Every all-South Texas high school football selection returning in 2024

From Billy White III to Broderick Taylor, here's every all-region selection returning this fall

Veterans Memorial quarterback Billy White III passes during the game at Buccaneer Stadium on Oct. 12, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. / Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

After the final Texas high school state football champion was crowned in AT&T Stadium last December, SBLive scoured the state for the most impactful players in the Lone Star State.

We released all-region teams for each of the state's six regions: North Texas,Central Texas,Southeast Texas, East Texas, West Texas, and, of course, South Texas.

Then, we identified the best of the best from that bunch — the players whose impact throughout the season outweighed the rest — and unveiled theSBLive All-Texas High School Football Team for 2023, as compiled by South Texas correspondent Ivan Palacios.

So before SBLive's 2024 Preseason All-State Team is unveiled as a part of SBLive's comprehensive coverage in the lead up to the fall season, we're taking a look at the top returners in South Texas entering the 2024 season.

Here is every SBLive all-South Texas honoree returning in Texas this fall:

Award winners

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Billy White III, Corpus Christi Veterans, jr., quarterback

White stepped into big shoes this season, taking over for a quarterback who had led the Eagles to back-to-back regional title games. The sophomore signal caller didn’t lead the Eagles to a third straight fourth round appearance but did make a name for himself. White finished the season with over 3,000 passing yards and 33 touchdowns in 12 games played, while throwing just five interceptions. White’s play helped the Eagles clinch a seventh straight playoff berth, while also solidifying the quarterback position for the foreseeable future.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

 Colt Lozano, Laredo United, receiver

Laredo United returned an established, productive receiving corps last year. That didn’t stop Lozano from carving out a role in the Longhorns’ offense. The 5-foot-9 freshman finished with 441 receiving yards and seven TDs, highlighted by an eight-catch, 125-yard, three TD District 30-6A contest against Eagle Pass.

First team selections

Broderick Taylor, Corpus Christi Miller, running back

CC Miller posted 536.6 yards of offense and 57.6 points per game and Taylor helped lead the charge. The 5-foot-9 back finished his junior season with 2,333 rushing yards and 29 TDs with another 22 catches for 394 receiving yards and four more scores.

Devin Cage, Corpus Christi Miller, offensive line

As a junior, the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Cage was the leader of a strong offensive line. Earned District 14-5A DI Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year.

Steven Richardson, Corpus Christi Miller, defensive line

As a junior, the District 14-5A DI Co-Defensive Linemen of the Year stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 135 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in 14 game played.

Lamarcus Cullum, Corpus Christi Miller, linebacker

After a breakout sophomore season, Cullum upped his production as a junior (9.3 tackles per game to 10.4). The outside linebacker turned in career highs in tackles (146), tackles for loss (23) and sacks (9.5) and he was named co-District 14-5A DI’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Jude Hernandez, Calallen, linebacker

The inside linebacker led the team in tackles as a junior, finishing with 106 total in 10 games with 10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.

Corey Holmes, Corpus Christi Miller, athlete

Sometimes he lined up in the backfield. Other times out wide. Wherever he was, he forced defenses to know. Over 14 games, that looked like 1,739 all-purpose yards (684 rushing, 925 receiving, 130 return) and 29 total touchdowns.

Clay Addison, Flour Bluff, punter 

As a junior, Addison downed 17 of his punts inside the 20 and averaged 39.6 yards per punt this season with a long of 61 yards.

Second team selections

Trevor Long, Corpus Christi Miller, quarterback

In 14 games, Long accrued 3,767 passing yards on a 65.7 percent completion rate with 57 touchdowns opposite four interceptions.

Alvin Trevillion, Brownsville Veterans, fullback

In 15 games, Trevillion went for 1,497 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Xavier Rodriguez, Donna High, wide receiver 

The wideout reeled in 1,143 receiving yards (15.7 yards per carry), 106 rushing yards and eight total TDs in 11 games.

Alek Leven, Laredo United, wide receiver

In 13 games, he logged 1,082 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

Ryan Vallejo, PSJA High, wide receiver

Over 11 games, Vallejo reeled in 65 catches for 1,204 receiving yards (18 yards per catch) and 14 touchdowns.

Justin Flores, Beeville Jones, offensive line

He was named District 15-4A DI Offensive Lineman of the Year. Played 12 total games.

Brady Buchanan, Calallen, offensive line

Named District 16-4A DI Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year after a standout 11 games.

Devon Robinson, San Benito, defensive end

Recorded 85 total tackles (20 for loss), 10.5 sacks, two blocked punts, a forced fumble and pass deflection.

Jacob Ortiz, Harlingen High, defensive tackle

Finished a 12-game season with 62 total tackles (20 for loss), two sacks, 12 QB hurries, two forced fumbles and a pass deflection.

Sterling Tomlin, Harlingen High, linebacker

Recorded 139 tackles (11 for loss), 10 quarterback hurries, two pass deflections, an interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 games.

Delson Cavaness, Corpus Christi Miller, linebacker

Recorded 166 tackles (14 for loss), 4.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and an interception in 14 games.

Andrew Rivera, Sharyland Pioneer, defensive back 

Logged 76 tackles, six interceptions, three tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and forced fumble in nine games.

Keyan Lopez, Rio Hondo, athlete

In 11 games, he had 829 receiving yards (17.6 yards per catch), 13 touchdown catches, 151 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Claudio Torres, Brownsville St. Joseph, athlete

How's this for a multi-faceted impact? Torres caught 61 passes for nearly 800 yards receiving, had 352 yards rushing on more than nine yards per carry, threw two touchdown passes on four pass attempts and finished with 58 tackles (seven for loss), an interception and a forced fumble in 10 games.

Honorable mention

Derek Garcia, Sinton, running back

Christopher Gonzalez, Port Isabel, defensive end

Marcus Lopez, Falfurrias, linebacker

Dive into the rest of SBLive's 2023 All-South Texas Football Teams and Awards here.

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Stay with SBLive's preseason coverage in the lead up to the 2024 Texas high school football season.

We're taking a position-by-position look at the top players returning in the Lone Star State this fall, starting with 50 quarterbacks, 70 running backs, 40 wide receivers and 25 tight ends.

Who are the most underrated teams in the Lone Star State entering the season? We're taking a look by region at the programs poised to out-perform expectations, starting with North Texas, Southeast Texas and Central Texas.

We also examined offseason player movement and the 12 transfers that will have the biggest impact in the fall.

The Lone Star State is home to many of the country's top prospects. We examined the top 20 committed recruits in the state and where they're headed. And we narrowed down the 25 best uncommitted players in the state — and where they're at in their respective recruitments.

-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx