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Football season is right around the corner and VAR Austin has started compiling lists on Twitter for players to watch this upcoming year in respective position groups. Several players from Elgin High School, Bastrop High School and Cedar Creek High School have had their names shouted out for the 2023 season watch list.
NATHEN LEWIS
One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the Austin area, Elgin quarterback Nathen Lewis is a star multisport athlete who returns for his senior season at the helm of the Wildcats’ offense under head coach Heath Clawson. As a junior in 2022, Lewis threw for 1,386 yards passing on 89-of-185 completion attempts with 16 touchdowns thrown, 733 yards rushing and seven scores on the ground.
QUINTAELYN JOYNER
Bastrop junior quarterback Quintaelyn Joyner will take the reins of the Bears’ offense after he transferred from Manor High School following his sophomore season. In seven games for the Mustangs, Joyner threw for 1,002 yards through the air with eight touchdowns on 58-of-124 completion attempts. He comes from a great football family as his older brother, Manor class of 2023 graduate Quinten Joyner, signed to play running back at the University of Southern California.
DARREN HARPER
Elgin senior running back Darren Harper is set to be the lead ball carrier for the Wildcats for an offense that is loaded with talent. After last year’s top back Sebastian Jackson graduated, Harper will get many more carries in 2023 after he finished his junior season with 172 rushing yards on 42 carries and two touchdowns.
KEYSHON MOORE
Bastrop junior running back Keyshon Moore got plenty of playing time for the Bears at running back as a sophomore last season and is expected to play a huge role on offense in 2023. Last season, Moore rushed for 293 yards on 75 carries and five touchdowns while also catching 25 passes for 356 yards and three touchdown receptions.
BLAKE COURTNEY
Elgin senior wide receiver Blake Courtney will likely be the favorite target of Lewis on offense for the Wildcats in 2023. Although the Wildcats will not have star wide receiver Justin Strong after he graduated, Courtesy is expected to step up heavily. Courtney finished his 2022 campaign as a junior with 13 catches for 251 yards and four touchdown receptions.
KADE MASTERS
One of two brothers who made the list at wide receiver is Kade Masters of Cedar Creek. Although the Eagles struggled to an 0-10 mark in 2022, Masters put up decent numbers as a junior on offense for Cedar Creek with 21 receptions for 464 yards and two touchdowns.
KOLE MASTERS
Cedar Creek will also have senior wide receiver Kole Masters step up offensively for the 2023 season as the Eagles look to get back on track. Masters is coming off a junior season in which he had 19 catches for 357 yards and three touchdown receptions.
ROGELIO HUITRON
Elgin defensive lineman Rogelio Huitron had a major impact on the Wildcats’ defense in 2022 during his junior season after he transferred over from Mason High School, a perennial football powerhouse in Class 2A, following his sophomore year. Huitron will be a leader on defense for Elgin as a senior in 2023 after he had 33 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one fumble recovered last season as a junior.
TIKI HOLA
As just a freshman on varsity in 2022, Bastrop defensive lineman Tiki Hola burst onto the scene for the Bears. At 6-foot-3 and 275 pounds, Hola is already getting attention from the University of Georgia, the University of Texas, Texas Tech University, Texas State University and the University of North Texas. Hola finished the 2022 season with 24 tackles, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble.
