All of Jacket Nation recognizes the hard work and dedication these athletes have put in to compete at the highest level for their school and community. Roughly 1 out of 14 (7%) high school athletes play in college and only 1 out of 54 will play at a Division 1 school (Less than 2%). This Jacket Backer Alumni News & Video page is to recognize our RHS student athletes that have gone on to their college and professional careers. Contact James Schaefer at jschaefer@deliverymaxx.com if you have an athlete you would like to recognize or a story you would like to share. JFND!!!
Rockwall High School's first All-American Collegiate and NFL Player*
Carlton Massey, Rockwall High School’s first All American athlete attended RHS from 1946-1949, playing football his freshman, sophomore and junior years under coach J.A. Wilkerson. Due to an eligibility rule, he was not allowed to play his senior year.
In 1949 he attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, to play football for the Pirates. He made All Conference End and a name for himself, but the program was discontinued in 1950. He was recruited to play under Coach Ed Price at the University of Texas where he played both offense and defense from 1952 to 1954. In 1952 he made All SWC End, and in 1953 made All SWC End and Consensus All American, a testament not only to his leadership abilities but also the natural athletic talent he had as a defender, rusher, and passer. In January of 1954 he played in the East West Shrine game in Los Angeles, California, and was elected Tri-captain of the team winning the outstanding Lineman Award. That same month he played in the Hula Bowl Game once again as a Tri-Captain. In honor of winning All American and other athletic accomplishments in the years after playing for Rockwall High School, Rockwall’s Mayor, B.A. Klutts, designated January 26th as Carlton Massey day. Shortly after, he was drafted in the eighth round of the 1954 draft by the Cleveland Browns and went on to play on the Chicago Tribune College All Star Team as Co-Captain, voted Most Valuable Player. Before entering the pros, he married his college sweetheart, Niny Avant from Dilley, Texas. In the fall of 1954 he reported to coach Paul Brown, where he made the starting lineup on the World Championship Cleveland Browns Team as defensive end. In 1955 The Browns repeated again as World Champions and he played in the All Pro Game. After the 1956 season he was traded to the Green Bay Packers where he played until mid-1958 season when an injury took him out of a game, ultimately leading to his retirement in 1959. |
Carlton moved back to San Antonio, Texas, with his family, which now included Michele, born in 1956; Janelle, born in 1958; and a few years later Ken, born in 1960.
In 1967 he and his family moved to Dilley, where he took an active role in the small, South Texas community and enjoyed hunting, training his bird dogs, and hosting hunting guests and friends. In 1975 he was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor. He passed away in Dilley, Texas in 1989 at the age of 59. * Some content referenced from Massey Feted at Rockwall." Dallas Morning News, 27 Jan. 1954, Final Edition, Part I, p. 10. NewsBank and the work of Fowler, Sheri Stodghill. Legendary Locals of Rockwall: Arcadia Publishing, Google eBook https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467101899 |
Jaxon Smith - Njigba
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Jaxon was drafted for the Seattle Seahawks of playing college football at Ohio State University where he set school records for most catches in a single game with 15 (twice) and most receiving yards in a single season with 1,606 in 2021. Smith-Njigba was selected by the Seahawks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Smith-Njigba grew up in Rockwall, Texas, and attended Rockwall High School. Smith-Njigba led all high school football players in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex with 97 receptions for 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior season. As a senior, he caught 104 passes for 2,094 yards and 35 touchdowns and was named the recipient of both the Landry Award and the Texas Gatorade Football Player of the Year award.[3][4] Smith-Njigba played in the 2019 All-American Bowl and was named a high school All-American by Sports Illustrated and USA Today. Smith-Njigba finished his high school career with 5,346 career receiving yards and 82 touchdowns in 44 games played. A 5-star prospect and the #5 ranked wide receiver in the nation, Smith-Njigba received offers from many top college football programs including Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ole Miss. Ultimately, however, he committed to Ohio State University. Jaxon helped the 2019-2020 Rockwall Yellowjackets team reach the State Semifinals, a feat that had not happened since 1988. He was named a starter at the slot receiver position for the Buckeyes going into his sophomore season. On November 6, 2021, Smith-Njigba recorded 15 receptions (single game school record) for 240 yards (the second most receiving yards in a game in school history at the time) and one touchdown in a 26–17 win against Nebraska. Later that season, he set both an Ohio State single game and FBS Bowl record for receiving yards with 347 in Ohio State's win in the 2022 Rose Bowl. In that game, he also recorded 15 receptions (tying his own record set in the aforementioned Nebraska game) and passed David Boston for the single season receiving yards record at Ohio State with 1,606. Smith-Njigba was limited to just three games in 2022 due to a hamstring injury and his decision to not participate in the College Playoff. In addition, Smith Njigba announced that he would pass on from his senior year of college and enter the 2023 NFL Draft. |
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Rockwall High School Athletic Alumni
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Sam Crawford, Football, University of Tulsa
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Will Reed, Football, Hardin-Simmons University
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Alston Orji, Football, Vanderbilt University
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Caleb Broach, Football, Prairie View A&M University
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Jay Galloway, Football, Towson University
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Blake Rhodes, Football, Southern Nazarene University
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Xavier Castille, Football, Texas Tech University
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Cameron Crayton, Football, Georgetown University
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Ty Thomas, Football, Navarro Junior College
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Austin Morton, Football, Emporia State University
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Chris Warren III, Football, University of Texas
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Tristan Anderson, Football, Arkansas State
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Luke Termin, Football, University of Incarnate Word
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Spencer Edwards, Football, University of North Texas
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Cole Talley, Football, West Point
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Wyatt Miller, Football, William Jewell College
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Jaylen Veasley, Football, University Lafayette-Monroe
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Dustin McNeely, Football, Hendrix College
