Ford Motor Company and your Texas Ford Dealers are proud to announce the six winners of the 2024 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week trophy for week five! These outstanding Built Ford Tough gridiron heroes are honored for their performance on the field and their leadership off the field. All weekly winners will ultimately be eligible to become Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Year.
Week Five Winners:
Class 6A: Keelon Russell
Class 5A: Calvin Harris
Class 4A: Cardea Collier
Class 3A: Kohl Collins
Class 2A: Jayden Edwards
Private School: Cole Allen
You will find a summary of each student’s accomplishments, on and off the field, below.
PLANO, TEXAS, October 2, 2024 – Once again, Ford and Texas Ford Dealers are recognizing the very best high school football stars in Texas in week five of the 2024 Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program. Since 2006, the program has recognized outstanding student-athletes throughout the regular season. For 19 years now, the program has celebrated many future college and professional standouts during their Texas High School football careers.
This week’s winning athletes join a long list of remarkable players recognized for their exceptional efforts.
Class 6A: Keelon Russell, Senior, QB, Duncanville High School
Mascot: Panthers
Opponent: Skyline High School
Two years ago, Keelon Russell was thrust into the starting lineup for one of the state’s premier programs as a 155-pound sophomore. Today, Russell is the top-ranked dual threat quarterback in the nation, and Duncanville is on a quest to win its third consecutive state title. Russell lit up Skyline last week for 474 yards and six touchdowns in a 63-14 win. The Alabama commit had more TD passes than he had incompletions (five). Duncanville is 4-0.
“Keelon has developed. It’s not surprising because Keelon works very hard as an athlete and as a student. I felt all along that Keelon had the potential to be a star. He’s shown that he’s as good of a quarterback as there is in this area. His performance pretty much speaks for itself.”
- DUNCANVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH REGINALD SAMPLES
Class 5A: Calvin Harris, Junior, QB, Sharyland High School
Mascot: Rattlers
Opponent: Mercedes High School
The Sharyland Rattlers’ offense stepped up its game in a 56-40 win over Mercedes this past Friday, and it was another big night for junior star QB Calvin Harris, who threw for 406 yards and six touchdowns while completing 73 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 171 yards and another touchdown on only 15 carries. His longest rush was for an impressive 65 yards.
“When your QB throws for six TDs and runs for 171 yards and one TD, the only thing to say is WOW! For the old guys, that is an Al Bundy performance!”
– SHARYLAND HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CRAIG KRELL
Class 4A: Cardea Collier, Senior, QB, Alvarado High School
Mascot: Indians
Opponent: Glen Rose High School
Cardea Collier, a senior at Alvarado High School, is making waves this football season as the star quarterback for the Indians. With an impressive game last week where he rushed 17 times for 322 yards, scoring eight rushing touchdowns, while also showcasing his passing skills completing 17 of 23 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns. He accounted for 10 touchdowns and played a key role in leading the Indians to a 5-0 record and a top 10 ranking in 4A Division I.
Collier’s performance helped secure a stunning 71-50 victory over Glen Rose further solidifying his reputation as a standout player. Collier was recognized as a 2022 Built Ford Tough Player of the Week as a sophomore, he continues to elevate the team’s game as they strive for success this season.
“23 years and I have only coached one other player that can be mentioned to be as dynamic & dominant as Cardea and he’s on our coaching staff. Cardea has had several big-time performances but Friday’s performance against Glen Rose proved again just how dominant he is.”
- ALVARADO HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH CASEY WALRAVEN
Class 3A: Kohl Collins, Junior, QB, Fairfield High School
Mascot: Eagles
Opponent: McGregor High School
Fairfield High opened with back-to-back losses to Maypearl (Double-OT) and Mexia, but you could tell the Eagles were going to score some points and get in the win column. And, led by junior quarterback Kohl Collins, the Eagles are currently riding a three-game winning streak with District 9-3A, Division 1 starting in two weeks. Collins was 15-25 passing for 547-yards and 6-TD’s and scored a rushing touchdown in a 69-40 victory at McGregor and for his efforts has been named the Built Ford Tough Class 3-A Texas High School Player of the Week.
