Check out which football players in the Texas Panhandle have garnered attention from Division I programs.
As the 2025 football season begins, there are a number of players to watch in the Texas Panhandle.
Here are 11 athletes from the area who have picked up Division I offers on the gridiron ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Of course, this list could grow throughout the season or over the next offseason, but for now, here are the prospects college coaches have identified in the Amarillo area:
Vern Blair, Palo Duro
A senior listed at 6 feet tall and 172 pounds, Blair committed to UNLV and head coach Dan Mullen over the summer.
Alongside his talent on the football field, the Dons standout recorded a strong junior track season. Blair won gold medals in the 110-meter hurdles at the Amarillo Relays as well as the District 3-5A and area track meets during the 2025 campaign.
The Rebels pledge also helped Palo Duro reach the state 7-on-7 tournament in June.
Kyron Brown, Palo Duro
Brown, a 6-foot-2 junior wide receiver, picked up an offer from UTEP in May.
The Dons multi-sport star also turned in strong sophomore campaigns on the hardwood and the track, reaching the state meet in the 110-meter hurdles.
Like Blair, Brown was on Palo Duro's 7-on-7 team that reached the state tournament earlier this summer.
Keegan Collins, West Plains
A three-star prospect, Collins committed to Kansas State in early June.
Rated the No. 56 offensive tackle in the nation and No. 103 player in Texas, according to 247Sports, Collins is a key piece of the Wolves squad that reached the state semifinals in 2024.
As a junior, Collins was honored on the Amarillo Globe-News Super Team. The West Plains senior also held offers from Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Arizona, among others.
Chet Creery, Tascosa
Listed at 6-7 and 215 pounds, Creery received an offer from UTEP in June.
The Rebels' senior tight end not only boasts a massive frame but is an impressive athlete for his size. As a junior, Creery reached the state track meet in high jump with a 6-foot-6 leap.
Tascosa product TJ Tillman is currently a freshman on the Miners' roster, and Creery could continue the pipeline if he chooses UTEP as well.
Krush Johnson, Tascosa
After earning District 2-5A First Team All-District DT, Amarillo Globe-News Midseason MVP and Texas Panhandle Super Team honors in 2024, Johnson seems poised for a big senior season.
Since the end of his junior year, the Rebels' star has picked up offers from UTEP, Texas Tech, Texas State, Sacramento State and Baylor, committing to the Red Raiders in January.
According to 247Sports, Johnson is a three-star prospect rated the No. 99 defensive lineman in the nation and No. 120 player in Texas. In 2024, the TTU pledge racked up 106 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, nine quarterback pressures, three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Raymond Johnson IV, Palo Duro
Like Brown, his teammate, Johnson picked up an offer from UTEP in May.
Alongside Brown and Blair, Johnson helped the Dons to the 7-on-7 state tournament and should be in for a strong junior season after a breakout sophomore campaign.
Listed at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, the talented athlete plays running back and middle linebacker for Eric Mims Sr.'s squad.
Jaxon Lawler, Bushland
After an impressive sophomore season for the Falcons, Lawler picked up offers from Wake Forest and UTEP over the summer.
Listed at 6-4 and 255 pounds, the junior will be a key piece of Josh Reynolds' squad in 2025 after starring on Bushland's offensive and defensive line in 2024.
Lawler also had a strong sophomore year throwing discus and shot put, winning gold medals in each event at the District 1-3A track meet.
Darien Lewis, Palo Duro
A three-star prospect rated the No. 133 safety in the nation and No. 194 player in Texas, according to 247Sports, Lewis has played a variety of roles for the Dons.
As a junior, Lewis earned First-Team All-District 2-5A Division II honors at wide receiver and defensive back, illustrating his versatility. The 5-11, 195-pound athlete caught 47 passes for 532 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, also accumulating 10 touchdowns on the ground.
As a wrestler, Lewis completed an undefeated season in 2024-25 and won a UIL Class 5A state title in the 190-pound weight class.
The Palo Duro senior earned offers from Texas Tech, TCU, Washington State and others but committed to North Carolina and head coach Bill Belichick over the summer. Lewis was also a member of the Dons' 7-on-7 team that reached state.
Julian Reese II, Palo Duro
The Dons' signal caller should be in for a big year after bursting onto the scene as a sophomore.
Following the 2024 campaign, Reese's first as Palo Duro's starting quarterback, the 6-3 QB picked up offers from UTEP and UNLV.
The son of former Indiana State and Amarillo Dusters quarterback Julian Reese, "Deuce" impressed as a sophomore and led the Dons' 7-on-7 team to state.
Broxton Robinson, Panhandle
Robinson has been the Panthers' starting quarterback for two seasons and has already garnered multiple awards.
The senior earned Globe-News Newcomer of the Year honors in 2023 and Texas Panhandle Super Team recognition in 2024. Robinson was also named District 1-2A Division I MVP last year.
Following a strong junior season that saw the versatile athlete accumulate 2,090 passing yards and 20 touchdowns through the air, as well as 1,214 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground, Robinson also tallied 92 tackles (three for loss) and an interception on defense, earning Robinson an offer from Army.
Robinson committed to the Black Knights over the summer and is set to play running back at West Point.
Kane White-Tinsley, West Plains
Following a big junior season, the younger brother of West Texas A&M defensive back Anthony White received more than 10 Division I offers.
The Wolves' safety and wide receiver committed to UTEP over the summer, choosing the Miners over Texas State, UTSA, New Mexico, Air Force and others. According to Rivals, White-Tinsley is a three-star prospect, rated the No. 183 safety in the country and No. 268 player in Texas.
Listed at 5-11 and 175 pounds, White-Tinsley notched 55 tackles, three tackles for loss, three pass breakups and nine interceptions to go along with 64 catches for 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior.
The UTEP commit received first-team all-district recognition as a wide receiver and safety for his efforts and earned a place on the Texas Panhandle Super Team.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 11 Texas Panhandle football stars boast DI offers ahead of 2025 season
Category: General Sports
