6A

C.E. King Panthers 2026 Season Preview

by
Adam Ogburn
July 25

C.E. King Panthers

Head Coach: Cory Laxen (2nd season; 13-3 record)

Last Season: 13-3; 6-1 in district (Lost to DeSoto in 6A Division II State Title Game)

Returning Lettermen: 38 (6 returning starters on offense; 8 on defense)

C.E. King Key Players and Storylines

Debut seasons can’t really go any better than the one C.E. King head coach Cory Laxen had in 2025. He took a Panthers program that missed the playoffs in 2024 all the way to their first-ever state title game.

This year, the Panthers are “all in” on running it back. They’ll feel like they have a realistic shot too with 14 returning starters.

Junior Dillon Mitchell (867 receiving yards and nine touchdowns) is a true gamebreaker at receiver, and he’s got another playmaker alongside him in senior receiver Braylon Lane (282 receiving yards and four touchdowns). The backfield also has a dynamic duo with powerful running back Antwon Sanders (769 rushing yards and ten touchdowns) and Tristian Willis (775 rushing yards and nine touchdowns), who moved in from Shadow Creek. Both are three-star prospects.

🚨 THE FASTEST MAN IN TEXAS 🚨🔥

Dillon Mitchell of CE King just DOMINATED the UIL 6A State 100M with a blazing 9.92 ⚡😳

🥇 Dillon Mitchell (CE King) — 9.92
🥈 Charvis Tubbs (Humble) — 10.03
🥉 Chinwoke Onwuchekwa (Cy Springs) — 10.12

Texas sprinting is DIFFERENT 🤯🔥… pic.twitter.com/SlfIz8ZCcF

— MBE Sport HQ (@MBESportHQ) May 16, 2026

6’3”, 265-pound offensive lineman George Perez is the standout in the trenches after earning first team all-district honors last year.

Defensively, the Panthers have three of their top four tackles back from last year in linebacker Damian Broussard (112 tackles, 11 TFLs), safety Kei’Dryn Edmond (65 tackles, 10 TFLs), and rover Enoch Bell (88 tackles, three TFLs). In front of them, 6’2”, 290-pound defensive tackle Tre Jacquet should keep offensive linemen busy.

With 38 returning lettermen, the majority of these Panthers know what it’s like to play under the brightest lights. They’ll hope last year’s experience sets them up for another deep playoff run this fall.