If you name a breakout player from the 2016 season in El Paso, Tyreese Andrus can make a strong case. The explosive senior receiver was a top target for a talented Montwood Rams offense that broke out in the second half of 2016. The 6-1 outside receiver earned a first-team all-district selection at the end of last year, finishing 63 catches for 1,231 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Andrus enters his senior year among the Top 20 returning receiving yard leaders in the state. After helping the Rams win a share of the District 1-6A title a year ago, he’s motivated to help his team stay on top.
Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com
“It was great to win a share of the district title last year,” Andrus said, “This year, we want to match it and take the title for ourselves.”
Andrus and senior quarterback Andrew Fernandez will both be keys in acheiving that goal. The duo share a strong connection with each other and the rest of the receiving core.
“I believe that my wide receivers can go out and make any play they can,” Fernandez said, “It’s helpful to have guys like Ty and Tury (Cepeda), Edward (Garibay) and Danny (Lopez) that are explosive and can make plays.”
“We’ve just all had a great connection ever since middle school,” Andrus said of the relationship between them, “Even since we were freshmen, any time we would make audibles and checks, we can just read each other well without saying anything.”
On the field, the senior’s ability to stretch the field and his speed stand out. But for those that know him best in the program, it’s what he does behind the scenes that speak the most about him.
Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com
“He’s a kid that can do more things on the football field than most kids I’ve ever been around,” said head coach Ariel Famaligi, “We can ask him to do a number of different things and fill different positions. His work ethic is unmatched and he’s humble on top of all that.”
“I always try to get better with my football I.Q.,” Andrus said, “Every year, I try to get smarter on the field. Any player can be good, but if you can’t read a defense or you can’t be smart enough to go home and look at the film and study, then what kind of a player are you?”
That hard work has garnered more attention across the state and at the next level. He currently holds just one Division 1 offer from UTEP, but New Mexico State, New Mexico, SMU and Navy have all shown interest. The spotlight is brighter, but Andrus is embracing it and just wants to help his team win. That journey starts Friday night against Wolfforth Frenship.
“There’s going to be a lot of teams out there that are keyed in on me and Andrew but then it just opens up our other receivers,” Andrus said, “You can’t put two people on one receiver because it creates a mismatch. We’re going to have another solid team with a lot of experience. We need to carry that and get it done.”
“He knows that he’s one of the top receivers in the state and he’s garnered a lot of attention but you wouldn’t know it from talking to him,” Famaligi said of his senior receiver, “He carries himself like a guy who has something to prove and when you match that mentality with that ability, the sky’s the limit for him.”
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