At least 10 members of the Brownwood High School Class of 2024 will not only be continuing their education, but their athletic careers as well as they let their intentions be known during a National Signing Day Ceremony Wednesday at Warren Gym.
Wednesday served as the first day high school athletes can sign a national letter of intents with a college, and more Lions and Lady Lions are expected to do so before the end of the school year.
The following are short Q&As with the student athletes discussing their futures, as well as comments from the Brownwood High School coaching staff, and notes on each player as well:
Cole Miller – Angelo State football
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play football at the college level?
A: It’s always been a dream of mine. Since I was a little kid I’ve dreamed about competing at the next level and taking my talent somewhere further than just high school. It’s good that God has this plan for me. I’ve prayed for something like this my whole life.
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Q: Why did you choose Angelo State?
A: I really feel comfortable there. The very first day I walked in for a visit it felt like home, they treated me like family. I love all the people there, I already know some people there. I really like the coaching staff and what they have going.
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Q: What other schools were you interested in, or what schools showed interest in you?
A: A couple of DIIs and some FCS teams were looking at me, but it came down to two JUCOs and Angelo.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: I want to ball out, get first-team all-conference by my sophomore or junior year. I want to be leader on the team and make my name known.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I want to be an engineer so I’m majoring in engineering.
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Defensive coordinator Marvin Wilson
I don’t know that I’ve been around a more selfless kid than Cole Miller when it comes down to doing what he’s asked to do. The first time I saw Cole I knew he was a big ol’ kid and I’m very interested to see Cole a year from now when he comes back from being at Angelo State, he’s going to be huge. They’re going to turn him into a mammoth of a player. I fully expect to see Cole’s name on some leader boards at Angelo State for a long time.
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Notes
Miller was a second-team all-District 2-4A Division I selection in 2023 on the offensive line and received honorable mention in limited time for his play on the defensive line (52 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 sacks).
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Logan Posey – Western Texas College baseball
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play baseball at the college level?
A: It means the world to me. I’ve always dreamed of playing baseball and in the end I hope to go to the highest level and play in the League, but college is definitely the next step.
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Q: Why did you choose Western Texas College?
A: I talked to some bigger schools but for baseball, junior college is a good way to get to the Division I level. In the end that was the best decision I could have made.
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Q: What other schools were you interested in, or what schools showed interest in you?
A: There was an Ivy League school, some smaller DIs out of state, but none of them really fit me like Western did. I love all the coaches at Western and I just felt really comfortable there.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: Hopefully, some of my dream schools that I’m talking to will come and watch me my freshman year. If it takes me one year to go the next level so be it, if not then after two years hopefully I’ll get where I want to be.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: Right now I ‘m going to get my general studies in science. I plan on studying biology over the four years and eventually I want to become a pathologist.
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Brownwood High School assistant principal and former head baseball coach Brian Harris
As a coach I was able to watch him grow every single year and in 24 years of coaching, he’s as polished a catcher that I’ve ever been around. Not only is Logan an outstanding young man with high character, he gets the job done in the classroom as well. That’s a testament to his family and how he was raised. I’m proud to know him, proud to have been his coach, but even more proud of the person that he is and the leader that he’s grown in to.
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Notes
As a sophomore, Posey batted. 307 with a .341 on-base percentage, seven doubles, one triple and 16 RBIs. During his junior campaign, Posey was named the District 6-4A Defensive MVP as in league play he threw out 13 of 20 attempted base stealers and allowed just two passed balls in 79 innings. At the plate, Posey hit a pair of home runs including a three-run blast that capped the Lions’ 12-0 victory in Game 2 of their area round playoff series against Wichita Falls.
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Gavin Brandstetter – Vernon College baseball
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play baseball at the college level?
A: It means a lot, it’s always been my dream to go play college ball so I’m excited to have the opportunity.
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Q: Why did you choose Vernon College?
A: I loved the coach. That was the main thing, to make sure the coach is someone who actually cared about players, then the facilities they have are top tier for a JUCO.
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Q: What other schools were you interested in, or what schools showed interest in you?
A: I’m still in connection with ACU and Stephenville, and I talked to Amarillo and Cisco.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: One of my main goals is to be a starting pitcher and go in and have a positive impact for the team. Then from there, get bigger and better offers.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I’m going to be an animal science major.
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Pitching coach Caleb Hill
I knew when I came here I was going to coach a little differently than most of these guys were used to. But our pitching group is where it is today because Gavin started buying into it. He’s a really good pitcher, a great kid and someone everyone wants to play for, and when he bought in everyone followed. I can’t thank him enough as a new coach at a new high school, because if the kids don’t buy in you’ll be looking for another job pretty quick. He’s going to have a tremendous year, he’s going to be elite, and I couldn’t be more proud.
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Notes
Brandstetter was a Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association third-team all-state pitcher in 2023 as he posted a 7-3 record with 2 saves, a 1.14 ERA, 99 strikeouts and 22 walks in 61.2 innings of action. At the plate, Brandstetter hit .376 with 2 home runs, 21 RBIs, 12 doubles and a triple.
