Texas high school football: Austin area's top 15 college prospects, regardless of class

There's no one way to predict which high school football recruits will become successful major-conference college players.

The process starts as early as middle school. While on-field production matters, physical traits and athleticism are more important to success at a high level. Therefore, collegiate coaching staffs often bet on the senior with two years of experience who runs a 4.40 40-yard dash over the four-year varsity captain who's a good, not great, athlete.

Cade Klubnik, Garrett Wilson, Michael Taaffe, Ethan Burke and Drew Mestemaker are some of the more recent Central Texas recruits to succeed playing for Football Bowl Subdivision programs. Each had varying levels of interest and hype as high schoolers; Klubnik was the No. 1-ranked quarterback by 247Sports' composite ranking, while Taaffe had no stars and had to walk on at Texas

With UIL action around the corner, the American-Statesman has compiled a list of Central Texas' top 15 college football recruits based on discussions with various sources, recruiting rankings and personal observations. It consists of high school players from the 2027, 2028 and 2029 recruiting classes, and is ordered by who's predicted to have the most success in college football. Several of these names have clearly cemented themselves as top players near Austin, while others earned their ranks based on positional value and potential.

MORE:100 UIL Central Texas high school football players to watch in 2026

Weiss Wolves wide receiver Tre Moore (9) runs the ball for a touchdown in the second half of the game between the Wolves and the Trojans at the Pfield in Pflugerville, Nov. 6, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
1. Weiss WR Tre Moore, 2027 

The No. 2 prospect from our area list last year, Moore takes the top spot in 2026. He made good on his potential in 2025, breaking out with 1,443 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns. The Washington commit uses his physical tools at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, along with his hand-eye coordination, to be a dominant jump-ball winner. It's easy to picture a successful college career for Moore, who compares favorably to former Huskies wide receiver Denzel Boston. 

2. Weiss LB Tylan Henderson, 2028

Weiss continues to churn out high-level prospects, and Tylan Henderson may be the next one up. A former wide receiver/safety, Henderson transitioned to linebacker in 2025 and recorded 113 total tackles and 20 tackles for loss. He's got burst at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds and shows some play-making instincts as a middle linebacker. The offers have rolled in since October, with the likes of Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas Tech gunning for his services.  

Bastrop quarterback Weston Nielsen (13) looks to pass as Liberty Hill and Bastrop face off in the District 11-5A Division 2 championship in Liberty Hill, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. Liberty Hill won 48-14. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)
3. Bastrop QB Weston Nielsen, 2027

Weston Nielsen continued to thrive as one of Central Texas' top quarterbacks last season, throwing for 3,053 yards, 44 touchdowns and six interceptions. He used his strong arm and ability to play out of structure to lead Bastrop to the third round of the playoffs, where it fell to Richmond Randle. Nielsen's an Arizona State commit who could thrive under head coach Kenny Dillingham. 

4. Weiss edge rusher/LB Reagan Smith, 2028

Smith played primarily on the edge in 2025, using his burst to beat tackles around the outside and racking up 9½ tackles for loss. But he flashed coverage ability on tape as well, and this summer he earned offers from the likes of Ohio State, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. While the 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior could play edge for the Wolves, his best position in college might be at linebacker. 

Hutto Jaiden Fields (1) celebrates a play as Hutto and Bowie face off in the first round of the playoffs at Memorial Stadium in Hutto, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman)
5. Hutto ATH Jaiden Fields, 2027

Fields' versatility makes him one of the hardest players to pin down. While schools mainly recruited him as a safety, he also caught 89 passes for 1,345 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025, putting into question his final position. The Oklahoma commit is a football player in the purest sense and should thrive, no matter which side of the ball he ends up on.

Weiss Wolves wide receiver Jordan Ibn Anderson-El (5) reaches high to complete the pass for the touchdown as Hays Hawks center Bradley Saenz (12) defends during the fourth quarter at the District 12-5A football game on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025, at the at Bob Shelton Stadium in Hays County, Texas. (John Gutierrez Photo/John Gutierrez Special to Americ)
6. Weiss WR Jordan Anderson, 2028

The Wolves have the heir apparent to Moore in Jordan Anderson. He's not the physical marvel Moore is, coming in at 6-foot, 170 pounds. But the junior wideout has room to grow, is quick and shows serious run-after-catch ability. He holds offers from 21 schools, including Houston, Kentucky and Kansas. 

