Players have to love football to survive in Waxahachie's program, which is run like a small college. The team takes on the identity of its head coach, Shane Tolleson, a former walk-on linebacker in the junior college ranks who earned a scholarship. His mentality is to outwork everybody.

The Indians won eight games from 2018-2020. They've posted a 19–6 record in the last two seasons. In the past three years, they've had 39 kids sign to college programs from the Power Four to NAIA. Even more impressive in today's college football environment, only three athletes have transferred. 

Here are the prospects to watch on the 2024 team.

Leaders in the 2025 class

Name: Michael Esparza Jr. | Class: 2025 | Pos: S/OLB | HT: 6'1 | WT: 185

Esparza was a two-way starter for Waxahachie last season, but he projects as a hybrid safety/outside linebacker at the college level. He flies around the field at the safety spot. A former AAU basketball player, Esparza is now focusing on football and is seeing results from the offseason program. He power cleans 285 pounds, benches 300 and squatted 450. He has an offer from North Texas and loves the campus. Esparza also has a strong relationship with Illinois State defensive backs coach Tevin Madison.

“If you ask the kids who our best player is coming into this year, you’d probably get a lot of them saying Mike Esparza,” Director of Recruiting Darius Terrell said.

Name: Micah Cook | Class: 2025 | Pos: CB | HT: 5'10 | WT: 165

The Waxahachie coaches describe Cook as the most fluid athlete in the program. He ran a 10.8 100m dash and also has the short area quickness to excel at cornerback. Cook is a centerfielder on the baseball team but has committed himself to the offseason program to bulk up to 165 pounds, and the coaches say his best football is ahead of him in college. He comes from a military family and holds offers from Navy and Army, with Air Force showing heavy interest. He was an all-district selection as a junior.

Name: Elijah Thompson | Class: 2025 | Pos: CB | HT: 6'0 | WT: 180

Thompson was a First Team All-District selection as a junior who's piled up offers from UTRGV, Bryant, McMurray, Lamar and Northeastern State. He's a physical corner who plays a lot of press man and breaks well on the ball. Opposing wide receivers don't get a yard of separation from him on his HUDL tape.

Name: Cade Pointer | Class: 2025 | Pos: DE | HT: 6'1 | WT: 225

Pointer is the leader of Waxahachie's front seven with high energy play. He's quick off the edge and simply too fast for a lot of high school offensive linemen, but he also forklifts much bigger linemen on film. His 4.65 40-time makes me think he could translate to outside linebacker in college if he wants to. UTRGV was his first offer and he has a great relationship with outisde backers coach James Lockhart IV. Since then, he's compiled offers from UL-Monroe and Mississippi Valley State.

Name: Jacob Ervin | Class: 2025 | Pos: DT | HT: 6'0 | WT: 300

Ervin is a three-year starter and captain for Waxahachie who's highly thought of inside the building. The coaches believe he'd have many more offers if he was a tad taller. Still, he's got college opportunities at Southeastern Oklahoma, Southern Arkansas and Northeastern State. He was a First Team All-District selection in 2023 and drives opposing linemen off the ball.

Name: Tristian Gardner | Class: 2025 | Pos: WR | HT: 6'3 | WT: 180

Gardner, a move-in from Mesquite Horn, spent a lot of the offseason rehabbing from injury but is fully healthy now. Gardner is a burner on the outside with the physical makeup of a future Division I wide receiver. He should thrive in a loaded Waxahachie wide receiver room. Gardner holds offers from UTSA, Texas State, Sam Houston and Bowling Green. 

2026 Risers

Name: Kohen Brown | Class: 2026 | Pos: WR | HT: 6'0 | WT: 180

The coaches compare Brown to former Waxahachie standout Keith Abney, now at Arizona State. Brown has to be dragged out of the weight room or the practice field, which explains how he went from 5-foot-8, 150 pounds as a freshman to 6-foot, 180 now. He also ran track for the first time this offseason and topped out at a 10.8 100m dash. He can play slot receiver or on the outside, and the coaches think he has a great chance to be a Power Four guy. North Texas was his first offer, and since then he's added Tulsa, San Diego State, Sam Houston and UNLV.

Name: Damarion Cooper | Class: 2026 | Pos: LB | HT: 6'0 | WT: 190

Cooper transitioned from running back to linebacker as a sophomore and won District Defensive Newcomer of the Year after posting over 100 tackles. He has sideline-to-sideline range and his teammates think he'll be even better this season with another year of training under his belt. He doesn't have any offers yet, but Oklahoma State is showing heavy interest. He's 6-foot, but has a 6-foot-4-inch wingspan.

Future Stars in the 2027 class

Name: JayQuan Snell | Class: 2027 | Pos: ATH | HT: 6'3 | WT: 175

Snell played five games on the Varsity as a freshman before an injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. He shows excellent range from the safety position and arrives with bad intentions. This season, the 6-foot-3 athlete will play wide receiver full time. Snell's recruitment has blown up this offseason, and he cites Texas and Oklahoma offers as his biggest moments. He loved his visit to Norman.  

“This sport, he can take it as far as he wants to," Terrell said. "You talk about future pros, God gave it to him.”

Name: Jerry Meyer III | Class: 2027 | Pos: QB | HT: 6'0 | WT: 170

Meyer moved to Waxahachie this off season after breaking the Nevada state single-season passing touchdown record as a freshman with 58, leading Lake Mead Academy to the state championship. His HUDL tape is exceptional for a freshman. He moves well in the pocket to buy time and always keeps his eyes downfield. On multiple touchdowns he's throwing the ball 50+ yards in the air. Meyer has offers from Purdue and Texas Tech, among others, and Baylor is showing heavy interest. The Waxahachie players and coaches rave about his spring practice performance and the leadership he established from the moment he walked in the building.  

"I feel like he's going to be one of the better QBs to come out of Waxahachie," senior defensive back Micah Cook said.

Name: Carmelo Clawson | Class: 2027 | Pos: Edge | HT: 6'2 | WT: 210

Clawson missed his freshman season due to injury, but should be an instant impact player as a sophomore. He was an Under Armour All-American in middle school. He flashes a terrific first step on film and has camped at Texas, North Texas and Texas State.