PrepNation.com continues the most comprehensive package of preseason high school football rankings ever published. We are counting down the PrepNation 101 Preseason High School Football Rankings, from No. 101 to No. 26, leading up to the release of the official preseason National Prep Poll on August 3.
4. Katy (Texas)
Last season: 13-3, Class 5A/II state champion
Coach: Gary Joseph
Key players: TE Zach Swanson (6-6, 230, Sr.), RB William Jeffrey (5-7, 155, Sr.), OL Shep Klink (6-6, 285, Sr.), LB Jonathon Fisher (6-0, 200, Sr.), FS Sam Holl (6-1, 190, Sr.), LB Grant Clifton (5-11, 200, Jr.), DE Nick Narcisse (6-3, 195, Jr.), WR Greg Morris (5-8, 150, Jr.), QB Michael Stojkovic (6-0, 190, Sr.)
Outlook: The Tigers were a unanimous choice as the state’s preseason No.1 team by many magazines and websites devoted to covering Texas high school football. That’s partially due to the quality of play attributed to the 10 returning starters on this year’s team. But it also has a lot to do with Katy winning back-to-back 5A state titles and four championships this decade. Joseph, who is 68-7 in five years as head coach, says the strength of this year’s team will be its defense. The unit has five players who earned all-district accolades last season. In fact, Holl was named the 17-5A defensive MVP and earned second team all-state recognition. On offense, Stojkovic will be a first-year starter but has enough previous experience to have earned a letter. His primary weapons will be all-district RB Jeffrey and WR Morris, a junior with blazing 4.42 speed in the 40. The offensive line features a pair of Division I commitments in Stanford-bound TE Swanson and OT Klink, a Texas A&M recruit. Katy’s mettle will be tested early and often this season. The Tigers open the year against No. 58 North Shore, and two weeks later will host No. 8 Bellevue (Wash.) in an intriguing interregional matchup of national power programs.
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