Coaches say it takes all three phases to win a football game, so all three phases are getting love in our look at which former Lone Star standouts shined in week eight of college football.
From career highs to record book worthy stat lines, here are ten of the best performances from former Texas high school football players.
Texas State QB Brad Jackson (Reagan)
Texas State may have come up short to Marshall 40-37 in double overtime on Saturday, but quarterback Brad Jackson did everything and then some to try and pull out the victory.
He had a near video game stat line. Not only did he have a mind-boggling 444 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air, he also added another 48 yards and a score on the ground.
According to Texas State’s athletic communications department, those 444 passing yards were the second most in a game in school history.
However, with the loss, the Bobcats fall to 3-4 on the year and 0-3 in the Sun Belt. They’ll be off this upcoming weekend before hosting James Madison next Tuesday.
TCU RB Kevorian Barnes (San Augustine)
In high school, Kevorian Barnes played in 2A Division I in Texas at San Augustine. Five years later, he was one of the standouts in TCU’s 42-36 rivalry victory over Baylor on Saturday.
Barnes transferred in from UTSA over the offseason, and had quite the start with 113 rushing yards in his Horned Frog debut against North Carolina.
Saturday, he was TCU’s bell cow. He carried the ball for 25 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns. His 14-yard touchdown run with six minutes left in the fourth quarter ended up being the difference in the game.
TCU improved to 5-2 on the season and 2-2 in Big 12 play with the win. The Horned Frogs will rack up the miles this next weekend when they head to face West Virginia on Saturday.
Oklahoma RB Tory Blaylock (Atascocita)
He may be a true freshman, but Tory Blaylock appears to be taking over the Oklahoma backfield. In the Sooners’ 26-7 win over South Carolina, the Atascocita grad led all OU rushers with 19 carries for 101 yards. He also opened the scoring in the game with an 18-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
50 rushing yards on the first drive 📈@tory_blaylock6 | 📺 SECN pic.twitter.com/Dgmk4OzrFB
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 18, 2025
It was the second time that Blaylock has hit the century mark in 2025, and it was both a career high in rushing attempts and yards. For his efforts, he was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week on Monday.
He and the Oklahoma ground game will look to keep rolling in front of the home crowd on Saturday as they host Ole Miss in a top 15 matchup.
Grambling State RB Tre Bradford (Lancaster)
Tre Bradford has had quite the college career. He started at LSU, transferred to Oklahoma, returned to LSU, transferred to North Texas where he never played a game, and then finally ended up at Grambling State in 2024.
Despite all of the changes of scenery, one thing never changed: the talent he displayed as a Lancaster Tiger and that caught the eye of Power Four programs. On Saturday, Bradford toted the rock 25 times for 123 yards and two touchdowns in Grambling State’s 20-16 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Bradford’s second touchdown was the game-winner, coming on a three-yard scamper with just 1:42 left.
TOUCHDOWN TIGERS!!!
Bradford puts the Tigers ahead#GramFam | #ThisIsTheG🐯 pic.twitter.com/Q0uDLRN21P
— Grambling State Football 🐯 (@GSUFootball01) October 19, 2025
Those 123 rushing yards were a collegiate career high for Bradford. It’s the second-straight week he’s rushed for at least 120 yards.
The Tigers are now 4-3 on the year and 1-2 in the SWAC. They have a huge home game this upcoming weekend when they face Jackson State, who is a perfect 3-0 in SWAC play.
Texas A&M WR Ashton Bethel-Roman (Ridge Point)
Coming into Saturday, redshirt freshman Ashton Bethel-Roman had just 86 receiving yards on the season.
Leaving Saturday, Texas A&M has another potential weapon in the passing game. Bethel-Roman led all Aggie receivers with 83 receiving yards in Texas A&M’s 45-42 win over Arkansas. He had a 24-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and also had a huge 37-yard grab down the sideline in the fourth quarter.
What a throw from Marcel Reed and what a catch from Ashton Bethel-Roman. pic.twitter.com/3zo5pdRgE9
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) October 19, 2025
“It feels great. Everyone in that locker room can do anything. That’s what we came here to do is play football at a high level,” Bethel-Roman said of his breakout game. At first it can get a little frustrating [not getting the ball], but it’s part of the game. It’s a team sport. When our numbers called, we play up to our standard, and that’s all it was.”
