Vote: Which South Texas high school football player is having best breakout 2023 season?
Which high school football player has made the biggest name for himself in 2023 throughout all of South Texas?
SBLive covered the region, from Laredo, to Brownsville, to Corpus Christi and beyond, and identified 15 standouts who have played their way into feature roles as the regular season approaches its end.
>> 15 South Texas high school football breakout stars in 2023
But which one rises above the rest?
We want to hear from you.
Scroll down and read up on the 15 finalists and vote in the poll below. The poll will remain open until Tuesday, October 31 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
The list was compiled by South Texas correspondent Ivan Palacios. Stay with SBLive Texas for the latest weekly football power rankings, top matchups and player watch lists in South Texas.
15 BREAKOUT SOUTH TEXAS FOOTBALL STARS IN 2023
Eli Rodriguez Jr., senior Weslaco running back.
Photo by Blake Purcell
This list is in alphabetical order.
Nathan Ambrose, running back, senior
High school: Ingleside
Ambrose has seen an uptick in carries during his senior season, already toting the rock four times more than last year with three games still left to play. The Mustangs lead back has made the most of his increase usage, averaging 117.1 rushing yards and 2.0 rushing touchdowns per game. Ambrose ranks fourth among 4A/5A rushers in the Coastal Bend area this year, carrying the ball 88 times for 820 yards and 14 touchdowns. His increased production adds another wrinkle to an already explosive offense.
Thomas Aparicio, running back, junior
High school: Mission High
Aparicio appeared in only three games for the Eagles last season, rushing for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries. He wasted no time surpassing those marks this season, doubling his Year 1 output after just two weeks. Aparicio has been on a tear since, reeling off six straight games of over 100 rushing yards and finding the endzone at least once in each. Aparicio has already eclipsed the 1,000 total yard mark this season, carrying the ball 101 times for 929 yards and 10 scores, while adding four catches for 98 yards and 1 touchdown.
Lucian Cruz, quarterback, sophomore
High school: Alice
Cruz didn’t sniff the field as a freshman with record-breaking quarterback Cutter Stewart piloting the offense for Alice last season. The sophomore quarterback has done his best following up the Houston Christian signee, leading the Coyotes to a 5-2 overall mark and a 3-0 district record thus far. Cruz has performed exceptionally in six starts this season, completing 65.7% of his 108 passes for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s also made an impact in the run game, carrying the ball 49 times for 280 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Damian Figueroa, running back/linebacker, sophomore
High school: Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway
The Trojans have already matched their win total from last season, sitting at 6-1 overall with three games remaining. A big reason for their 2023 success is a breakout year from their sophomore running back. Figueroa has been near impossible to stop this season, rushing for over 100 yards in six of his seven appearances. Figueroa has rushed for 915 yards and 10 touchdowns on 119 attempts, the third best mark in the Coastal Bend area.
Noah Huerta, running back, sophomore
High school: Harlingen High
Huerta is fairly new to the running back position, spending the majority of his football career on defense prior to this season. Huerta’s move to running back has been almost seamless, taking over the lead back role for Harlingen High after an injury to junior Samuel Montejano in Week 1. The 5-foot-11 running back is still raw at the running back position but is already looking like a find for the Cardinals, rushing for 586 yards and 12 touchdowns on 91 carries this year.
Colt Lozano, wide receiver, freshman
High school: Laredo United
Lozano’s numbers might not pop out of the page like other athletes on this list, but his impact on Laredo United’s offense cannot be taken lightly. The 5-foot-9 freshman has steadily carved out a role in the Longhorns offense, ranking fourth on the team in receptions (20) and receiving yards (284). The first-year wideout delivered his best varsity performance during a 42-28 victory over Eagle Pass last week, hauling in 8 receptions for 125 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lozano’s emergence adds another weapon to an already stacked receiving corp for UTRGV QB commit Atzel Chavez.
Adrian Luna Jr., running back, sophomore
High school: Corpus Christi Moody
It has been a rough season for Corpus Christi Moody, with their playoff hopes all but gone with through games remaining. The emergence of Luna has given the Trojans something to look forward to going into next year, however. The first-year varsity starter has been one of the lone bright spots in Moody’s offense, ranking seventh in rushing yards among Coastal Bend area 4A/5A teams. Luna has rushed for a team-high 691 yards on 151 carries through seven games, while also accounting for 3 of the Trojans’ seven offensive touchdowns this year.