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Drew Gladney, Football, Doane University
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Ben McCrillis, Football, Southwestern Baptist University
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Andy Tanner, Football, Midwestern State University
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Marshall Hernandez, Football, Howard Payne University
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Marcus Mathis, Football, Midwestern State University
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Scott Loy, Football, Austin College
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Kyle Crawford, Football, Austin College
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Braden Smith, Football, Southern Methodist University
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Adam Dingwell, Football, San Diego State University
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Chance Willard, Football, Southern Nazarene University
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Ty Duncan, Football, Midwestern State University
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Blake Barron, Football, Oklahoma State University
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Jake Viquez, Football, Texas A&M Commerce
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Austin Sargent, Football, Northeastern State University
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Seth Whitson, Football, McMurry University
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Jacob Clark, Football, University of Minnesota
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Anfernee Orji, Football, Vanderbilt University
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Logan Claborn, Football
Southwest Baptist University
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Keyton Lueb, Football,
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
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Elijah Coleman, Football, Howard University
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Riley Pevler, Football, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
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Landon Gibson, Football, Southwestern Baptist University
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Cole McMahan, Football, Southern Nazarene University
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Joseph Schaefer, Football, Wesleyan University
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Jaxon Smith-Njiga, Football, Ohio State University
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Tyler Ashworth, Football, Harding University
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Jake Edwards, Football, Wesleyan University
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Jackson Gillock, Football, Hillsdale College
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Trevor Munson, Football, University Nebraska at Kearney
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Vincent Meeks, Football, Texas Tech University
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Brennan Ray, Football
West Texas A&M University
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Braedyn Locke, Football
Mississippi State
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Audrey Cantrell, Volleyball, Georgia State University
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Ashlyn Broussard, Volleyball, Lubbock Christian University
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Bayleigh Scott, Volleyball, University of Mississippi
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Maggie Brindock, Volleyball, University of Notre Dame
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Lindsey Wheeler, Volleyball, Texas A&M Commerce
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Rebecca Floyd, Volleyball, University of Texas in Tyler
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Allie Cecil, Volleyball, Southern Arkansas University
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Loren Kelley, Volleyball, St. Edwards University
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Madison James, Volleyball, United States Coast Guard Academy
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Bailey Smith, Beach Volleyball, University Louisiana Monroe
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Linda Nwabuko, Volleyball, Bethune University
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Avery McCrillis, Volleyball, University of North Texas
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Brette Thornton, Volleyball, Trinity University
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Kylie Nott, Volleyball,
Fairleigh Dickinson University
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Feyi Ogunlari, Volleyball
University of Penn
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McKenzie Johnson, Volleyball
Louisiana Tech
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Deryan Simpson, Volleyball
Southern Baptist University
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Josie Miller, Beach Volleyball
Texas Christian University
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Roger Kieschnick, San Francisco Giants
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Josh Frasier, Baseball, Texas Rangers
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Spencer Edwards, Baseball, Princeton Rays
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Steve Bean, Baseball, Tri-City Dust Devils
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Wesley Cox, Baseball, Helena Brewers
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Kendall Coleman, Baseball, Brooklyn Cyclones
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Drew Bishop, Baseball, University of Texas
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Will Frizzell, Baseball, Texas A&M
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Justin Roland, Baseball, Texas Christian University
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Trey Ochoa, Baseball, Texas Tech University
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Cason Adams, Baseball, University of Texas at Tyler
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Brad Barnett, Baseball, University of Maryland
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Dustin Angiel, Baseball, Angelo State University
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Chris Glover, Baseball, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
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Derek Verhagen, Baseball, Texas Christian University
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Travis Ballew, Baseball, Texas State University
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Skyler Bean, Baseball, Oklahoma City University
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Zach Butler, Baseball, Texas Tech University
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Danny Garrett, Baseball, North Carolina A&T
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Preston Clark, Baseball, University of Texas
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Diego Muniz, Baseball, Oklahoma University
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Garrett Moon, Baseball, UT San Antonio
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Carter Lilly, Baseball, Texas A&M Corpus Christi
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Andrew Hutchings, Baseball, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
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Bennett Laurence, Baseball, Oklahoma University
