Demetrio Teniente / The Dallas Morning News
Stats alone don’t lead to success in Texas High School football, though piling up the yards and collecting touchdown catches certainly helps.
Last year was last year, and it is hard to predict what will happen based on the previous season’s failures or successes. Still, it’s nice to know which playmakers, game-changers and record-breakers will once again play under the Friday night lights.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at the top returning players in terms of passing yards, rushing yards and receiving yards in the 6A, 5A, 4A/others and private school classifications.
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Below are the top returning passers at 5A schools, based on The Dallas Morning News’ top 20 passing leaders from a season ago (listed in descending order of yards).
Buck Randall, Highland Park
Stats: 254 of 366 (69%) for 4,396 yards, 51 TDs and 9 INTs
Notable: Randall is ranked 52rd overall in The Dallas Morning News’ Top 100 recruits for the Class of 2027 and is the No. 3 overall QB.
Trey Wright, Frisco Lone Star
Stats: 206 of 309 (67%) for 3,879 yards, 43 TDs and 8 INTs
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Hayes Hackney, Argyle
Stats (while at Prosper Walnut Grove): 224 of 335 (67%) for 3,134 yards, 37 TDs and 7 INTs
Notable: Hackney has been ruled eligible and has been cleared to play for Argyle after moving into the school district during the offseason. Argyle was 12-2 and reached the 5A Division II Region I final. It beat Walnut Grove 59-42 in the third round of the playoffs, even though Hackney threw for 303 yards and accounted for three touchdowns.
Jayden Williams, South Oak Cliff
Stats: 176 of 261 (67%) for 2742 yards, 28 TDs and 2 INTs
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Notable: Helped South Oak Cliff win a state title in 2025, completing 12 of his 13 passes for 89 yards with a touchdown in the Golden Bears’ 35-19 win over Richmond Randle.
Cason Williams, Carrollton Creekview
Stats: 178 of 271 (66%) for 2,698 yards, 30 TDs and 7 INTs
Brett Kates, Richland
Stats: 162 of 281 (58%) for 2,630 yards, 22 TDs and 6 INTs
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Jayden Shaw, DeSoto
Stats (While at Arlington Lamar): 2145 of 248 (58%) for 2,496 yards, 26 TDs and 8 INTs
Notable: Transferred to DeSoto after playing for Arlington Lamar as a junior.
Lincoln Harn, Frisco Reedy
Stats: 159 of 229 (69%) for 2,023 yards, 28 TDs and 5 INTs
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Jaylen Gaines, The Colony
Stats: 142 of 258 (55%) for 1,910 yards, 19 TDs and 8 INTs
Steven Hall, Mansfield Timberview
Stats: 111 of 194 (57%) for 1,646 yards, 14 TDs and 4 INTs
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More stat leaders