Another Top 5 is back, hopefully for not the last time this season, this time focusing on guys who played multiple positions throughout their career at Longview. If this is your first time reading a Top 5 from me I don't place athletes on my list I didn't watch. My top 5 is my opinion and you can't form an opinion about things you haven't experienced.
Athletes
LaRandall McKind is best known for his ability to play corner, but the man did way more than that. During his career, McKind played running back, receiver, and even punted the ball for Longview. During the 2000 season, McKind finished with 6 touchdowns rushing, on top of being the team's top corner. In an offense that featured a young Joel Armstrong and Willie Andrews, McKind was the team's top running back. Although the 2000 team struggled, McKind's play still resembles in the mind of Lobo Fans.
A'Darius Carter showed up on the scene in 2016 against Tyler Lee, when he stiff armed his way to a 75 yard sky kick return for a touchdown. That was AC's only touchdown that year, but it was a great warm up for the things he could do this year for Longview. Carter started the year out in a QB competition with Jordan Lawson and Haynes King, before moving out to wide receiver. AC is the catapult for Longview's "Dirty Bird" formation in which he plays short yardage quarterback. This season AC has 9 rushing touchdowns, including a 5 TD performance against Tyler Lee. AC has shown that he's more than just a plunging tool. He plays wide receiver and has become one of Haynes King's best targets. Carter has 12 catches on the season for 4 touchdowns. 13 touchdowns in a 10 game sample, on top of completing over 7 passes makes him a versatile weapon, one that hasn't been seen used this way.
JaMycal Hasty spent the majority of his time at running back during his career for the Lobos, but the 5'8 speedster split time out at wide receiver his sophomore year. Hasty has the best hands I've ever seen with my own two, and made jaw dropping catches at ease. His sophomore year Hasty sparked the end of a blowout loss to Coppell with a 47 yard touchdown catch. For the next few weeks he disappeared as older players got their shots, but the sophomore scored 4 touchdowns rushing in the final 5 games of the season, ending with 5, making way for a breakout junior year. Hasty ran for 1,420 yards and 13 TDs, on his way to being named an honorable mention all stater. The biggest play that year came against Olive Branch Mississippi, a nationally ranked team. Hasty lined up in the slot and ran a simple seam route. Chumley place the ball on him and Hasty looked up last second. He snagged the ball out of the air with one hand. (Skip to 4:05). After a scary injury, in which he broke his back in the offseason, Hasty played in 3 games his senior season. He was used lightly against Hallsville, but against Lufkin Hasty made his mark. In the bi-district playoff game Hasty finished with 121 total yards along with 1 touchdown, a 24 yarder. In the last game of the season, the senior finished with 97 yards of total offense.
As much as I wanted to put my teammate as number 1, I couldn't deny Willie Andrews. But number 2 isn't a shabby position, especially if you had the career LaDarrin "Pete" Robertson had for Longview. Peter started out as a sophomore at wide receiver, while also running down on kickoffs and playing spot defense at safety. He recovered a fumble at Marshall, made 6 catches on the season, and had 2 TFL against Dallas Carter in the playoffs. His junior year, Robertson played an even larger role, starting at wide receiver. In the third game of the year Peter, showed what was to come on a reverse pass that went 46 yards to Carey Fortson. Robertson was a key member of the punt team, converting 5 fake punts over his career, while also being a menacing blocker downfield. Peter finished his junior year with over 40 catches and 1 touchdown. His resume up to this point doesn't scream Top 5 but what Robertson did in his senior year does. Playing quarterback again for the first time since his freshman year, Robertson amassed over 1500 yards passing and 10 touchdowns and 1100 yards rushing for 17 touchdowns. There was no doubt the most dominate player on the team that year was #8. After making 2 state championship appearance, Robertson catapulted a team that lost many seniors the year before all the way to the state semifinals. Had it not been for a punt that was blocked with 25 seconds remaining, Robertson would've led Longview back to state for a 3rd straight time. He was an honorable mention all state player, went on to play at Texas Tech as a safety, linebacker, and defensive end, before obtaining a roster spot with the Washington Redskins as an outside linebacker.
Nakia Brown is the best punt returner in Lobo Football history. With 4 punt return touchdowns to his resume, Brown proved to be elusive, smart and electrifying. His first punt return was an 84 yarder against North Little Rock at home. Later in the year against Rockwall-Heath, Brown returned a punt 70 yards to the house. At Rockwall, Nakia returned a 43 yarder to the house and the next week he returned an 81 yarder in the playoffs against Rowlett. Four punt return touchdowns led Nakia to be selected as a 1st Team All State kick returner.
Last on the list and the best returner in Lobo History is Travin Howard. With 2 punt return touchdowns and 4 defensive touchdowns, no Lobo has as many non offensive touchdowns in history. Poopy's first touchdown came against Lufkin his senior year with a 35 yard interception return. His second came the next week against Mesquite with a 38 yard interception return. Howard's 3rd touchdown came against Rockwall Heath when he took a punt back 81 yards. The fourth touchdown was a 45 yard punt return against Rockwall, and the 5th was an interception return the next week against Rowlett. Howard's final Lobo touchdown was a 25 yard fumble recovery against McKinney Boyd.
Athletes
5. Larandall McKind
LaRandall McKind is best known for his ability to play corner, but the man did way more than that. During his career, McKind played running back, receiver, and even punted the ball for Longview. During the 2000 season, McKind finished with 6 touchdowns rushing, on top of being the team's top corner. In an offense that featured a young Joel Armstrong and Willie Andrews, McKind was the team's top running back. Although the 2000 team struggled, McKind's play still resembles in the mind of Lobo Fans.
