Each UIL alignment offers a chance for new blood to step up and punch with Texas’ enrollment heavyweights.  Which programs are primed to step into the ring and make instant impacts in 2010?

Southlake Carroll and Smithson Valley are the modern standard bearers for schools targeting instant results in Texas’ highest classification.

Carroll, along with Smithson Valley, moved up to 5A from the 4A ranks in 2002.  Carroll moved up right as new head coach Todd Dodge’s teachings were taking hold, and the result was a historic five-year run from 2002 through 2006 that generated four state championships.   Smithson Valley, on the heels of a 4A state championship appearance in 2001, advanced to the 5A title game in 2002 and again in 2004.  Copperas Cove and Denton Ryan are two other programs to enjoy almost seamless transitions from 4A to 5A.

Naturally, the search is always on for the next program to make an instant impact.  The four programs to watch in 2010 are Abilene Cooper (3-5A), Cibolo Steele (25-5A), Denton Guyer (7-5A) and Longview (11-5A).

Cooper and Longview are no strangers to 5A football and can be expected to challenge in their respective district races immediately.  Cooper finished as 5A state runner-ups in 1996, and Longview was a 5A state finalist in 1997.  Cooper has played in 13 games in each of the last two seasons.  Longview advanced to back-to-back state championship games in 2008 and 2009.

Guyer and Steele only opened as 4A programs in 2006, but managed to quickly ditch the new program training wheels.  Guyer started 0-10 and 1-9 in its first two seasons, but exploded with 12 and 13 wins in the last two campaigns.  Steele went 3-7 in its inaugural season, but has won 30 games combined since.  Class 5A adds two of the state’s best individual talents.  Guyer senior quarterback J.W. Walsh is one of the top signal callers regardless of class.  Steele senior running back Malcolm Brown is rated as one of the country’s top prospects.

Overall, 17 programs made the jump to 5A plus the additional few brand new schools.  Abilene Cooper, Denton Guyer, Cibolo Steele and Longview should have an immediate impact in their respective districts and replace the quality 5A lost in the alignment with programs like Smithson Valley and John Tyler moving down to 4A.

Longview (12-5A)
’09 Record: 14-2

Lost in 4A Div. I State Championship to Lake Travis, 24-17

Coach
John King, 70-12 as the Lobos head coach.

vs. 5A competition since ’08 realignment (4-2)
2-0 vs Tyler Lee (avg margin of 22.5 pts)

1-1 vs Allen

1-1 vs Lufkin

Last season in 5A:
2007: Went 12-2 overall, 5-0 in district 12-5A.

Players to Watch

RB Dakota Anthony – 99 car., 605 yds., 8 TDs

LB Diop Johnson – 88 tackles, 8 tfl, 2 sacks, 3 pbu

SS Joe Brown – 115 tackles, 3 tfl, 1 int, 4 pbu

Denton Guyer (7-5A)
’09 Record: 13-2

Lost in 4A Div. I State Semifinal to Longview, 49-28

Coach
John Walsh, 26-24 as the Wildcats head coach.

vs. 5A competition
- Have not faced any 5A competition since inaugral season in ’06.

- The Wildcats are 4-3 the last two seasons against Cooper, Longview, and Denton Ryan. All three programs have been very successful on the 5A level in the past. Two of the three losses were to the Lobos.

Last season in 5A:

None

Players to Watch

QB JW Walsh – 185 for 286, 2600 yards, 27 TDs, 6 Ints; 168 car., 1550 yards, 22 TDs rushing

DB Josh Stewart – Verbally committed to Texas A&M

DE Jimmy Bean – Verbally committed to Oklahoma State

Abilene Cooper (3-5A)
’09 Record: 9-4

Lost in 4A Div. I Regional Final to Denton Guyer, 57-34

Coach
Mike Spradlin, 26-21 as the Cougars head coach.

vs. 5A competition since ’08 realignment (0-6)
0-2 vs Abilene (avg margin of 9.5 pts)
0-2 vs Garland (avg margin of 9 pts)
0-2 vs Lewisville Hebron (avg margin of 5 pts)

Last season in 5A:
2007: Went 5-6 overall, 1-4 in district 3-5A.

Players to Watch

RB Davon Riddick – 981 yards rushing, 258 receiving

RB Alford Cooper – 858 yards rushing, 267 receiving

NT Joe Dillard – All District

Cibolo Steele (25-5A)
’09 Record: 9-3

Lost in 4A Div. I Area to Lake Travis, 27-20

Coach
Michael Jinks, 33-14 as the Knights head coach.

vs. 5A competition since ’08 realignment (5-1)
2-0 vs SA East Central (avg margin of 19 pts)
2-0 vs SA Stevens (avg margin of 23 pts)

1-1 vs SA Southwest.

* 0-2 vs New Braunfels while both programs were in 4A (’06,’07)

Last season in 5A:
None

Players to Watch

RB Malcolm Brown – 210 car., 2170 yards, 33 TDs; top D1 prospect

DT Marquise Anderson – 6’3 290 lbs; top D1 prospect