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Jonny Mireles, Baseball, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
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Tyler Reibock, Baseball, Ouachita Baptist University
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Brian Durst, Baseball, McMurry University
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Zane Sloan, Baseball, Paris Community College
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Ricky Stover, Baseball, University of Texas at Arlington
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Justin Childers, Baseball, Howard College
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AJ Merkel, Baseball, Oklahoma Baptist University
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Tyler Stone, Baseball, Eastfield College
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Eric Wimpee, Baseball, Paris Junior College
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Brooks Helmer, Baseball, Baylor University
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Austin Brooks, Baseball, Western Texas College
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Zach Henry, Baseball, University of Texas Arlington
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Alyssa Henry, Softball, University of Texas at Tyler
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Peyton Mills, Softball, Harding University
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Hayley Baker, Softball, Belmont University
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Bailey Wallace, Softball, Angelo State University
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Shelbi Court, Softball, Tyler Junior College
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Audrey Farfan, Softball, Southern Arkansas University
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Makesa Richey, Softball, University of Texas Dallas
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Carlie Jenkins, Softball, Middle Tennessee University
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Tye Coats, Softball, Texas Tech University
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Lauren Bergstrom, Softball, University of North Texas
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Haley Lemons, Softball, Texas State University
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Ashton Atwell, Softball, Butler Community College
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Sam Bean, Softball,
University of Alabama Birmingham
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Paige Harris, Softball, Abilene Christian University
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Elizabeth Schaefer, Softball
Abilene Christian University
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Ashely Minor, Softball Iowa State University
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Carter Smith, Softball Waxahachie Community College
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Alyssa Lang, Basketball, Rice University
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Haley Day, Basketball, Southern Methodist University
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Alena Johnston, Basketball, Temple College
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Peyton Adamson, Basketball, Tarleton State University
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Sara Williamson, Basketball, Abilene Christian University
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Sunny Satery, Basketball, Midwestern State University
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Morghen Day, Basketball, Sam Houston State University
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Shelby Adamson, Basketball, Tarleton State University
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Brittany Coleman, Basketball, Tarleton State University
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Mya Culiver, Basketball, St. Mary's University
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Genevieve Campbell, Basketball, Texas A&M Commerce
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Kiara Slaton, Basketball, Tulane University
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Sarah Stanley, Baskeball, University of Texas at Tyler
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Hannah Clark, Baskeball, Texas A&M Commerce
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Faith Mason-Vestal, Basketball, Newman University
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Alexis Purcell, Basketball
East Texas Baptist University
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Connor Cowan, Basketball, Central Christian College
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Austin Grandstaff, Basketball, DePaul University
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Nathan Doudney, Basketball, Gonzaga University
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Samuell Williamson, Basketball, University of Louisville
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Niki McKnight, Soccer, Oklahoma State University
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Nicole Pugsley, Soccer, University of Texas El Paso
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Savanah Warnick, Soccer, Texas State University
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Zoe Elledge, Soccer, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
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Rylie Robertson, Soccer, Texas A&M University Commerce
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Katelynn Luera, Soccer, Tyler Junior College
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Megan Coppedge, Soccer, Texas Women's University
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Madi Arenas, Soccer, Texas A&M University Texarkana
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Miranda Larkin, Soccer, Kansas State University
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Bailey Wooten, Soccer, University of Texas at Tyler
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Katie Givens, Soccer. Texas A&M University Commerce
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Shelbi Walker, Soccer, Georgia Southwestern State University
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Micah Larkin, Soccer, United States Air Force Academy
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Ariel Hopkins, Soccer, Colorado State University
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Lauren Weller, Soccer, University of North Texas
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Bailey Lowery, Soccer, Mary Hardin-Baylor University
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Becca Gault, Soccer, Hardin Simmons University
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Kayla Campbell, Soccer, University of North Carolina Greenville
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Kendyl Pirkey, Soccer, Texas Tech University
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Keely Hampton, Soccer, Oklahoma Baptist University
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Macey Shipman, Soccer, Texas Southern University
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Sabrina Calderon, Soccer, University of Houston - Victoria
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Jessie Givens, Soccer, University of Arkansas
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Dani Greenlee, Soccer, Oklahoma State Univesity
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Reagan Swindall, Soccer,
University of Arkansas
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Alana Wickham, Soccer, Trinity University
