Top 25 Early Contenders high school football team preview: No. 20 Lake Travis

Video: Top 25 Preseason Early Contenders - No. 20 Lake Travis
View images by photographer Jim Redman from his preseason photo shoot with the Cavaliers


The numbers are undeniable. Over the last decade, the football team at Lake Travis has racked up 131 wins and just 14 losses, including 15-1 last season, and won five state titles.

The Cavaliers have a healthy 14 returning starters, their JV team went 10-0 and they've gone 76-8 since Hank Carter took over as head coach in 2010.

How could anyone argue with any of that?

But here's a smudge. Since Lake Travis has moved up from the 4A classification in 2011, it hasn't won a state title. The Cavs were close last year, winning 15 straight games — five in the 6A-2 playoffs — before dropping a 34-7 game in the final to Katy.

No shame there. Katy finished No. 1 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings. Lake Travis finished No. 9.

The Cavs start 2016 at No. 20 among the best in the country in the MaxPreps Early Contenders. But can they get over the hump and win a title with the big boys from Texas?

Talk with any of the Cavs and the answer is unquestionably yes.

See the Lake Travis Early Contenders photo shoot

"Our offense will have a senior-heavy group of skill players. … the offensive line will be anchored by three seniors, but we have a lack of experience at multiple positions on defense," defensive backs coach Antonio Wiley said. "Fortunately, we have a highly competitive non-district schedule and it will be a key time to develop the younger guys and their confidence. Our new guys are definitely going to need to step up if we have a shot to play in another state title game."

The Players
It sure helps to have a starting quarterback with the experience, poise and skill of Charlie Brewer (6-foot-1, 190 pounds), whose brother Michael led the Cavs to a pair of state titles and has started at Virginia Tech for two seasons.

Charlie comes from a long line of Brewer quarterbacks, as his dad Robert and grandfather Charley were starters at the University of Texas.

Charlie threw for 3,421 yards and 42 touchdowns last season while completing 68 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 584 yards and nine scores.

"He's poised, even-keeled, you can't get him too high or too low," Wiley said. "His ability to move the pocket gives defenses something else to deal with. As far as we're concerned, Charlie is underrated."

Charlie has six offers but committed to SMU on May 27. He's ranked the 59th-best pro-style quarterback in the country by the 247Sports Composite, but with his improved speed (4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash) and running ability, many might seem him as a dual-threat quarterback.

He'll definitely have plenty of targets, including another SMU commit in Cade Brewer (no relation), a 6-3, 215-pound tight end. Cade was a first team all-District and all-State selection last year after averaging 15.9 yards per his 51 catches along with 14 touchdowns.

"Great hands, physical player, great kid," Wiley said. "Total program kid. He's all about the team. He could get 10 touches in a game or no touches. As long as we win, that's all he cares about."

View this season's 247Sports Composite Rankings

When the ball gets to Cade Green (5-11, 190) often, the Cavs often win. With superb speed, excellent hands and the ability to run great routes, Green finished 2015 with 72 catches for 1,172 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's also a superb lacrosse player and track standout. Wisconsin and Illinois are among seven schools that have offered him scholarships.

"He can do it all," Wiley said. "He's a great combination of being explosive and reliable. He's great after the catch."

Two more big targets are Mac Humble (6-1, 190) and newcomer Garrett Wilson (6-2, 185), a talented sophomore.

The team's top (Santiago Villegas) and third-leading rusher (Maleek Barkley) return to help offset the potent passing game. Barkley, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, was especially effective in the postseason last year and can really scoot. The Arkansas commit rushed 11 times for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 55-14 playoff win over Midway. He's also considered a top receiving threat after hauling in 55 passes last year for 693 yards and 10 scores.

"He's a game-changer," Wiley said of Barkley.

The biggest game-changers most don't notice are the linemen, and Lake Travis have some big ones in Brenden Jaimes (6-6, 270), a first team all-district standout, and Tyler Barrett (6-5, 265). Jaimes has committed to Nebraska.

"He's a big, physical kid," Wiley said of Jaimes. "He moves very well and has a long wing span. He can contain the speed rush. His future is very bright."

Austin Hiller, a 6-3, 210-pound safety who has committed to Northwestern, leads a defense that includes defensive lineman Sammy Ochoa (6-2, 260) and linebackers Aidan Estrada (5-10, 185) and Mateo Lopez (6-1, 200).

Hiller had 123 tackles last season and seven interceptions.

"He's a big, fast kid and great open-field tackler," Wiley said of the third-year starter.

The Keys
Developing the young players will be vital if the Cavs want to get back to the state title game. The team looked good during spring ball, qualifying for the state 7-on-7 tournament in College Station next month.

Most people will be circling two dates, a Sept. 2 game at No. 12 Steele and the always-intense rivalry game at home Oct. 7 with No. 26 Westlake.

See more videos of the Lake Travis Cavaliers 

"It always comes down to senior leadership," Wiley said. "The seniors need to step up and take ownership of the team. There are no weeks off in Texas. Especially at the 6A level. We have the guys to get the job done."