Top 25 Early Contenders high school football team preview: No. 12 Steele

There are teams to get excited about and then there are teams to just feel good about.

The 2016 Steele football team is a lot of both, said coach Scott Lehnhoff.

Starting his fourth season, the former head baseball coach has a strong pulse on this senior class, which hasn't lost much over the last three seasons.

"They didn't lose as freshmen, not many of them lost as sophomores and last season on varsity we were 14-1," Lehnhoff said. "Lot of these guys had brothers who had a lot of success. It's a special group. Tight-knit. There's a lot of love among these kids. They have a chance to do something significant together this year."

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Beyond the deep camaraderie, these Knights have some talent.

They return 11 starters — seven on defense — from a squad that won 14 straight games before losing in the state 6A Division II semifinals to eventual nation champion Katy. The 2010 state champions have won at least 12 games in six straight seasons.

The Players
Though most of the returning starters are on defense, two of the marquee players do most of the ball-handling.

Texas Tech-bound dual threat quarterback Xavier Martin is a state player of the year possibility after he accounted for more than 2,700 yards and 29 touchdowns last season.

The No. 550 recruit overall in the nation, according to 247Sports Composite, is a blur in the open field. Had he not hurt his ankle in the third round of the playoffs, Steele would have had a much stronger shot at Katy.

"He's a tremendous athlete," Lehnhoff said. "You won't find too many faster football players on the field than him. He has elite speed and a natural whip in his arm.

"Beyond that, he's one of those kids you can't help but like. He's always in good spirits, always has a smile on his face. He's very positive with his teammates."

Xavier Martin Ultimate Highlights

He's happy to hand the ball to senior running back Travell Lumpkin, who rushed for 1,007 yards and 15 touchdowns in 12 games. He has offers from Houston, Colorado State and Texas Tech.

Lumpkin, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior, and Martin could end up at the same college.

"He's got great size and he usually makes the first tackler miss," Lehnhoff said. "He doesn't have breakaway speed and tremendous open-field moves, but man he's got great balance and is tough to bring down. On top of that, he catches the ball and blocks well. He's just overall a top back."

The team's top prospect is actually a junior and also plays on both sides of the ball.

Caden Sterns, a 6-3, 195-pound safety and wide receiver, is "as good a prospect as we've ever had go through here," Lehnhoff said. "He's good enough to play wide receiver in college, but he's just exceptional at safety. He's a physical kid. Big-time open-field tackler. He just gets better and better and is very much dedicated to his teammates."

On top of that, and being a team leader, Sterns is a great returner as well.

"There's not much he can't do on the field," Lehnhoff said.

Defense is where Steele figures to excel. It is led up front by Joshua Croslen, a 6-2, 275-pound tackle, who has 11 offers, including ones from Houston, Rice, SMU and Air Force.

"He's as good as we've ever had up front defensively," Lehnhoff said. "He can go sideline to sideline which is unusual for a kid his size and position. Beyond his physical skills, he's just way wise behind his years. He gets great grades."

Other defensive stalwarts are linebackers Terron Morris, Jacy Ivory and Jayden Jackson and defensive end Quincey Williams (6-2, 295).

Cornerbacks Jayveon Cardwell and Tavian Carter along with Sterns makes up perhaps the state's best secondary. The Keys
The Knights can't stumble out of the gates if they want to maintain a spot in the national rankings.

And they have a most challenging opener at home Sept. 2 against No. 20 Lake Travis.

If they get by the boys from Austin, they eventually could face up with Katy once more, which lost a ton to graduation but feature a lot of young talent.

"We were strong on defense last year, but this group has a chance to be even better," Lehnhoff said. "The core of the front 7 are back and our secondary is lights out. "

As long as Martin and Lumpkin stay healthy, Steele has plenty of firepower to put up a lot of points.

"This is as high as we've been ranked nationally," Lehnhoff said. "It's exciting. We're excited. Now we just have to go out on the field and prove it."