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Micah Day, Soccer, Texas Wesleyan University
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Patrick Almond, Soccer, Hardin-Simmons University
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Zach Galloway, Soccer, University of Southern Indiana
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Jordan Story, Soccer, John Brown University
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Isaac Mier, Soccer, Bethany College
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Brett Rose, Soccer, East Texas Baptist University
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Colin Burgiel, Soccer, West Texas A&M
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Carlos Labrada, Soccer, US Virgin Islands National Team
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Kaylee Hinton, Track, Texas Tech University
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Sarah Graves, Track, Oklahoma University
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Maiya Collins, Track, Texas A&M Commerce
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Rose Njoku, Combined Track Events, Texas Tech University
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Thorne Pettigrew, Track, Tarleton State University
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Shelby Kennard, Track & Field, University of Kentucky
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Kennedy Connor, Track, Hardin-Simmons University
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Caroline Cotsakis, Track, Texas A&M Commerce
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Crysta Hollins, Track, University Incarnate Word
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Alicia Janke, Track, RICE University
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Allison Mendez, Track, University of Texas
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Katie Kidd, Track, University of Louisiana Lafayette
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Ilyssa Pettigrew, Track, Southern Methodist University
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Clarrisa Andrews, Track, Oklahoma State University
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Jennie Sewell, Track, Sam Houston State University
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Raven Turner, Track, Prairie View A&M
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Chika Iwuamadi, Track, Southern Methodist University
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Calista Ukeh, Track, RICE University
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Courtnay Reynolds, Track, Southern Arkansas University
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Ariel Coleman, Track, University of Arizona
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Michelle Bostic, Track, United States Naval Academy
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Heather Wood, Track, University of Georgia
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Destiny Jernigan, Track, Prairie View A&M
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Miracle Grant, Track, Missouri Southern State University
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Durell Coleman, Track, Stanford University
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Will Beasley, Track, RICE University
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Garrett Yuen, Track, University of Texas at Arlington
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Gaines Kinsey, Track, Texas A&M University
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Cameron Defebaugh, Track & Field, Emporia State University
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Jack Hammond, Track, McMurry University
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Jonah Allen, Track, Texas A&M Commerce
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Kaitlyn Stark, Cross County, St. Edward's University
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Sarah Rippy, Cross Country, Dallas Baptist University
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Kate Avery, Cross Country, Baylor University
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Justin Tokuz, Cross Country, University of Texas at Tyler
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Jacob Phillips, Cross Country, Dallas Baptist University
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Austin Shumake, Cross Country, Dallas Baptist University
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Sam Grinnan, Cross Country, Southern Arkansas University
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McKenzie Doss, Golf Jacksonville College
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Katie Reeves, Female Golf, Midwestern State University
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Kaitlyn Bingham, Golf, Texas A&M Commerce
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Sydney Garber, Female Golf, University of Texas Arlington
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Edward Loar III, Golf Oklahoma State University, PGA
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Cody Blankenship, Golf, Louisiana Tech University
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Adam House, Golf UT San Antonio
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Trey Watkins, Golf, Notre Dame de Namur in Belmont
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Amanda Armstrong, Swimming, Texas A&M University
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Kaitlyn Hillgartner, (Breast/Free/IM) Swimmer, Colorado School of Mines
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Raena Eldridge, Fly/IM/Free/Back, Texas A&M University
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Haylie Harbin, Swimmer, (Distance Free) Swimmer USAF Academy
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Noah Day, Swimming, Ouachita Baptist University
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Emma Hultquist, Free, Swimmer, Arkansas of Arkansas
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Reese Mcllroy, Swimmer, Oklahoma Christian University
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Janelle Hummingbird, Swimming, University of Arkansas
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Margot Little, Swimming, University of Houston
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Rylie Cox, Tennis, Coastal Carolina University
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Logan Metcalf-Kelly, Tennis, Ursinus College
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Andrew Hyde, Wrestling, Lyon College
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Abednigo Sagomba, Wrestling, Wayland Baptist University
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Steven Flowers, Wrestling, Wayland Baptist University
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Mia Arceneaux, Wrestling, Wayland Baptist University
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Kenzie Hedges, Gymnastics, University of Kentucky
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Jennifer Bolli, Gymnastics, Texas Womens University
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Jordan Hummingbird, Water Polo, Azusa Pacific University
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Summer Scown, Water Polo, St. Francis Brooklyn College
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Nathan Butler, Water Polo, Austin College
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Colton Hargrove, #12 Hockey, Western Michigan University
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Haley Hicks, Rowing, Indiana
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