4. A'Darius Carter
3. JaMycal Hasty
JaMycal Hasty spent the majority of his time at running back during his career for the Lobos, but the 5'8 speedster split time out at wide receiver his sophomore year. Hasty has the best hands I've ever seen with my own two, and made jaw dropping catches at ease. His sophomore year Hasty sparked the end of a blowout loss to Coppell with a 47 yard touchdown catch. For the next few weeks he disappeared as older players got their shots, but the sophomore scored 4 touchdowns rushing in the final 5 games of the season, ending with 5, making way for a breakout junior year. Hasty ran for 1,420 yards and 13 TDs, on his way to being named an honorable mention all stater. The biggest play that year came against Olive Branch Mississippi, a nationally ranked team. Hasty lined up in the slot and ran a simple seam route. Chumley place the ball on him and Hasty looked up last second. He snagged the ball out of the air with one hand. (Skip to 4:05). After a scary injury, in which he broke his back in the offseason, Hasty played in 3 games his senior season. He was used lightly against Hallsville, but against Lufkin Hasty made his mark. In the bi-district playoff game Hasty finished with 121 total yards along with 1 touchdown, a 24 yarder. In the last game of the season, the senior finished with 97 yards of total offense.
2. Pete Robertson
As much as I wanted to put my teammate as number 1, I couldn't deny Willie Andrews. But number 2 isn't a shabby position, especially if you had the career LaDarrin "Pete" Robertson had for Longview. Peter started out as a sophomore at wide receiver, while also running down on kickoffs and playing spot defense at safety. He recovered a fumble at Marshall, made 6 catches on the season, and had 2 TFL against Dallas Carter in the playoffs. His junior year, Robertson played an even larger role, starting at wide receiver. In the third game of the year Peter, showed what was to come on a reverse pass that went 46 yards to Carey Fortson. Robertson was a key member of the punt team, converting 5 fake punts over his career, while also being a menacing blocker downfield. Peter finished his junior year with over 40 catches and 1 touchdown. His resume up to this point doesn't scream Top 5 but what Robertson did in his senior year does. Playing quarterback again for the first time since his freshman year, Robertson amassed over 1500 yards passing and 10 touchdowns and 1100 yards rushing for 17 touchdowns. There was no doubt the most dominate player on the team that year was #8. After making 2 state championship appearance, Robertson catapulted a team that lost many seniors the year before all the way to the state semifinals. Had it not been for a punt that was blocked with 25 seconds remaining, Robertson would've led Longview back to state for a 3rd straight time. He was an honorable mention all state player, went on to play at Texas Tech as a safety, linebacker, and defensive end, before obtaining a roster spot with the Washington Redskins as an outside linebacker.
1. Willie Andrews
1. From his As a sophomore Willie Andrews impacted the field as a defensive back, blocking a punt that was key to Longview defeating DeSoto in 1999. He finished that sophomore season with 2 interceptions and made several PBUs. Willie's junior season saw him with the ball more often playing more offense at running back and receiver than the year before while also returning punts and kickoffs. From the jump he was making plays, none any bigger than the game winning touchdown the second game of the year against Lake Highlands. As time expired Joel Armstrong hit Willie Andrews as he broke away for a 97 yard touchdown. The next week Willie caught 11 passes from Armstong in a loss to Monroe Ouachita. Andrews finished his junior year with 40 catches, 4 going for touchdowns, and in the season finale against Lufkin, Andrews rushed for 163 yards on 24 carries. On top of being an offensive juggernaut, Andrews finished his junior year with 3 interceptions. Andrews senior year was just as spectacular as his junior. As the team's starting tailback, Andrews rushed for over a 1,000 yards with 17 touchdowns rushing and 1 receiving. His top games were against Marshall (30 touches for 196 yards 2 TDs) Midland Lee (14 touches for 132 yards) and Dallas Kimball (212 yards and 3 TDs.) Willie was a top corner and top running back, making him Longview's top athlete, also making 2nd Team All State. Willie went on to Baylor to star as a DB, and was picked up by the New England Patriots, even scoring a kick return for a TD.
Returners
5. Keilyn Williams
Keilo was dynamite every single time he touched it and he opened the 2017 season off with a touchdown against Lufkin. Always anxious to do something big, Williams was a blur through a gap and it was a foot race after that. In 2017, he made it his business to give Lufkin the blues. In the 4th round showdown with the PACK, Williams had 2 huge returns, one that set up the game winning touchdown in the 4th quarter.
4. Chris Lacy
Base had electrifying speed and was always around the ball at the right times. With 4 defensive touchdowns, all coming in 2006, Lacy was thrilling. He scored his first touchdown, which was also Longview's first touchdown of 06, against Monroe scooping a fumble and housing it from 50 yards. His second touchdown came from even further, this time an 89 yard fumble recovery against Dallas Carter in the third quarter of a tight game. Lacy's third touchdown came the next week against Lufkin. After a blocked field goal, Lacy scooped the ball up off the turf and went 78 yards to paydirt. His last touchdown came on a 36 yard interception return against Mesquite Horn. Lacy also electrified from the kick return position. He scored a 96 yarder against Tyler Lee after the ball bounced.
3. Kaden Meredith
One of only 2 players in Lobo History that has 2 kick off returns for touchdowns in his career. For a player who's more of a one cut, straight line guy, Meredith is immaculate at returning kicks. His first touchdown was in the 5th round of the playoffs in 2018 as a sophomore. He dropped the kick picked it up and found his self in the middle of a bunch of Tascosans. He broke a tackle and spun out to nothing but open field for an 85 yard touchdown. As a junior against Marshall he dropped the kick again, and blasted through a hole on the left side. It was a foot race, and Meredith doesn't lose too many of those. He had huge returns against Rockwall his sophomore year, and as a junior, teams rarely kicked to him.
2. Nakia Brown
1. Travin Howard
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