Marcus Mata, running back, sophomore
High school: Donna High
Mata has been limited to only four games this season but that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying a breakout campaign. The 5-foot-6 running back has been electric with the ball averaging 12.0 yards per carry during his four appearances. Mata’s impact on the game is evident in the Redskins record with him on the field, going 3-1 with him in the lineup and 1-2 without. Despite not playing since Week 4, Mata ranks among the RGV’s top 15 in rushing yards, racking up 768 yards and 10 touchdowns on 64 carries.
Aiden Olivas-Romo, quarterback, senior
High school: Lyford
Olivas-Romo played quarterback in a limited role last season, serving as the team’s backup while starting at safety. He had his sights set on lining up on defense for the Bulldogs again this season, but the team had other plans. The decision to start Olivas-Romo at QB has paid off for Lyford thus far, leading the Bulldogs to a 6-1 overall record with three games remaining. The senior has emerged as a dual-threat option behind center for Lyford, completing 108-of-167 yards for 2,156 yards and 13 touchdowns, while adding 646 yards and 6 touchdowns on 97 carries.
Patrell Reddick, defensive end, sophomore
High school: San Benito
San Benito lost three of its four starters on the defensive line to graduation over the offseason, leaving several holes to be filled. Reddick has helped fill the void left behind, establishing himself as a force in the trenches. The sophomore defensive end has made a living in opponents backfields this season, ranking second on the team in tackles for loss (12.0) and sacks (6.5). Reddick’s rise has San Benito’s defense among one of the best in the RGV once again, allowing just 200 yards and fewer than 10 points per game this year.
Eli Rodriguez Jr., running back, senior
High school: Weslaco High
Rodriguez played in a limited role as a junior, seeing action in six games as the team’s backup running back. He’s taken the starting role and ran with it this year, ranking among the top rushers in the RGV. The Panthers bell cow has more than tripled his rushing output from last year, improving from 225 yards in six games to 1,212 through seven games this year. Rodriguez has also made the endzone his home this season, scoring at least twice in all but one game thus far. The senior running back has ramped up his game in district play, rushing for 498 yards and 6 touchdowns through two district contests.
Logan Rodriguez, quarterback, junior
High school: Orange Grove
One of the biggest question marks for Orange Grove this season was who would take over the team’s starting quarterback position. Rodriguez answered the call and then some. The junior gunslinger has been the catalyst to the Bulldogs explosive offense, which is averaging 39.0 points per game. The first-year starter has completed 102-of-104 passes for 1,771 yards and 22 touchdowns in seven starts this season, adding 463 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground.
Santiago Salce Miranda, running back, sophomore
High school: Laredo United
It is no secret Laredo United’s offense revolves around UTRGV QB commit Atzel Chavez, with the Longhorns throwing nearly twice as much as they have run it this year. Salce Miranda has helped keep defenses honest this year, however. The 5-foot-8 sophomore has complemented Chavez in the backfield, making defenses think twice before keying on the pass. His 488 rushing yards on 105 carries are already more than any rusher had on the team last year, adding 8 touchdowns as well.
Zachary Smith, linebacker, junior
High school: Corpus Christi Veterans
Corpus Christi Veterans graduated four of its top five tacklers from last season, returning only superstar safety Luke Johnson. Enter junior Zachary Smith. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker has taken control of the Eagles defense this season, improving his stats across the board. He’s more than doubled his tackles from last season, improving his numbers from 32 to 63. He’s also been more disruptive in the backfield, racking up six tackles for loss, while showcasing his game changing ability with 2 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. The Eagles defense is in good hands for at least another year with Smith in the middle of the field.
Billy White III, quarterback, sophomore
High school: Corpus Christi Veterans
White had big shoes to fill coming into this season, tasked with replacing two-year starter Elijah Durrette, who led the Eagles to back-to-back semifinal berths. The sophomore gunslinger has the Eagles soaring towards another possible deep playoff run, emerging as one of the top quarterbacks in South Texas during his first year. The Eagles QB1 ranks second in the Coastal Bend area in passing yards (2,058) and is tied for third in passing touchdowns (22). More impressively, White has only thrown one interception in 176 pass attempts this year.
-- Ivan Palacios | @sblivetx
Lead file photo by Clara Sandoval
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