Brauny's Best: Highlighting top high school performances from Week 8
This week's rendition of Brauny's Best is back to its normal all-football form as I was back under the Texas Friday night lights this past weekend. The Texas A&M commit class has given me a tough decision to make, as a number of future Aggies had eye-catching stat lines — a seemingly recurring theme this fall.
Texas A&M's Class
Fort Bend Marshall ATH Kaeden Johnson
- 14/16 passing, 281 yards, 2 touchdowns
- 1 rushing touchdown
- 1 receiving touchdown
Johnson had been on the shelf with an injury for a few weeks but recently returned to the lineup for the Buffalos and has made a huge impact. He's leaving good reminders on tape of what type of elite athlete he has blossomed into, as well. The stat line from Friday tells that story. While he'll be switching positions in Aggieland, there is marked improvement in his game as a quarterback — showing better feel for the game, enhanced pocket presence and increased accuracy. He'll have to step up big again this week as Fort Bend Marshall faces a loaded Iowa Colony roster.
State of Texas
2028 Klein Oak RB Micah Rhodes
- 20 carries, 353 yards, 5 touchdowns
- 73 yards receiving
We haven't done official rankings for the 2028 class yet. It's too early in these kids' careers, and we want a little better feel for what they're going to be. Therefore, we will sit down at some point in the offseason to formally put them in order...the best we can. Our current list is alphabetical. All that being said, it's a safe bet that Rhodes is going to find himself near the top when we release our first installment. He has been insanely productive over two seasons of 6A football. To me, one of his best traits as a youngster is his vision and decisiveness in traffic. He has a knack for finding a crease, then uses his speed and burst to get into the second level of the defense, where he becomes a real problem. I'm set to see him take on Klein this Friday night.
My Coverage
Port Arthur Memorial RB Amante Martin
- 23 carries, 342 yards, 4 touchdowns
- 5/15 passing, 76 yards, 1 touchdown
The TCU commit is having to play quarterback — or “quarterhorse,” as the Port Arthur Memorial staff calls it — this season due to roster needs and limitations. He doesn't throw it much, but he doesn't really need to, given how the offense is structured with him under center. It's essentially a shotgun, single-wing setup that has pumped out impressive rushing totals all season. This was my second time seeing Martin, and I believe the Horned Frogs have found a real player here. The Willie Ray Smith Award is given to the best offensive and defensive players in Southeast Texas each year. It's a big deal down in that part of the state. They can go ahead and start etching Martin's name into the trophy. He's having a Jamaal Charles type of season in terms of toting the rock.