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Hudson Reagan – Lubbock Christian University golf
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play golf at the college level?
A: It’s what I’ve dreamed of ever since I started playing golf. I wanted to go further than high school and see how it goes.
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Q: Why did you choose Lubbock Christian?
A: I talked to schools on all different levels, I was open to anything. It was between Midland Junior College and Blinn, and then Oklahoma Christian on the Division II level. I decided I wanted to stay closer to home and Lubbock Christian hired a new, young coach and his ideas to build up the team sounded like the best fit, along with the players they have.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: I hope to go in the make the five all four years and do the best that we can, hopefully win a conference championship and more.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I’m going to study general business to start.
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Golf coach David Jones
I’ve asked Hudson to be the leader of our golf program for the last four years, since his freshman year. It’s because of the way he plays the game, it’s because of his character and it’s because other members of the team will follow him. Golf, to be successful, is a 365-day a year job. Hudson has done everything he possibly could to put himself in position to play golf at the next level. Six percent of high school athletes go on to play sports in college, and just 3.3 percent go on to play golf.
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Notes
Reagan helped guide the Brownwood Lions golf team to their first state tournament appearance in well over 30 years during the 2023 spring season. The Lions placed sixth at the UIL Class 4A tournament led by Reagan’s 151 composite score following rounds of 75 and 76. Reagan also won the individual District 6-4A championship with a 142 score following rounds of 70 and 72, as Brownwood repeated as district champion. Reagan and the Lions won the 6-4A titles in 2022 as well.
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Ike Hall – Tarleton football
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play football at the college level?
A: Not a lot of people get that experience and I get a chance to do it and I’m going to show what I can do and take advantage of it.
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Q: Why did you choose Tarleton?
A: I took a couple of visits in the last month and Tarleton was the best fit. The coaches, I like everybody around there, it just felt good.
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Q: What other schools were you interested in, or what schools showed interest in you?
A: Hutchinson, Navarro and Midwestern.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: I’m trying to start as a freshman, that’s one of my goals, and if not just keep working hard and taking advantage of the time they give me when I get in.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I thinking about majoring in business management and seeing where that takes me. There’s some pretty good money in that.
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Quarterbacks coach Caleb Hill
Quarterback is so much more than throwing touchdown passes. You have to be the captain of the huddle, you have to do things right on the field, off the field, you’re the face of the program. My goal when I came here was to turn Brownwood into kind of a QBU that can keep replacing quarterbacks and never have a bad one. I can honestly say Ike has set a very solid foundation for a QBU here at Brownwood High School. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for the young quarterbacks and being a true leader for us the last two years.
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Notes
Hall was the Offensive MVP of District 2-4A Division I as he led the Lions in both rushing and passing as he compiled 1,814 yards and 27 touchdowns on 181 carries, while connecting on 110 of 206 passes for 1,932 yards with 20 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Hall also caught three passes for 79 yards with a trip to the end zone. Hall said Tarleton recruited him to play quarterback.
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Quinten McCarty – Navarro College football
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play football at the college level?
A: It means everything to me, I’ve been dreaming about it my whole life and now that it’s here it’s a surreal feeling.
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Q: Why did you choose Navarro College?
A: First of all I’m going there for free so that made an impact, and I feel like going there is going to benefit my future the best.
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Q: What other schools were you interested in, or what schools showed interest in you?
A: I was looking at Sam Houston but they never offered and wanted me to walk on and told me I had the potential to earn a scholarship. I also talked to Stephen F. Austin, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Midwestern State.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: To get on the field as fast as possible, get there and grind, show the coaches that I want it and make plays.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I want to study physical science, Kinesiology. I want to either be a physical trainer or a coach at the Division I level, that’s always been a goal and dream for a long as I can remember.
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Offensive coordinator Dex Dennard
He’s won every award you can hope to win as a high school football player. But what makes Quinten a special person and a special player is what he did for us off the field. If you had to pick one guy who the leader of this football team and program this year, it would be Quinten McCarty. He held teammates accountable, worked as hard as anyone in the weight room and off the field, and he helped grow the culture of working outside of what is required to get better.
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Notes
McCarty was the District 2-4A Division I MVP this past season, playing tackle on an offense that averaged 40 points and 396 yards – 239 rushing and 157 passing – per game, while tallying 81 tackles and four sacks along the defensive line for the 12-2 regional finalist Lions. McCarty said he was recruited to play nose guard for Navarro College.
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Eli Hill – Schreiner University baseball
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play baseball at the college level?
A: It means everything. I’ve wanted to play college ball since I was little. I’m just happy I got the chance to play at the college level.
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Q: Why did you choose Schreiner?
A: When I went there I fell in love with the school from the moment I stepped on campus. The coaches are respectful, I loved being there.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: I hope to one day be able to play somewhere DI, that’s been a life dream, and playing beyond college if that’s what God opens up.