“Kohl broke our single game record for passing yards in a game (547) and tied the school record for TD passes in a game (6). He has gotten better each week and is a great quarterback, but an even better person. Kohl breaking records doesn’t surprise me, he is very talented and does a great job leading our offense, and he can really spin the football.”
- FAIRFIELD HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH JOHN BACHTEL
Class 2A: Jayden Edwards, Senior, WR/DB, Overton High School
Mascot: Mustangs
Opponent: Grapeland High School
Catching 75 passes for 1,346 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2023 was not enough to satisfy the competitive edge in Overton’s Jayden Edwards, so he simply worked harder during the summer.
The Mustangs are reaping the benefit of that hard work on the way to a 4-1 start to the season after Edwards turned in a monster game during week five of the season.
Edwards caught 10 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns and contributed three tackles and two interceptions on the defensive side during his team’s win over Grapeland to begin district play. Both interceptions came in the second half with the opponent driving for potential scores in what turned out to be a 5-point (41-36) victory.
According to his coach he has had a different approach to the game and his preparation starting last fall when we were knocked out of the playoffs (in the second round). He attacked the offseason and summer differently than the previous years, and his preparation and commitment to working to be the best version of himself is paying off for him this season. He knew last Friday was a big game for our team and he told us early in the week he was ready to go. He rose to the challenge and made plays when the team needed them.
“Jayden is a great young man in the classroom and in the community. He is one of the top students in his class and is very involved in our other programs at the school. I think his favorite program to be part of is our Little Mustangs program.”
- OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL HEAD COACH SCOTTY LAYMANCE
Private School: Cole Allen, Senior, RB, Saint John’s School
Mascot: Mavericks
Opponent: Lutheran South Academy
Senior running back and Harvard commit Cole Allen from Saint John’s School has been a powerhouse for the Mavericks this season. In a recent high-scoring matchup, he played a pivotal role in leading the team to a 62-35 victory over Lutheran South, showcasing his versatility and athleticism. Allen racked up an impressive six total touchdowns, with 10 rushes for 190 yards and three touchdowns, along with two catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He even threw a touchdown pass himself, going 1-for-1 for two yards. Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Allen is also a dedicated leader, serving as captain of both the basketball and lacrosse teams, and actively contributing to the Houston Food Bank and St. John’s Community Service Group. His contributions make him not just a standout athlete but also a valued member of his school community.
“Cole is the player that every Coach dreams that they get to coach. As good as a player that he is on the field, he is an even better person off the field. He is a captain in all three of his sports and active across the school community. He is the hardest working player each practice and raises the standards for each person around him, including myself.”
- SAINT JOHN’S SCHOOL HEAD COACH KEVIN VELTRI
During each week of the 2024 regular season, fans, coaches, and media are asked to nominate players at FordPlayeroftheWeek.com, as well as catch up with winners, view video clips of players in action and get the latest program details. Fans will be able to follow the conversation on social media by using #FordPOTW and share the recognition of these outstanding individuals each week.
Additionally, fans are encouraged to catch all the action on Bally Sports Southwest. The network is teaming with Ford and Texas Ford dealers to keep honor award winners through its weekly television show. Each week, television crews will travel to communities across Texas, spotlighting players who excel on the field, in the classroom and in their communities. The half-hour Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program will air on Fridays at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
How the program works
The Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week program recognizes one high school student-athlete in six of the state’s athletic classifications each week of the regular season.
Nominees must excel in three categories:
- Individual performance on the field, including significant statistics from that week’s game
- Contribution to the team’s success through individual leadership abilities
- Performance off the field, including academic success and good community citizenship
At the end of the regular season, Ford and its advisory board will select one student-athlete from the 11 weekly winners to be the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Year in each classification. Following the championship games, honorees will be recognized at a banquet next year.
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Ford is the undisputed truck leader in Texas. Ford F-Series sets the standard for full-size pickups with leading payload, towing, interior roominess, strength, and reliability. Ford is proud to recognize the Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Players of the Week.