Manvel players named to Class 5A TSWA All-State teams


MANVEL — The 67th Collin Street Bakery Class 5A All-State teams have been released which are selected by the Texas Sports Writers Association.

It came as no surprise that the Manvel Mavericks would be well represented after winning the District 23-5A championship, Region III Division I crown while advancing to the 5A Division I state finals where they lost a heartbreaker to defending state champion Highland Park 53-49 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Manvel finished 14-1 for the 2017 football season.

The TSWA selected Manvel senior DePriest Taylor as the 5A "Defensive Player of the Year." Taylor had 119 tackles on the season with 12 sacks. He had 10 tackles in the state title game with half of them for losses. He was named "Defensive Player of the Game" in the loss to Highland Park.

Receiving that honor usually goes to a player on the winning team, but Taylor's effort was so outstanding that he was honored by the media covering the game.

Named to the 5A All-State offensive first-team was senior Jalen Preston who had 47 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 270 yards rushing on 38 carries for six more scores. Preston scored three TDs in the state title game and was an All-Greater Houston first-team pick while being named the 23-5A MVP. Preston signed a letter-of-intent to continue his education and playing career at Texas A&M University.

Joining Preston on the first-team is defensive back CeCori Tolds who had 49 tackles (33 solo), five interceptions, 21 pass breakups, two fumbles recoveries, two blocked kicks -1 for TD. Tolds was also an All-Greater Houston pick.

Named to the All-State second-team was senior quarterback Kason Martin who was 177-for-310 passing for 3,530 yards and 44 TDs and only four interceptions. He threw for five TD passes in the state title game. Martin had over 7,000 career passing yards and 85 TDs and is already enrolled at North Texas State University where he will continue his education and playing career.

Senior Kam Scott was named as a second-team kick returner. He had 10 kickoff returns for 455 yards and four TDs. Preston was also named to the third-team as a kick returner with 13 returns for 370 yards and three scores. He also had 12 punt returns for 187 yards and one TD.

Scott was named as an honorable mention wide receiver and linebacker Brian Johnson was honorable mention on defense.

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Cecori Tolds
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Jalen Preston
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Kam Scott
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Kason Martin
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DePriest Taylor