With a shaky start to the season, Green Bay Packers fans are searching for someone to blame. Right now, all fingers point to quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers lost 30-16 last week to a Dallas team lead by rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. With the Packers season in limbo, Rodgers will suit up tonight to take on the Chicago Bears. Joining him will be seven former Texas high school football players. If anyone can help Rodgers solidify the faulty foundation of Green Bay, I like to think they once made a similar impact on a high school football field somewhere in Texas.
Knile Davis
Davis attended Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City. He finished his high school career as a four-star recruit and was the third ranked running back in the state even after missing most of his senior year due to injury. Davis joined the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2009 where he rushed 349 times for 1,822 yard and 19 touchdowns. He was named first team All-SEC. After three seasons with the Razorbacks, Davis was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 draft. In his four seasons with Kansas City, he accumulated 775 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season. The 2013 and 2015 seasons, he racked up 109 yards on 28 carries during postseason play.
Tonight’s matchup will be Davis’ first game with Packers after being traded for a seventh round draft pick in 2018. Davis could very well accumulate some yards for the Packers tonight as injuries pose a threat to the depth at running back for Green Bay.
Aaron Ripkowski
“Rip” hails from Dayton High School. He served as the team’s right guard his junior year when the team played for the state finals and transitioned to linebacker his senior year. Known for his toughness, Ripkowski walked on to the University of Oklahoma’s team in 2011 and was eventually offered a scholarship to play fullback for the Sooners. He was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2015 draft. This season, Ripkowski moved into the starting role when fullback John Kuhn was not re-signed.
Ty Montgomery
Ty attended Dallas’ St. Mark’s School. He was an incredibly talented high school athlete participating in multiple sports and multiple positions on the football team including running back, wide receiver, and quarterback. His senior year, he had 93 carries for 823 rushing yards and 17 receptions for 10 touchdowns. He finished his high school career scoring 36 total touchdowns for the team. After graduating, Montgomery attended Stanford University where he was named All-American for his performance as a return specialist. While at Stanford, he racked up 2,125 yards and 15 touchdowns. Green Bay selected Montgomery in the third round of the 2015 draft. He scored two touchdowns last season before being placed on the injured reserve list. With 98 yards recorded, he is still looking for his first touchdown this season.
Lane Taylor
Taylor was a member of the Arlington Martin Warrior’s squad. As a Warrior, he was named honorable mention All-State, Texas Football Magazine top 300, and was the 88th best guard in the country. Taylor went on to attend Oklahoma State where he was named first team All-Big 12. He did not allow a single sack during his senior year with the Cowboys. Taylor joined Green Bay in 2013 and after a successful few seasons signed another two-year $4.15 million dollar deal earlier this year.
Demetri Goodson
Goodson comes from Klein Collins High School in Spring. He earned second-team All-District as a defensive back. After high school, Goodson played basketball for Gonzaga for three years, but transferred to Baylor in 2011. After joining the football team, he overcame early injuries and went on to finish his career earning the accolade of All-Big 12 cornerback. He was with Baylor for three consecutive bowl games including their first Big 12 championship. Goodson was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. This season, he has recorded two tackles.
Chris Banjo
Banjo played for Kempner High School in Sugar Land where he was the 95th ranked safety in the nation. He went on to play for SMU. While with the Mustangs, he made 174 tackles, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Banjo signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013, but was quickly released and then signed with the Packers that same year. Since then, he has been cut and then rejoined the team signing his most recent contract in March of this year. He has two tackles going into tonight’s matchup.
Mason Crosby
The prolific kicker attended Georgetown High School. As a high school athlete, he was named first-team All-District as placekicker, punter, and free safety as well as All-Central Texas kicker. He was considered the number three kicker in the nation. He played for the University of Colorado where he was named two-time Walter Camp All-American, Lou Groza Award runner-up, and All-Big 12. After graduating in 2006, Crosby was drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2007 draft. After kicking a 52-yard field goal in his first preseason game, he earned the role of starting kicker. He is currently the all-time leading scorer in Packers’ history. This season, he is 100% on field goals and PATs.
Can the Texas high school alumni help the Pack bounce back? Or will the Chicago Bears extend the questions that surround the uncertainty of Green Bay’s season?