7. Westlake OL Jackson Cook, 2027

Cook made waves during the Chaparrals' run to the Class 6A state championship in 2024, and his stock continued to rise following the 2025 season. He received offers from the likes of Arkansas and Duke before committing to Texas, where offensive line coach Kyle Flood has made a habit of sending linemen to the NFL. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound lineman has a nasty streak in the run game and appears polished in pass protection.

Jeremiah Caldwell, from Taylor High School, competes in the long jump at the UIL State 4A Track and Field Championship at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, May 14, 2026. Caldwell took second in the event with a mark of 22-10. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
8. Taylor ATH Jeremiah Caldwell, 2029

Caldwell won the silver medal in the long jump this spring at the UIL Class 4A state track meet, and schools noticed his football potential soon after. He plays just about every position for the Ducks, from wide receiver to defensive back and even quarterback. If Caldwell continues to develop, there's a wealth of opportunity ahead of him. He's 5-foot-11, 165 with seven FBS offers including Baylor, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. 

9. Rouse DB Miles Burrell, 2028

Burrell's track speed drew him attention as a freshman. But it was the tape he put on as a sophomore last year that landed him offers from Vanderbilt, Arizona and Cal. While the 6-foot, 160-pound defensive back is still developing, he has the requisite athleticism to compete at the Power Four level. He ran a 21.59 in the 200-meter dash in the spring and is set up for a breakout junior year. 

10. Taylor WR/DE Elijah Afenkhena, 2029

College coaches are very intrigued by Afekhena's potential. He's 6-foot-4, 210 going into his sophomore year and his frame suggests he could add plenty of muscle. While he isn't the most fluid athlete right now, that should come as he matures. Washington, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma are among the eight schools that have offered him. 

11. Jarrell RB Brayden Henderson, 2029

After three games on the freshman team, Henderson's coaches quickly realized keeping him there any longer would be unfair. They moved him to varsity, and in seven contests he rushed for 815 yards and seven touchdowns on 82 touches. His standout trait is his speed, and at 6-foot, 180, there's room to grow. Nebraska, USC and Baylor are three of his eight FBS offers. 

12. Lake Travis WR Tatum Gold, 2029

There's an excellent crop of Lake Travis players on the rise, and Gold is the one drawing the most hype. The wide receiver runs snappy routes thanks to his quick twitch and he has good ball skills at 6-foot, 160. He holds four FBS offers as he heads into his sophomore year, including from Syracuse. 

13. Weiss QB Jaxon Schad, 2028

Although Schad might be a tad undersized (6-0, 180), his talent has been obvious since his freshman year when he took over as Weiss' starting quarterback. Schad's accuracy and football IQ led to a standout sophomore season in which he threw for 3,627 yards, 51 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He holds offers from the likes of Syracuse, SMU and Houston. 

Dylan Jaeger makes a catch for Round Rock. Vista Ridge won a district football game at home over Round Rock 30-29 on September 12th, 2025. (Henry Huey @HenryHueyPhoto)
14. Round Rock TE Dylan Jaeger, 2027

Jaeger might be the best tight end in the Lone Star State. He is slightly undersized for a tight end at 6-foot-3, 210, but is a shifty route runner with sticky hands and a knack for breaking tackles. The TCU commit caught 66 passes for 995 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior and also holds offers from Ivy League schools such as Princeton, Yale and Brown.  

15. Hutto OL Jayden Mack, 2027

What Mack lacks in polish, he makes up for in overwhelming size and strength. At 6-3, 340, he's got FBS tools and can be intimidating once he gets downhill in the run game. He needs to work on his pass protection, but Mack could become something special if he develops. He holds 19 offers, including Texas A&M, Arizona State and Arkansas. 

Honorable mention: Westlake RB Cooper Jones, 2030

While this list is supposed to consist only of rising sophomores and seniors, Jones' talent is impossible to ignore. The freshman is leaping straight to the Chaps' varsity; Alabama, Florida and Ohio State are three of the 46 FBS programs that have offered him. He's 5-foot-11, 185, and has the potential to be the best recruit to emerge from the Austin area since quarterback Cade Klubnik. 

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This article originally published at Texas high school football: Austin area's top 15 college prospects, regardless of class.