FILE – Texas linebacker Colin Simmons (11) celebrates with teammates after an interception during the first half against Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eric Gay/AP
It’s once again Red River Rivalry time in Dallas, with the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners entering the Cotton Bowl for their annual showdown.
And as usual, it’s a homecoming for over a dozen former Dallas-area high school football players now returning for either side.
Prior to Saturday’s big matchup, check out 10 former Dallas-area products to keep an eye on at the Red River Rivalry.
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Texas
Colin Simmons
Dallas Morning News’ All-Area Defensive Player of Year: Duncanville’s DL/LB Colin Simmons.
Tom Fox/Staff Photographer
The star of the Texas defense is likely playing in his last Red River game — he looks like a lock to be a top-5 pick in the 2027 NFL draft. And even that might be underselling.
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Once The Dallas Morning News’ Defensive Player of the Year, Simmons was ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the state of Texas when he came out of Duncanville and signed with the Longhorns. He broke out almost immediately. Now a junior, he leads the nation with 7.5 sacks entering Saturday’s rivalry matchup.
He gave Tennessee fits in Texas’ most recent win, tying a program record with five sacks. We’ll see if he wreaks havoc on the OU offense as well, and if he has any more “colorful” celebrations against the hated Sooners.
Zina Umeozulu
Allen’s defensive end Zina Umeozulu (9) tries to get past Prosper’s Logan Cahill (72) in the first half during a high school football game between Allen and Prosper, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 in Prosper, Texas. Prosper won 37-36.
Matt Strasen/Special Contributor
It’s easy to be one of the most underrated players on the team when you’re lining up on the other side of Simmons. Umeozulu might be just that.
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The Allen grad, a powerful 272-pounder who’s tabbed 13 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble so far in 2026. will be coming off Texas’ other edge on Saturday.
Trevor Goosby
Texas offensive lineman Trevor Goosby picks up Texas quarterback Arch Manning after Texas scored a touchdown during the second half an NCAA college football game against San Jose State, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Michael Thomas/AP
Another Longhorn who looks like a sure bet to go in the first round in April, the Melissa product is a three-year starter on the Texas offensive line who will likely end his collegiate career with over 30 starts under his belt.
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According to NFL Mock Draft Database, the 6-7, 325-pound Goosby has a composite ranking of No. 10, meaning he’s projected to crack the top 10 in the draft.
Alex January
Defensive tackle, Duncanville
Another piece on the Horns’ formidable defensive front, January has compiled three tackles with a sack and two pass breakups so far in 2026.
The junior out of Duncanville is the son of Mike January, who played linebacker at Texas from 1983-86.
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Kaliq Lockett
Sachse wide receiver Kaliq Lockett (5) celebrates after picking up a first down during the second half of a District 9-6A high school football game against Wylie East on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Wylie.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
The sophomore Sachse speedster is still a project for the Longhorns, having only caught one pass thus far this season. But the former track star is liable to break loose whenever he gets the ball in his hands.
Lockett scored the first touchdown of his Longhorns career in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Michigan last season.
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Oklahoma
Little Elm High School quarterback John Mateer (4) throws a pass during the first half as Little Elm High School hosted Frisco Independence High School at the Little Elm ISD Athletic Complex on Friday night, October 25, 2019. (Stewart F. House/Special Contributor)
Stewart F. House/Special Contributor
John Mateer
You could look back and point to last season’s Red River matchup and surmise that that’s where it started going wrong for Mateer.
It was a 23-6 loss to Texas in which Mateer threw for three interceptions and no touchdowns in what may have been the single-worst start of his career.
Now he’s off to a bumpy start in 2026, with four interceptions and a pair of lost fumbles through four games for the 2-2 Sooners.
Mateer needs a bounce-back in the worst way — no doubt a win over the No. 1-ranked Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl would go a long way toward that.
Parker Livingstone
Lovejoy sophomore wide receiver Parker Livingstone (18) scores a touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Frisco Memorial at Lovejoy High School, Thursday, October 7, 2021. (Brandon Wade/Special Contributor)
Brandon Wade/Special Contributor
Livingstone’s already won this game — from the other side.
The Lovejoy product had a pair of catches for 29 yards as a Texas freshman last season and put together an impressive first season before things between him and the Horns went awry in the offseason.
After joining Oklahoma through the transfer portal, Livingstone has caught six passes for 51 yards thus far in 2026.
Noah Best
The former Midlothian Panther has become one of the most versatile members of the Sooners’ offensive line, already having gotten snaps at center and both guard positions. He was the first true freshman to start the season at guard for the Sooners since 1992.
And one Oklahoma O-lineman you won’t see Saturday: former Lewisville five-star tackle Michael Fasusi, whose seasonlong absence has likely been a major factor in the Sooners’ offensive ineptitude to start the year.
Peyton and Eli Bowen
Defensive backs, Denton Guyer
Denton Guyer’s Peyton Bowen (22) celebrates after his touchdown in the second half of a Class 6A Division II Region I final high school playoff football game between Denton Guyer and Prosper, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Allen, Texas. (Matt Strasen/Special Contributor)
Matt Strasen/Special Contributor
With names like Peyton and Eli, they were destined to play football.
The brothers from Denton Guyer have turned into a star duo in the Sooners’ defensive secondary, big brother Peyton the starting strong safety and Eli the starting cornerback,
The two once combined for four interceptions in a single game while shining at Guyer.