Melissa 2028 RB Jeremiah "Bear" Tabor (6-2, 215) wasted no time making a name for himself as a freshman, rushing for 785 yards and six touchdowns. His breakout season earned him a spot in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Rising Top 25 for 2028, and the buzz around his talent is growing.

His nickname, "Bear," isn’t just for show—it’s been with him since birth. His mother, Halie, kept his name a secret before he was born, so family and friends started calling him "Bear," and it stuck.

Tabor’s dominance on the field has already drawn significant college interest. He holds offers from Baylor, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UTSA, Oklahoma State, Purdue, and San Diego State, with more expected. Texas Tech was the first to extend an offer, a moment Tabor or his family won’t forget.

"My first offer was Tech, and honestly, it was a really cool feeling, a brand-new experience," Tabor said. "My family was really, really happy—especially my mom, she started crying."

Despite being an underclassman, Tabor has already competed at premier events like the Next Level Athlete Texas Top 100 Showcase and the Under Armour Next Camp in Dallas, typically geared toward upperclassmen. His performance caught the attention of Texas A&M, which quickly followed with an offer.

"I was really excited that a huge in-state school in the SEC offered me," Tabor said. "I have a chance to play against some of the best competition in the country in a great program."

Did You Know?  Tabor is a multi-sport athlete who is playing on Melissa's varsity baseball team as a freshman. 

While keeping his recruitment 100% open to all offers, Tabor appreciates the culture at Melissa High School, where head coach Matt Nally has built a program that fosters competition and camaraderie.

"Everybody likes to work hard," Tabor said.

With his combination of size, speed and early production, Tabor is patterning his game after Texas high school football legend Adrian Peterson.