News Summary

In a stunning display of football talent, Texas led the 2025 NFL Draft with 36 high school players selected, marking a significant return to dominance in the draft scene. Cam Ward from West Columbia High was the top overall pick, reflecting Texas’s legacy of producing elite quarterbacks. Schools like Southlake Carroll and Texarkana Pleasant Grove celebrated their own milestones, showcasing new talent and continuing legacies. With Texas’s record 12 players drafted, the future of football looks vibrant in the Lone Star State.

Texas Takes the NFL Draft by Storm in 2025!

The Lone Star State has once again proved that it’s a hotbed for football talent! In the 2025 NFL Draft, Texas high school players brought their A-game by accounting for a whopping 36 out of 257 picks, making it the state with the most selections by a mile. To put that into perspective, Texas had a full 10 picks more than the next closest contenders, Florida and Georgia, who tied at 23. When it comes to football, it’s clear Texas is the place to be!

Top Picks and Star Players

Leading the charge was none other than Cam Ward from West Columbia High, who was selected as the No. 1 overall pick – a major milestone that made him the 15th Texan to achieve this honor. This year marked a significant comeback for Texas in terms of leading the nation in high school draft picks, since the last time they held that title was back in 2022. How exciting!

The trend of producing elite quarterbacks continued as well, with four of the last five No. 1 picks from Texas being QBs. The list of Texas-prodigies includes big names like Matthew Stafford (2009), Andrew Luck (2012), Baker Mayfield (2018), and Kyler Murray (2019). It seems Texas just knows how to cultivate those arm talents!

Making History at the Local Level

Schools across Texas are triumphing too. Notably, Southlake Carroll, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, and Spring Klein Cain all had two players drafted, with Carroll reaching this impressive milestone for the very first time in its history! Among these new draftees is R.J. Mickens from Southlake Carroll, whose dad, Ray Mickens, made a name for himself as an NFL defensive back.

Also making headlines is Shedeur Sanders, the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, who was selected in the fifth round. Talk about continuing a legacy!

Exciting Firsts

This draft didn’t just feature seasoned talent; it also shone a spotlight on many first-time draftees from Texas high schools. Players like Matthew Golden and Jaydon Blue from Spring Klein Cain made waves by being the first from their school to get drafted. Alongside them, Landon Jackson and Nick Martin from Texarkana Pleasant Grove celebrated similar achievements, proving their school’s potential. Other first-timers include Jalen Milroe from Katy Tompkins, Alfred Collins from Bastrop Cedar Creek, and Korie Black from Waco Connally.

A Strong Legacy from DeSoto

DeSoto High School had another year to remember as Shemar Turner became the ninth player from the school to be drafted. With this selection, a total of 24 DeSoto players are now shining in the NFL, tying them for 4th place with John Tyler High School. Galveston leads Texas with an impressive 27 NFL players, followed closely by Longview and Dallas South Oak Cliff, each boasting 25 players.

Texas Horns Shine Bright

This year’s NFL Draft was particularly noteworthy for the Longhorns program, which produced three first-round draft picks (Kelvin Banks Jr., Jahdae Barron, and Matthew Golden), the first time achieving this feat since 1980. Texas as a whole set a remarkable program record of 12 players being selected in this draft. Even Quinn Ewers, despite being a seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins, contributed to making history by helping accrue that total!

In summary, it’s clear that Texas is doing something right when it comes to football. With its deep roots in high school talent and a knack for producing top-tier players, the state has firmly established itself as a powerhouse in the NFL. Here’s to the next generation of Texas talent – the future looks bright!

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