The 2024 high school football season is officially underway, with teams hitting the practice field across the Rio Grande Valley.
With Week 1 of the regular season looming, the RGVSports.com staff compiled a list of the top 30 returning RGV football players for the 2024 season.
Our list continues with a trio of PSJA North standouts and one of the RGV’s top athletes out of Rio Hondo.
The reveal of the top player is out in the 2024 RGVSports.com Football Tab today.
Check out the other athletes on our list below:
No. 2: LB Steven Garza, Senior, PSJA North
2023 Stats: 109 total tckls, 12 TFL, 7 QB hurries, 2 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR
Notes: PSJA North’s “Blackshirts Defense” should be among the area’s best once again this year and Garza is a big reason why. The speedy, physical linebacker possess high football IQ to diagnose a play before it happens. After that, Garza is ready to meet any ball carrier head on and make the stop by any means necessary. His three-year varsity experience should only make him better as he heads into his final year with the Raiders.
No. 3: RB Ethan Guerra, Junior, PSJA North
2023 Stats: 153 car, 1572 yds, 21 TD; 13 rec, 374 yds, 3 TD
Notes: Guerra has been one of the RGV’s most dominant ball carriers since his freshman year in 2022, racking up 2,677 rushing yards and 34 rushing touchdowns during the past two years. Year 3 should be no different, with Guerra likely serving as the focal point of PSJA North’s offense once again. The junior running back possesses deceptive strength to run between the tackles, while his 4.6 speed makes him a threat to break off a long touchdown run in the blink of an eye. Guerra very well could be among the top rushers not only in the RGV, but the state this season.
No. 4: ATH Keyan Lopez, Senior, Rio Hondo
2023 Stats: 47 rec, 829 yds, 13 TD; 151 total tckls, 15 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 INT, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 BLK
Notes: Most teams in the RGV would love to have Lopez on their roster. Rio Hondo is lucky enough to have him on its. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound athlete can do it all on the gridiron and does it at a high level. On offense, Lopez is a physical wideout able to outmuscle most defensive backs. Defensively, Lopez brings that same physicality, able to lay the hammer down on ball carriers, while also possessing the speed to cover almost anybody on the field. An MVP-caliber season could be on the horizon for Lopez as he looks to go out with a bang his senior season.
No. 5: OL Jordan Brewster, Senior, PSJA North
2023 Stats: 91 pancakes
Notes: Replacing offensive linemen will be a big task for PSJA North this year. The young offensive line will benefit from the return of Brewster, arguably the top offensive lineman in the area this season. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman can play any position in the trenches but likely will start at center for the Raiders this year. He’ll also bring a much-needed nastiness up front needed for PSJA North’s physical offense. When all is said and done, Brewster very well could be in for an all-state caliber season before moving on to playing on Saturdays.
