Ropes, West Rusk and Bay City Headline DCTF's Top Small-School Secondaries

Dave Campbell's Texas Football published Carter Yates' ranking of the top five secondaries in Class 4A, 3A and 2A, crediting three All-State caliber safeties at Ropes, West Rusk defensive back Kam Brown and a loaded Bay City group as the headliners.

In Class 4A, Seminole is ranked fifth. Head coach Greg Poynor's program is 40-10 since the start of the 2022 season, and the secondary returns senior free safety Tyler Friessen, a First Team All-District pick who posted 56 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception as a junior. Junior safety Jaden Corrales led the Indians with two interceptions and added 48 tackles in a Second Team All-District season, and Braylon Mata also earned Second Team All-District honors.

Corpus Christi Calallen is fourth in 4A after back-to-back 10-3 seasons under head coach Charlie Reeve. Strong safety Ryder Reeve, the District Co-Defensive Player of the Year, is committed to Army as a linebacker. Chris Durham, the District Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year at safety, moves to cornerback this fall, and free safety Jake Ross returns after 49 tackles and an interception.

La Marque is third in 4A. Wade Oliphant's Cougars went 10-3 last season, their deepest playoff run since 2014, and return senior safety Karter Dozier, who recorded 100 tackles in a Second Team All-District season. Junior cornerback Jah'Quan McAfee, a Second Team All-District pick with two interceptions, won gold in the 100 and 200 meters this spring.

Rankings like these are DCTF preseason evaluations, not district or UIL honors. All-district selections are voted on by district coaches after the regular season.