, 6-1, 210, Sr., Marshall
As a junior last year, Slone led the Mavericks to a 6-5 record and a playoff berth by throwing for 1,029 yards and nine touchdowns. Marshall dropped a gut-wrenching 48-47 decision at the hands of Crandall. The pro-style quarterback earned a first-team selection on the All-District 8-5A Division II team. Marshall will look to Slone to lead his squad again.
Bryce Still, 5-8, 155, Jr., Overton
Despite having a two-win season, Overton made the playoffs last year with Still running the show on offense. The dual-threat QB1 threw for 1,820 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 567 yards and five more touchdowns. Still earned a spot on the All-District 11-2A Division II First Team. Head coach Scotty Laymance and the Mustangs look to improve this season with 17 starters back.
Cadon Tennison, 5-11, 175, Jr., Gilmer
Tennison made a splash in his first year as a varsity starter as a sophomore in 2022, throwing for 1,487 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushing for 302 yards to lead the Buckeyes to an 11-1 record and a playoff wins over Rusk and Gilmer before running into Carthage in the third round. Tennison earned a spot on the 7-4A Division II all-district team for his big season. Tennison's older brother, Brandon, is a former Gilmer starting quarterback who now plays at UTSA.
Cole Watson, 6-1, 195, Sr., Tatum
A stellar dual-threat quarterback, Watson threw for 676 yards and six touchdowns, but he rushed for 1,765 yards and 28 TD's. A match-up nightmare for opposing defenses, Watson led the Eagles to a 6-5 finish and a playoff berth. The Louisiana Tech commit, who also plays linebacker for Tatum, earned District 6-3A Division I Co-Most Valuable Player honors in 2022.
Luke Wolf, 6-4, 195, Sr., Tyler Legacy
Wolf is coming off a solid junior season that saw him throw for 1,122 yards and six touchdowns and rush for 717 yards and five more scores. The Red Raiders struggled to a 2-8 record, but Wolf earned District 10-6A Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors. With a new head coach at Legacy in Beau Trahan, Wolf could have a huge year in 2023.
