2023 Tom Landry Classic

SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Dianne Glenn & Willow Bend Mortgage
The Allen Escadrille is the largest high school marching band in the US - and they are worth the price of admission all by themselves. These kids spend countless hours in the summer sun perfecting their craft and the result is amazing. So come out Friday and see a great game and a great halftime show...you'll be glad you did!

NEW INFORMATION ALERT!!!
The Friday game between DeSoto and Allen has been moved back to 7:30pm. The Saturday game will remain at 7:00pm.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:
Presented Academy Sports + Outdoors
Brandon Booker (Linebacker - DeSoto)
The Stanford commit made 137 stops in 2022, including 9.5 tackles for loss. The stellar season culminated with a 6A first team all-state selection. He is described by the DeSoto staff as a leader on and off the field (where he carries a 4.21 GPA). His speed and athleticism make it difficult to get by Booker.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT:
Presented by Credit Union of Texas
Zina Umeozulu – Defensive End (Allen Eagles)
Umeozulu holds offers from every top program in the country. He has tremendous size (6’5”-225), a quick get-off, and flexible hips that allow him to turn the corner as a pass rusher. Teams will have to account for him on every play - expect 10+ sacks in 2023!

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: The US Army
Aydan Martinez-Brown
Martinez-Brown began 2022 as a receiver but was given an opportunity at RB when all-state RB Marquise Collins tore his ACL prior to the first game of the season. Martinez-Brown went on to run for over 2,100 yards and over 300 yards receiving. He has excellent speed, vision, and the ability to accelerate through the hole.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
Payton Pierce (Lovejoy Inside Linebacker)
Pierce is rated as one of the top inside linebackers in the country and has verbally committed to Ohio State. He is big (6'2"-225), talented, and athletic, so College Station will have to account for him on every play.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: United Auto Workers (UAW)
Antonio Pride (DeSoto Receiver)
Pride is a transfer from Midlothian Heritage, wherew he had 730 receiving yards and 9 TD's as a junior. He played outside receiver for the Jaguars but will be used as an inside receiver for DeSoto. He has good leadership skills to go along with his abundant skills as a receiver.

Be sure and be there when Antonio and the DeSoto Eagles take on Allen on Friday, August 25 (7:00pm) at Eagle Stadium in Allen.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: Whataburger
Daylan McCutchen (Lovejoy Receiver)
McCutchen holds offers from Baylor, Arkansas, Fla. St., Michigan, Texas, A&M, Oregon, & Tennessee - just to name a few. He is a smooth route runner who also possesses the speed to beat you vertically. During his sophomore season, he caught 25passes for 274 yards and 2 TD's. Expect those numbers to rise dramatically in 2023.

Be sure and come out on Saturday, August 26 to see Daylan and the #8 ranked Leopards take on the #3 ranked College Station Cougars. The game will kickoff at 7:00pm at Eagle Stadium in Allen and tickets will be available at tomlandryclassic.com on Monday, August 21 or at the stadium ticket office beginning at 5:30pm on gameday.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: Willow Bend Mortgage
Quinton Hammonds (Allen Wide Receiver)
Hammonds was injured early in 2022 and it negatively impacted the Eagles passing game. He is a big, strong, and fast receiver on the field and a tremendous leader in the locker room.

Bring your family out to see Quinton and the Allen Eagles take on the defending State Champion DeSoto Eagles on Friday, August 25th at 7:00pm. Proceeds provide scholarships to deserving students.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: AdvoCare
Nathan Marsh (Allen Defensive Lineman)
Marsh was a rotational defensive lineman in '22 and we think he is ready to be "the guy" this season. He is incredibly strong and explosive and plays with relentless effort. He set the Allen High School record for power clean at 360 pounds. He posted 26 tackles (8 for loss) and 3 sacks in '22 and the staff expects those numbers to rise this Fall.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by: Academy Sports + Outdoors
DJ Bailey(DeSoto Quarterback)
The 2023 Dallas News Pre-Season Offensive POTY led DeSoto to the 2022 6A Division II State Championship. As a junior, Bailey passed for 3,840 yards and 43 touchdowns. He possesses great leadership skills and a strong arm, and has committed to play for Sam Houston State in 2024.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Albertsons Tom Thumb
Jackson Verdugo (College Station Receiver)
Verdugo had a strong sophomore season with 56 catchesfor 900 yards and 7 TD's. He is a versatile player who will play both tight end and outside receiver in 2023. He played varsity football and started on varsity basketball as a freshman. He used the offseason to improve his speed and physicality and is primed for a monster junior season.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Home Zone Furniture
Parker Livingstone (Lovejoy - WR)
+Livingstone, a Texas commit, has the size (6'4") and speed to be a matchup nightmare playing inside or outside receiver. During his initial 3 seasons on varsity, Livingstone has 109 catches for 2,078 yards and 33 TD's

