The speedy, explosive running back is the Class 5A coverboy for the high school section, complete with a feature story and an action photograph.
It’s not surprising that the article focuses on Seastrunk’s big-play ability, opposing coaches’ often-futile attempts to contain him, and the fact that he’s one of the most highly recruited players not only in Texas but also the country.
Seastrunk, coming off his second consecutive 1,500-yard rushing season, needs 27 yards to become Temple’s all-time rushing leader. He scored a total of 18 touchdowns in 2008 and has 37 career TDs overall.
Seastrunk also was a first-team pick on the “Super Team” offense, which hailed him as “the most electrifying player in Texas.”
Killeen Shoemaker senior Jameill Showers was selected the first-team “utility” player, though quarterback is the only position he plays. The magazine lauds him as the “top dual-threat QB in Texas.”
Temple’s Derrick Davis is listed as one of the state’s top 20 senior linebacker recruits, while Rockdale’s 300-pound Logan David is among the best 25 senior recruits among defensive linemen. Also, Belton quarterback David Ash and Killeen Ellison running back David Cobb are two of the top 100 juniors.
Mary Hardin-Baylor is predicted to win its fifth consecutive American Southwest Conference championship.
As for Texas Football’s high school district predictions, 2008 state semifinalist Copperas Cove is projected to repeat as 12-5A champion, with College Station A&M Consolidated second, Temple third and Ellison edging Belton for the league’s fourth and final playoff berth.
Showers is picked as the preseason offensive MVP, with Cove linebacker Donnell Hawkins the top defender.
Paced by quarterback and preseason offensive MVP Michael Cummings, reigning regional finalist Killeen is picked as the 25-4A runner-up to two-time defending 4A state champion Austin Lake Travis. Lampasas is picked last.
In 3A, Rockdale - ranked 15th in the state - is projected to capture the 24-3A crown ahead of runner-up Navasota and third-place Cameron Yoe, which has the preseason offensive MVP in quarterback Steven Townsend. Gatesville is picked to take fourth in 7-3A.
The 2A forecast includes No. 16 Troy - led by linebacker Justin Gregory, the pick as defensive MVP - winning the 16-2A crown. Moody is tabbed seventh and Bruceville-Eddy eighth.
In an odd twist, the magazine says Rogers, the defending 25-2A champion, “should be even better this season” - then predicts the Eagles to miss the playoffs. Academy is the pick to take the title, followed by Salado (tackle Caleb Little is the preseason defensive MVP) and Lexington. Jarrell is sixth out of seven squads.
In Class A, the magazine picks Granger second in 26-A and defending champ Bartlett - led by running back Eric Walker, the preseason offensive MVP - third behind Thorndale. Holland is fifth and Milano sixth.
In the six-man ranks, Buckholts has District 16’s preseason district defensive MVP in lineman William Watson but is picked third and out of the playoffs.
Rogers product Jungmann, Ellison ex Tucker boosting Longhorns’ CWS charge
Texas is in position to win its third College World Series championship in eight seasons, and area products Taylor Jungmann and Travis Tucker are a pair of key players in the Longhorns’ success.
The star pitcher who led Rogers to the Class 2A state championship in 2007, freshman right-hander Jungmann has been lights-out in postseason play.
He pitched Texas past Texas Christian to clinch the Austin Super Regional, then came out of the bullpen to earn CWS wins against Southern Mississippi and Arizona State. He threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing only two hits as the Longhorns rallied from a 6-0 deficit to beat the Sun Devils 10-6.
Jungmann (10-3, team-best 2.10 earned-run average, 92 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings) is likely to start Tuesday in Game 2 of Texas’ best-of-three title series against Louisiana State.
Tucker, a senior second baseman from Killeen Ellison, is batting .293 with 28 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases while committing just six errors in 61 starts. In the Austin Regional his RBI single in the top of the 25th inning helped Texas beat Boston College 3-2 in the longest game in college baseball history.
gwille@temple-telegram.com
