Former Texas High School Football stars will have the most important job interview of their careers this week at the NFL Combine.
In the third of four stories, TexasHSFootball.com takes a look at these prospects.
The two most important questions for NFL teams are: Can we throw the ball and can we get to the guy throwing the ball? The second component will be on display at Lucas Oil Stadium during Day 3 of the NFL Combine as defensive linemen and linebackers take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.
K’Lavon Chaisson, Galena Park North Shore, LSU, LB
At LSU Chaisson will go down as a part of one of the best teams in college football history.
He helped the Tiger defense best Clemson and Oklahoma, two of the nation’s most potent defense, in the CFP. Chaisson finished with six solo tackles, including two tackles for loss against the Sooners and had two more tackles in the championship game against Clemson.
Chaisson finished his final season in Baton Rouge with 60 tackles and 6.5 sacks and earned all-Southeaster Conference first team honors.
The bright lights have never phased Chaisson as he recorded the clinching tackle and forced fumble in overtime of the 2015 Class 6A, Division I State Championship. The victory over Austin Westlake has gone down as one of the most memorable games in Texas High School Football History.
Clay Johnston, Abilene Wylie, Baylor, LB
Johnston helped Baylor navigate though a perfect regular season a pass-happy, offensively potent Big 12. He amassed 179 career tackles in Waco.
Johnson was a two-time all-state linebacker during his prep days at Abilene Wylie.
James Lynch, Round Rock, Baylor, DL
Lynch was the leader of a Bears offense that helped the school make it to the Big 12 Championship Game for the first time in school history. Lynch had 14 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks in his final season at Baylor.
He earned All-Big 12 First-Team honors from the Athlon, Lindy and Phil Steele publications. Lynch made a name for himself further south on I-35 as a Round Rock Dragon where he was a three-time all-district selection.
Justin Madubuike, McKinney North, Texas A&M, DL
Madubuike led the Aggies with 11.5 tackles for loss to go along with 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries. He helped Texas A&M finish 8-5 on the season and beat former conference rival Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl.
He earned both all-state and all-district honors at McKinney North in 2016.
Jordan Elliott, Missouri City Westside, Missouri, DL
Elliott’s play earned him a spot on Pro Football Focus’ all-SEC second team after amassing 44 tackles, including 31 solo, 8.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
He was a U.S. Army All-American at Missouri City Westside an began his collegiate career at Texas before transferring to Mizzou.
Ross Blacklock, Missouri City Elkins, TCU, DT
The Horned Frogs interior defensive lineman finished with 40 tackles, 3.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss this past season.
Before going to Fort Worth, Blacklock was a U.S. Army All-American at Elkins and was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports.
Jordan Brooks, Houston Stratford, Texas Tech, LB
Brooks made the most out of his senior year as a Red Raider finishing with 108 tackles. He earned All-District 19-5A first team honors twice in high school.
Broderick Washington, Longview, Texas Tech, DL
Washington was one of the leaders on Tech’s defense and had 39 tackles, including 5.5 for loss in 2019.
He was rated as a three-star prospect by Scoutsinc, ESPN and 247Sports while playing for the Lobos.
Tipa Galeai, Euless Trinity, Utah State, LB
Galeai had 55 tackles and five sacks as a senior at Utah State and was named to the All-Mountain West second team twice.
He was an all-state linebacker at Trinity and became an Aggie after transferring from TCU.
Alton Robinson, Converse Judson, Syracuse, DL
Robinson had 46 tackles, four sacks and nine tackles for loss for the Orange in 2019 and was an all-Atlantic Coast Conference Honorable Mention.
While at Judson, Robinson earned an Associated Press All-State Honorable Mention in 2015.
LaDarius Hamilton, Corrigan Camden, North Texas, DL
Hamilton led the Mean Green with 8.5 sacks to go along with 39 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and a force fumble.
In high school he helped Corrigan Camden to an 8-5 record and an appearance in the regional quarterfinals.
Trevis Gipson, Cedar Hill, Tulsa, DL
Gipson had a career year as a senior with the Golden Hurricane posting 49 tackles, eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Gipson ranked second in the nation with five forced fumbles in 2018.
He finished his prep career at Cedar Hill after playing two varsity seasons at Richmond Berkner and won a Class 6A state championship with the Longhorns.