2023 EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday, August 25 at 7:30pm
DeSoto vs Allen

Saturday, August 26 at 7:00pm
Lovejoy vs College Station

**Both games at Eagle Stadium in Allen, Texas

TICKETS FOR THE 2023 TOM LANDRY CLASSIC...
Tickets for each game of the 2022 Tom Landry Classic will be available through multiple avenues:
1) On each participating school's athletic website beginning Monday, August 21.
2) On tomlandryclassic.com beginning Monday, August 21.
3) At the Eagle Stadium box office the day of the game beginning at 5:30pm.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Sewell
Kyle Parker - Lovejoy
Recently committed to the LSU Tigers. Caught 47 passes for 790 yards and 11touchdowns as a junior in 2021. Has advanced route-running skills and runs them with quickness and agility. Has strong hands and can catch it in traffic. More quick than fast, but excels at making defenders miss.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Ebby Halliday Realtors
Korbin Johnson – Defensive Line (College Station Cougars)
Johnson plays all along the defensive line and lives in the opponent’s backfield – he registered 30 tackles for loss as a
junior in 2021 (including 4 sacks). He squats an amazing 600 pounds, yet he is quick enough to beat blockers off the
edge to rush the passer. Johnson had an excellent Spring.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Willow Bend Mortgage
Allen Quarterback Mike Hawkins
Explosive player (runs a 4.42–40) dual-threat QB who produced over 3,500 yards of offense and 29TD’s as a sophomore in
2021. Hawkins also displays a strong arm and an extremely competitive nature. Has offers from Michigan, NC State, Alabama,SMU, Arkansas, and Va. Tech...and will add many more to that list. Calls his own protections!

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Children's Health | Andrews Institute
Brayden Hagle & Alexander Franklin
Hagle transferred in from California in 2021 and had a little bit of a system learning curve. As a junior, he completed 20 of 40 passes for 294 yards and 6 TD’s while serving as the backup. He has excellent size (6’1”-190), throws with good velocity, and has a quick release. At the conclusion of spring, he was locked into a tight battle for the #1 spot with Alexander Franklin who threw for 3,257 yards and 50 TD's as the starter in 2021. Franklin has a great grasp of the offense and does a tremendous job of distributing the ball to the bevy of playmakers Lovejoy has. Whoever winds up winning the job, Lovejoy will have an outstanding starter and an outstanding backup...and not many teams can say that.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by AdvoCare
Zina Umeozulu – Allen Eagles Defensive End
Only a junior, Umeozulu already holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, and NotreDame – just to name a few. He has
tremendous size (6’5”-225) and quickness and is considered a top-25 player in the 2024 recruiting class. Had 6 sacks
and 10 tackles for loss in 2021.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by United Auto Workers
Marquise Collins - Running Back College Station
Collins is a smooth, dynamic athlete who can take it to the house from anywhere on the field – as a runner or receiver
out of the backfield. He was the district MVP in 2021 after running for 2,826 yards and 39 touchdowns leading College
Station to the 5A DI State Championship game. Has offers from Arizona, Baylor, Houston, USC, and several others. May be the best RB in Texas!

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Albertsons Tom Thumb
Peyton Woodyard - St. John Bosco Braves Safety
Woodyard is one of the best juniors in the country and certainly sits at the top of the safety group for the 2024 class. He has an explosive closing burst and fluid hips - so he can cover, but also comes downhill aggressively against the run. He holds offers from the top Power 5 schools in the country.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors
Payton Pierce - Lovejoy Leopards LB
Only a junior, Pierce is rated as the #8 overall inside linebacker in the 2024 class. He is a big (6’2”-225), athletic player who had 131 tackles (including 21 for loss), 6 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, and 6 pass break-ups as a sophomore in 2021. Pierce already has offers from Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Texas, and TCU – just to name a few.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Presented by Whataburger
Davon Mitchell - Allen Eagles TE
Only a sophomore, Mitchell is the prototype tight end every offense searches for. He offers an elite size (6'4"-230), speed, agility combination that has recruiting analysts already suggesting he is one of the most impressive athletes in the country. He has offers from multiple D1 universities like Alabama, Texas, LSU, Ohio State, and Penn State. Mitchell should provide the Eagles offense with quite a few mismatches in 2022.

Tickets for the 2022 Tom Landry Classic will go on sale the week prior to the games. Go to TomLandryClassic.com to purchase your seats for these two games featuring 4 top-ranked teams and over 80 players with college scholarship offers!

Game Schedule:

Friday, August 25 at 7:00pD
DeSoto vs Allen

Saturday, August 26 at 7:00pm
Lovejoy vs College Station

BOTH GAMES AT EAGLE STADIUM IN ALLEN
Tickets may be purchased through each school's athletic department, on TomLandryClassic.com, or at the stadium box office 90-minutes prior to kickoff.

Big game tonight! It’s defending State Champion Argyle vs State Semi-Finalist Nolan Catholic at 7:00pm at Eagle Stadium. You can purchase tickets at Tom Landry Classic . Com (Gameday tab) or purchase here at Eagle Stadium (Allen) beginning at 5:30pm. Come see some great football and help raise scholarship dollars for kids.

Tickets can be purchased on tomlandryclassic.com (Classic Gameday tab). Remember, you not only get to see great football, bands, drill teams, and cheer...but your ticket purchase raises scholarship dollars for the students.