The 2024 high school football season is one week away from kickoff, and the RGVSports.com countdown of the top 30 returning RGV football players for the 2024 season continues with players No. 11-15.
Today’s list includes two powerful running backs from District 15-5A DII set to run wild, a PSJA High pass-catcher in a prolific offense, and defenders from Port Isabel and Sharyland Pioneer who are forces for their respective teams.
Be sure to check back Saturday and Aug. 28 as the countdown continues with the top 10 players and for the reveal of the top five players in the 2024 RGVSports.com Football Tab on Aug. 28.
Players No. 16-20 can be found here.
Players No. 21-25 can be found here.
Players No. 26-30 can be found here.
No. 11: RB Dylan Tijerina, jr., Sharyland Pioneer
2023 Stats: 175 car, 1,388 yds, 22 TDs, five rec, 77 yds
Notes: The Monitor’s 2023 All-Area newcomer of the year winner, Tijerina, smashed his way onto the scene with an impressive sophomore season. Pioneer’s offense has leaned on its passing attack in the past with dual-threat quarterbacks and receivers putting up impressive numbers, but Tijerina added an element of toughness to that equation with a team-high 1,388 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. The Diamondbacks will depend on Tijerina to get their offense going, and he’s shown he’s more than capable of keeping the chains moving.
No. 12: WR Ryan Vallejo, sr., PSJA High
2023 Stats: 65 receptions, 1,204 yards, 14 touchdowns
Notes: PSJA’s spread offense returns a trio of standout receivers, and Vallejo is back as the leader of the pack after finishing second in the Valley in receiving yards a season ago. He’s got 4.5 speed to beat defenses deep and route-running to get open at every level. Vallejo, who ranked first on the team in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in 2023, is poised to put up numbers once again in the PSJA offense.
No. 13: RB Ediel Garcia, sr., Roma
2023 Stats: 117 carries, 1,141 yards, 17 touchdowns; eight receptions, 186 yards, two touchdowns
Notes: Roma had arguably the top tandem of ball carriers in the RGV in 2023, but now the backfield belongs to Garcia, the Gladiators’ returning leading rusher in the Slot-T offense. The senior running back showed big-play ability with 9.8 yards per carry and is a receiving threat out of the backfield. The Roma offense will revolve around Garcia’s ground game while opening opportunities for other skill players with defenses keying in on the Gladiators’ back.
No. 14: DE/TE Christopher Gonzalez, sr., Port Isabel
2023 Stats: 62 total tackles, 28 hurries, 15 TFL, seven sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
Notes: Gonzalez returns to lead the Tarpons after earning District 16-4A DII defensive player of the year honors and Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state third-team recognition last season. The senior two-way player is expected to create space as a blocking tight end but does his most damage on the defensive line setting edges. Gonzalez constantly creates pressure on passes and blows up the running game with 15 stops behind the line of scrimmage last season.
No. 15: DB Andrew Rivera, sr., Sharyland Pioneer
2023 Stats: 76 total tackles, six interceptions, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery
Notes: Rivera is the definition of a ball-hawk at the safety position in the Sharyland Pioneer secondary. The senior’s seven interceptions last season led the RGV and his 76 total tackles ranked third on his team despite missing two games due to injury. Rivera returned to action with a cast on his right/hand wrist and remained a force for the Diamondbacks’ defense. His ability to impact the passing and running games of opposing offenses makes Rivera one of the top returning defenders in South Texas in 2024.