Q: What did you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I want to study marketing. That type job suits me as a person and my personality and I feel like I would do great in that field.
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Pitching coach Caleb Hill
We were sitting in the living room the other night and he had tears in his eyes and I asked what was wrong. He said he’s never been part of a program like this – a locker room where everyone got along, where you could pick on each other but still have fun like a family, never had coaches that allow you to make mistakes and not be perfect and coach you up. I’m thankful that I got to come to Brownwood because now it’s given Eli a chance to live what I got to live.
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Notes
Eli Hill is the brother of Brownwood Lions pitching coach/quarterback coach Caleb Hill and will be playing his first season of varsity baseball with the Lions. Hill is a pitcher and outfielder who played at Bellville High School in 2023.
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Morsello Hooker – Tarleton football
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play football at the college level?
A: I’m really excited to be taking my talents to the next level. It’s a blessing to be where I’m at right now and I love how everybody has been supportive of me. I wouldn’t be doing this without them.
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Q: Why did you choose Tarleton?
A: It was a long process and a hard decision, but going with Tarleton my family is all close and I wanted to stay close to home, plus the coaching staff is very family oriented and made me feel at home. I want to be a part of that family, and I talked with my parents and told them I wanted to go there.
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Q: What other schools were you interested in, or what schools showed interest in you?
A: Sam Houston and Stetson in Florida.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: I want to get my technique better. People talk about speed and athletic ability, and you can have all that but technique matters. I want to go to the next level and improve my game and my knowledge of the game.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I want to study Kinesiology, I want to be a coach. Going there, they have a good Kinesiology program and that will be good for my next phase after football.
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Secondary coach Darren Bailey
It’s been fun seeing Morsello develop from an awkward, skinny kid in seventh grade to a Division I level athlete. That didn’t happen just because of genetics, Sello put in a lot of work, not just what we did in practice and at school, but also on his own time. We’ve had a lot of success on our team and a lot of that is because of Sello. You may not hear his name a lot and that’s because teams didn’t throw at him because he anchored down the side for us. I think the sky’s the limit for him.
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Notes
Hooker was a first-team all-District 2-4A Division I cornerback for the 12-2 regional finalist Lions as he recorded 43 tackles and three interceptions in 2023. Hooker also grabbed 17 receptions for 436 yards and scored a team-best nine touchdowns.
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Xavier Zepeda – Navarro College football
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play football at the college level?
A: It means a lot. I want to thank everybody, my parents and my coaches and of course the Lord. It’s a blessing, a Godsend to be able to play at the next level.
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Q: Why did you choose Navarro College?
A: I really thought about opportunities and the future and I think that Navarro will be a great place to start to get my bag going.
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Q: What are your goals once you get to college?
A: Really just to improve myself as an athlete and a person.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I’m going to Navarro to major in physical education. I want to be a trainer when I’m out of college.
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Running backs coach Bryan Clark
Four years ago when Xavier came to high school if you told me we’d be sitting here right now I honestly don’t know if I would have believed that because, like a lot of freshmen, Xavier was a knucklehead and he wasn’t taking care of his business in the classroom. The fact that he’s sitting here today with an opportunity to go play at the next level, he’s overcome a lot of adversity and it’s not only a testament to your success on the football field, but how you’ve grown as a young man. I can’t tell you how proud I am.
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Notes
Zepeda rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, caught three passes for 32 yards, and recorded seven tackles in a utility role for the Lions in 2023.
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Logan Knight – Midwestern State football
Q: How does it feel knowing you will play football at the college level?
A: It means a lot. I’ve always wanted to play football but my mom wouldn’t let me until high school. When I had the opportunity I knew I had to seize it and I fell in love with this sport. The opportunity to play at the next level is amazing.
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Q: Why did you choose Midwestern State?
A: I chose Midwestern State for my education. I want to be a Kinesiology major, I want to be a chiropractor and I feel like Midwestern State can help me with that, plus I get to play college ball.
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Q: What do you intend to study and do you have after college plans?
A: I was looking at Navarro, a really great program, but I decided to de-commit from there for financial reasons.
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Q: What’s the experience of being a Brownwood Lion been like for someone who moved here from out of state?
A: The community’s been great and the football team is a great group of guys. They really wanted to win and inspired me to do better in my daily life. The support here is amazing, everyone is tight knit, it’s a like a family. I really love it here.
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Offensive coordinator Dex Dennard
Logan came to us from California and when he first got here he really had no idea what Texas high school football was all about, but he worked really, really hard from the moment he got here. He did everything we asked him to do. Not only did he do the work required, he put the time in off the clock. I’ve been coaching for 10 years and I’ve never seen someone improve so much in one year.
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Notes
Knight was a first-team all-District 2-4A Division I tackle on an offensive line that paved the way for 40 points and 396 yards – 239 rushing and 157 passing – per outing in 2023.