Texas A&M is 7-0 for the first time since 1994. The Aggies will put that perfect record on the line this Saturday when they play at LSU.
SMU WR Jordan Hudson (Garland)
SMU got some revenge against Clemson from its 2024 ACC Championship defeat on Saturday. The Mustangs raced past the Tigers 35-24. South Oak Cliff grad Kyron Jennings threw for 290 yards, and former Garland Owl Jordan Hudson was definitely his favorite target.
Hudson caught 7 passes for 131 yards, including a 70-yard bomb for a touchdown in the first quarter.
Can’t catch 2 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/WKyQ1v7QfJ
— SMU Football (@SMUFB) October 18, 2025
It was a single-game career high for Hudson in receiving yards, and the first time he had gone over 100 yards as a Mustang.
SMU is still a perfect 3-0 in the ACC. The Mustangs will look to stay in the hunt for the ACC title this Saturday when they head east to square off with Wake Forest.
East Texas A&M WR Paul Odidi (Mansfield Timberview)
Pflugerville running back EJ Oakmon was the hero for East Texas A&M on Saturday as he rushed for a 25-yard touchdown with under 30 seconds to go in the Lions 52-45 win over Incarnate Word.
However, the Lions likely don’t win that game without Paul Odidi. The former Timberview Wolf caught nine passes for 112 yards and two scores. ‘
It was the most receiving yards Odidi has had in a game since he had 118 against Howard Payne while playing for Nelson University back in 2023.
LIONS STRIKE FAST
Ron Peace to Paul Odidi evens things back up for @Lions_FB in San Antonio! pic.twitter.com/ApGPvtfcy3
— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) October 18, 2025
Saturday was the first time East Texas A&M has ever beaten Incarnate Word. The Lions are now 2-1 in Southland play. They will return home on Saturday to face Stephen F. Austin at 6:00.
North Texas WR Wyatt Young (Katy Tompkins)
Wyatt Young got his first start of the season on Saturday for North Texas, according to their athletic communications department. Safe to say, that was a good call. Young caught six passes for 102 yards and three touchdowns as North Texas soared past UTSA 55-17. His biggest play came on a 42-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter.
He became the first Mean Green receiver to have three touchdown catches in a game since September 2024. It was also the first time he’s eclipsed the century mark in a contest in his career.
North Texas is now 6-1 on the season. Young and the Mean Green offense will look to stay hot when they play at Charlotte on Saturday.
Texas LB Anthony Hill (Denton Ryan)
Texas won the ugliest game imaginable on Saturday, knocking off Kentucky 16-13 in overtime. Their offense had just 179 total yards, their fewest in a game in ten years.
The defense was a different story, delivering two crucial red zone fourth down stops, including one in overtime.
Denton Ryan grad Anthony Hill spearheaded that side of the ball. He had 12 total tackles and an interception in the second quarter.
Dante Dowdell, meet Anthony Hill Jr. pic.twitter.com/tmqzUREvQ0
— Landon Holifield ✭ (@TheLandoShow) October 18, 2025
“We take the defensive side of the ball very seriously,” Hill said after the win. “We have a lot of leaders, so of course we want to help out the offense. We’re young on that side, and we’ve got a lot of older guys on defense, so we want to help them out and keep pushing them because we know their time is coming.”
That defense certainty is leading the way. Texas has the 12th best defense in the country in yards per game allowed. That side of the ball will be in for another road test this upcoming Saturday when they head to cowbell country to face Mississippi State.
Lamar K Ben Woodard (Plano East)
Ben Woodard, welcome to the Lamar record books! With a minute to go in Lamar’s game against UT Rio Grande Valley, Woodard nailed a 57-yard field goal to give the Cardinals a 23-21 lead they would never relinquish.
Q4| FIELD GOAL
Ben Woodard does it again ! He strikes one from 57 yards.
It’s 23-21 Cards, one minute remaining.#ALLIN | #PeckEmCards pic.twitter.com/H7CKcerRWL
— Lamar University Football (@LamarFootball) October 18, 2025
That 57-yarder tied the program record. It was his third field goal of the contest too. He also hit from 53 yards and 30 yards.
Woodard is now 9-10 on field goals the season. Lamar has been just as good. The Cardinals are 6-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the Southland. Next up, they’ll head on over to Louisiana to face Northwestern State this Saturday.
