dallasnews
Each year, The Dallas Morning News ranks the top 100 teams in the Dallas area, regardless of classification.
Here is an early look at the top 10 for 2026, with the caveat that these rankings could change before the start of the season.
1.
DeSoto DeSoto led Dallas-area Class 6A teams in scoring last year, averaging 51.9 points en route to winning the 6A Division II state title.
Expect the offense to be prolific again this season, as four-star running back SaRod Baker returns after rushing for 3,096 yards and 45 touchdowns.
DeSoto has three of the areas top 22 recruits in the Class of 2027 with Baker, who is committed to Texas Tech, along with Texas Tech pledge KAdrian Redmond on the defensive line and Penn State pledge Dhillon McGee at cornerback.
DeSoto is dropping from 6A to 5A Division I in realignment but will be challenged by a nondistrict schedule that includes 17-time state champion St.
Thomas Aquinas from Florida, five-time state champion Allen and three-time state champion Duncanville, teams ranked No.
4, No.
27 and No.
15 in the preseason national rankings from High School Football America.
2.
Duncanville Last years Class 6A Division I state runner-up returns four-star Purdue pledge Trenton Yancey, one of the top wide receivers in Texas.
He showed last year that he can also thrive as a Wildcat quarterback, if needed, as he ran for 10 touchdowns and averaged 10.3 yards per carry in addition to catching 55 passes for 852 yards and eight touchdowns.
Duncanville has three of the top 40 recruits in Texas in the Class of 2028.
That list features five-star offensive lineman Kendrick Harris the nations top-ranked interior offensive lineman along with four-star defensive lineman Janero Welch and four-star athlete/running back Brayden Arnold.
Senior quarterback Maximus The Great Denson, who tied a school record with seven touchdown passes in a win over DeSoto last year, told The Dallas Morning News that he plans to play for Duncanville in 2026 after missing the final eight games last season because of personal issues.
Another possibility for Duncanville at quarterback is Hunter Adams, who played on the freshman team last season.
3.
North Crowley After winning the 6A Division I state title in 2024 and reaching a regional final last year, North Crowley is once again loaded with talent and has five of the top 75 recruits in the Dallas area in the Class of 2027.
That list is headlined by the areas top recruit, five-star cornerback John Meredith III, a Texas pledge who was ruled ineligible for transferring for athletic purposes by a local district executive committee and will now have to appeal that decision to the UILs state executive committee.
North Crowleys elite secondary includes Jerry Outhouse Jr.
(committed to UCLA) and Elijajuan Houston (committed to Arizona State).
North Crowley returns a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Kiante Ingram and North Texas pledge Gyrell Smith.
Four-star junior wide receiver Damarion Mays is back after catching 54 passes for 843 yards and 11 touchdowns.
4.
Southlake Carroll Eight-time state champion Southlake Carroll averaged 51.3 points during a 14-1 season that ended with a loss to DeSoto in the 6A Division II state semifinals.
This years offense will once again be elite, led by two of the states premier offensive linemen Oklahoma pledge Luke Wilson and Missouri pledge Tristan Dare.
Carroll might have the best group of wide receivers in the Dallas area with Illinois pledge Brody Knowles, California pledge Blake Gunter and junior Dez Bryant Jr.
(lists 10 college offers).
Carroll must replace second-team MaxPreps All-American quarterback Angelo Renda and has three-star recruit Hudson Tomcheck and 2025 varsity backup Palmer Pensom battling for the starting job.
Tomcheck is rated the 46th-best quarterback in the nation in the Class of 2028.
5.
Allen There is a lot to be excited about after Allen went 14-1 and reached the 6A Division I state semifinals last year.
Ty Snell is one of the most heavily recruited sophomore quarterbacks in the nation, listing 35 offers, and his list includes national champion Indiana, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas Tech.
Snell will be throwing to Josyah Johnson, who had 63 catches for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as super sophomore Zach Williams, a transfer from Bishop Lynch who lists 33 offers.
Running back Lyndon Spriggs (16 touchdown runs) and defensive back James Roberson (committed to Wisconsin) are other big names who are back.
6.
South Oak Cliff South Oak Cliff just won its third 5A Division II state title in five years and has four of the top 90 recruits in the Dallas area in the Class of 2027.
Four-star Texas pledge Brian Swanson headlines the offensive line, while a talented defense will feature SMU pledge Isaiah Udom and Texas State pledge Jyrion Hampton in the secondary and California pledge Jaderian Jones on the defensive line.
SOC lost 1,000-yard rushers Mikail Trotter and Levon Morton but returns Stephen F.
Austin pledge Jayden Williams at quarterback.
Williams, in his first year as the varsity starter, threw for 2,742 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only two interceptions.
7.
Frisco Lone Star Coming off a state runner-up finish in Class 5A Division I, Lone Star returns one of the states most electric quarterbacks in junior Trey Wright.
Wright, rated the 28th-best player at his position in the nation in the Class of 2028, threw for 4,062 yards and 43 touchdowns and ran for 1,801 yards and 16 touchdowns for a 15-1 team.
Four-star Baylor pledge Karece Hoyt is one of the most versatile players in Texas and had 22 rushing touchdowns, three receiving scores and intercepted five passes while playing safety, running back, wide receiver and quarterback.
An offense that averaged 42.8 points also returns Michigan State pledge Zach Forbish at wide receiver.
8.
Waxahachie An 11-2 regional finalist returns the nations second-ranked safety five-star Texas A&M pledge JayQuan Snell.
He had 60 tackles, five pass breakups and four forced fumbles in 2025.
Junior running back Taylen Strange ran for 1,112 yards and nine touchdowns last year, and South Carolina pledge Jerry Meyer III threw for 2,658 yards and 33 touchdowns and became the all-time leading passer in Waxahachie history.
Edge rusher Sedrick Marsh is committed to Kansas State and running back Jordan Smith is committed to UT-San Antonio.
9.
Denton Ryan If four-star quarterback Colton Nussmeier is able to gain his eligibility and play, Denton Ryan could move up higher in the next set of rankings that come out.
Nussmeier, who is committed to Georgia, was ruled ineligible for transferring for athletic purposes by a local district executive committee and is appealing to the UILs state executive committee.
After a 12-2 season and regional final appearance, Denton Ryans defense will feature Arkansas pledge John Catlin IV at cornerback, Oregon State pledge Juan Garcia-Okoi at cornerback and North Texas pledge Kaden Tolleson in the secondary or at linebacker.
Tolleson is a move-in from Waxahachie and is the son of new Denton Ryan coach Shane Tolleson.
10.
Coppell Four-star junior Carter Zingelmann is rated the ninth-best quarterback in the nation and the 13th-best overall recruit in Texas in the Class of 2028.
He lists 25 college offers and is coming off a sophomore season in which he accounted for 30 touchdowns (16 passing, 14 rushing).
Utah pledge Jaden Bibbs is rated the 56th-best cornerback in the nation in the Class of 2027 and had 43 tackles, two interceptions and a kick return touchdown in his first year at Coppell.
Coppell is 43-6 since Antonio Wiley took over as the head coach in 2022.
Just missed the cut: Denton Guyer, Highland Park, Argyle, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, Mansfield Lake Ridge.