Texas Longhorns linebacker Ethan Burke (91)sacks Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) in the first half of an NCAA College Football Playoffs first round game at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.
Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman
The college bowl season and CFP have already provided some exciting moments. We take a look some of the former high school football players from the Austin area who have been part of it. From Westlake and Lake Travis to Vandegrift and Manor, there have been many players in the mix. These are their stories.
Ramonz Adams, Washington (LA Bowl): The former Bastrop receiver/safety played in five games as a freshman, including UW’s bowl win over Boise State.
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Sedrick Alexander, Vanderbilt(Reliaquest Bowl): A record-breaking running back at LBJ, Alexander rushed for 567 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Commodores this fall.
Ethan Burke, Texas (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl): The former Westlake defensive lineman had 114 tackles, 60 solos, during his four years with the Horns.
Miles Coleman, taking off against Cedar Park, continues to be one of the most explosive offensive players in the area. The senior receiver averages 113 yards yards a game. Vandegrift will play Manor this week.
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Miles Coleman, North Texas(New Mexico Bowl): A former Offensive Player of the Year at Vandegrift, Coleman contributed 47 catches for 550 yards and 2 TDs in 2025.
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Gus Cordova, USC Â (Valero Alamo Bowl): Played in one game for the Trojans as a freshman after All-District honors at Lake Travis.
Cameron Dickey, Texas Tech(CFP): A 2024 graduate of Crockett High, Dickey was a Doak Walker finalist for the Red Raiders after rushing for a team-high 1,095 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Crockett Cougars quarterback Cameron Dickey (1) throws a forward pass to wide receiver Jamari Wilson (2) against the Navarro Vikings during the third quarter at the District 12-5A football game on Thursday, Oct 6, 2022, at Nelson Field in Austin, Texas.
John Gutierrez/Special to American-Statesman
Jalen Gilbert, Vanderbilt(Reliaquest Bowl): A graduate of Round Rock High, the sophomore safety played in three games for the Commodores this fall.
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Blake Frazier Michigan (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl): Former Vandegrift Viper finished his first season with the Wolverines as starting left tackle.
Will Hammond, Texas Tech (CFP): The former record-setting quarterback at Hutto passed for 680 yards and 7 touchdowns this year.
Hutto quarterback Will Hammond led the entire state in passing yards during the regular season and signed on Wednesday with Texas Tech as a four-star prospect. Fellow Austin-area quarterback, Crockett’s Cameron Dickey, also signed with the Red Raiders.
Paul Knight/Special to American-Statesman
Quinten Joyner, Texas Tech (CFP): The former Manor Mustang transferred to Texas Tech this season after spending two years at USC.
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Kyle Koch, North Texas (New Mexico Bowl): The former Dripping Springs receiver played in nine games in his freshman season for the Eagles, primarily on special teams.
Cade Klubnik, Clemson (Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl): A three-time state champion at Westlake (2019, 2020,2021), the Tigers senior just wrapped up his college career with 10,123 yards and 73 touchdowns in 49 games.
Bray Lynch, Indiana(CFP):A former offensive tackle at Westlake, Lynch has started all 14 games this season for the Hoosiers, who will play Oregon in a CFP semifinal game Friday in Atlanta.
OL: Bray Lynch, Westlake
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Latreveon McCutchon(Kinder’s Texas Bowl): The former LBJ safety played in 11 games for the University of Houston this fall, finishing with 52 tackles, five in the bowl game.
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Peyton Morgan, Texas Tech(CFP): The former Weiss cornerback just finished his second season with the Red Raiders.
Nick Morris, Duke(Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl): A former All-Central Texas defensive MVP while at Westlake, Morris just completed his fourth season with the Blue Devils.
Austin Novosad, Oregon(CFP): A first-team All-Central Texas quarterback for Dripping Springs, Novosad just finished his second season with the Ducks.
Jacob Ponton, Texas Tech(CFP): The former Dripping Springs offensive lineman just finished his first full season with the Red Raiders.
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Ian Reed, Clemson(Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl): A former All-Central Texas Team first-team offensive lineman at Vandegrift, just wrapped up his third season with the Tigers.
Connor Robertson, Texas (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl): A state champion at Westlake (2020) has played in 28 games for the Longhorns, making six starts.
UT’s Connor Robertson takes the field for the game against UTSA Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, at the Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin.
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Bravion Rogers, Texas A&M(CFP): The former cornerback from La Grange played in three games for the Aggies.
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Elliott Schaper, Duke (Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl): A two-time All-Central Texas Defensive Player of the Year at Westlake, he played in six games for the Blue Devils as a freshman, finishing with 17 tackles.
Ed Small, TCU(Valero Alamo Bowl): The former Anderson Trojan played five games for the Horned Frogs as a freshman, catching 16 passes for 186 yards.
Michael Taaffe, Texas(Cheez-It Citrus Bowl): A two-state state champion at Westlake (2019, 2020), the fifth-year Longhorn senior played in 52 games at Texas, 35 as a starter.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) high-fives fans while heading into the stadium ahead of the Lone Star Showdown, the rivalry match-up between the Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 28, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Ty Thames, Rice (Armed Forces Bowl) An All-Central Texas linebacker at Wimberley, Thames played in six games for the Owls in 2025.
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Princewill Umanmielen, Ole Miss (CFP): The former Manor defensive linemen helped the Rebels reach the CFP semis, contributing 45 tackles and 9 sacks this season.
Griffen Willis, Navy (Auto Zone Liberty Bowl): The former Lake Travis Cavalier defensive linemen has played two seasons with the Midshipmen, finishing with 48 tackles in 2025.