The East Texas football landscapes never disappoints. Each summer, the staff at ETSN.fm combs through the thousands of players in the area to pick its annual preseason East Texas Super Team.

It is simultaneously the most fun and hardest job we undertake all year. Whittling down the region’s best to 29 names is no easy feat; there are inevitably great players left off the list each and every single season.

ETSN.fm covers more than 100 schools in the area — from Texarkana all the way down to Newton and Jasper. The following are, in our judgment, the very best players at their respective positions.

Carthage running back and Texas commit Keaontay Ingram is the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Arp safety and fellow Texas pledge DeMarvion Overshown is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Without further adieu, we bring you the 2017 ETSN.fm Preseason East Texas Football Super Team:

  • loading...
    QB

    Chance Amie

    Tyler Lee

    Class: Senior (committed to Houston)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 190
    2016 stats: 97 of 180, 1,556 yards, 10 TDs, 6 INTs; 183 carries, 1,260 yards, 17 TDs
    Outlook: Despite a coaching change at Lee just before the summer, expectations are high for Amie, who emerged as a true dual-threat behind center as a junior. With the arrival of ex-Gilmer assistant Kurt Traylor to run the Red Raiders' program, expect the numbers to be even better for Amie this season.

  • Carthage RB Keaontay Ingram (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    Carthage RB Keaontay Ingram (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    RB

    Keaontay Ingram

    Carthage

    Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
    Class: Senior (committed to Texas)
    Height: 6-0
    Weight: 198
    2016 stats: 320 carries, 2,225 yards, 31 TDs; 46 catches, 475 yards, 2 TDs
    Outlook: There isn't a more talented offensive player in the region that Ingram, who is hoping to shatter school records and bring Carthage its sixth state championship since 2008. A change at quarterback and a few holes on the offensive line shouldn't hamper Ingram's ability to replicate last year's production.

  • loading...
    RB

    Cameron Grant

    John Tyler

    Class: Junior
    Height: 5-9
    Weight: 175
    2016 stats: 151 carries, 873 yards, 12 TDs; 10 catches, 118 yards, 2 TDs
    Outlook: Pound-for-pound, Grant might be the most explosive back in all of East Texas. What the Lions' back lacks in size, he more than makes up for in elusiveness and breakaway speed. Once he's gotten through the initial line of defense, it's a chore for linebackers and defensive backs to catch up.

  • loading...
    RB

    Ladarius Wickware

    Tyler Lee

    Class: Junior
    Height: 6-0
    Weight: 180
    2016 stats: 176 carries, 1,404 yards, 14 TDs; 10 catches, 120 yards, 1 TD
    Outlook: Wickware put together the quietest 1,400-yard rushing season in East Texas in 2016. He and Amie were the perfect 1-2 punch that allowed the Red Raiders to average more than 34 points per game. It will be interesting to see Wickware's improvement from sophomore to junior year.

  • loading...
    WR

    Jonathan Shepherd

    Kilgore

    Class: Senior (committed to Oklahoma State)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 196
    2016 stats: 17 catches, 260 yards, 3 TDs
    Outlook: The numbers don't stand out, but that hasn't stopped Shepherd from garnering national recruiting attention. His size, speed, and ball skills are the reason why this Kilgore receiver is headed for stardom at the next level. Don't be surprised if Shepherd is more involved in the Bulldogs' offense in 2017.

  • loading...
    WR

    T.Q. Jackson

    Jefferson

    Class: Junior
    Height: 6-2
    Weight: 175
    2016 stats: 41 catches, 1,099 yards, 14 TDs
    Outlook: The future of the receiving position in East Texas might be Jackson. As a sophomore, he burst onto the scene to average almost 27 yards per reception and catch 14 touchdown passes in Jefferson's 12 games. He, along with quarterback Trey Hodge, return in 2017 for what could be one of the most dynamic offenses in 3A.

  • loading...
    WR

    Tevailance Hunt

    Texas High

    Class: Senior (committed to TCU)
    Height: 6-2
    Weight: 180
    2016 stats: 36 catches, 700 yards, 10 TDs
    Outlook: Last season, Hunt played second fiddle to senior and eventual Kansas signee Quan Hampton at receiver. But now that Hampton is gone, the stage belongs to Hunt, who still put together a remarkable junior campaign.

  • loading...
    WR

    Malik Jackson

    Lufkin

    Class: Senior (committed to Houston)
    Height: 5-8
    Weight: 163
    2016 stats: 52 catches, 1,017 yards, 10 TDs
    Outlook: Jackson did it all for Lufkin a season ago. Not only was he a 1,000-yard receiver, scoring touchdowns every fifth catch. He also was one of the best return specialists in East Texas, putting up more than 400 yards in returns with a pair of touchdowns. Working out of the slot, he uses his small frame and open-field shiftiness to his advantage.

  • loading...
    OL

    Chasen Hines

    Marshall

    Class: Senior (committed to LSU)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 353
    Outlook: One of three Division I recruits on Marshall's offensive line, Hines is the most polished and has the highest ceiling of the bunch. He plays guard in high school, but his skill set could easily be applied to the center position in college.

  • Van OL Kris Dike (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    Van OL Kris Dike (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    OL

    Kris Dike

    Van

    Class: Senior (committed to TCU)
    Height: 6-6
    Weight: 283
    Outlook: Van's run to the 4A Division I quarterfinals last season would not have been possible without Dike, the left tackle that protected quarterback Garrett Moseley's blind side. Dike was in part responsible for a Vandals offense that averaged almost 43 points per game.

  • loading...
    OL

    Drake Centers

    Tatum

    Class: Senior (committed to Texas State)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 296
    Outlook: Tatum experienced a seven-win turnaround after 2015's season yielded an 0-10 campaign. Solid line play, like the kind the Eagles received from Centers, was paramount in helping first-year head coach Craig Barker return Tatum to the playoffs.

  • loading...
    OL

    Kameron King

    Marshall

    Class: Senior (committed to North Texas)
    Height: 6-2
    Weight: 275
    Outlook: King is not as heralded a prospect and his teammate Hines, but make no mistake: he is one of the top offensive linemen in all of East Texas. The duo of Hines and King in the interior can thwart to just about any challenges mounted by the middle of the opposition's defensive front.

  • loading...
    OL

    Kylar Cooks

    Liberty-Eylau

    Class: Senior (committed to Texas State)
    Height: 6-5
    Weight: 252
    Outlook: Cooks may not carry the weight yet, but his 6-5 frame and long wingspan make it difficult for defensive linemen to win the leverage battle. His performance in one-on-one drills at May's ETSN Combine proved he belongs in the discussion of East Texas' elite O-linemen.

  • Longview kicker Chris Kessler committed to Texas State on Thursday. (Courtesy)
    Longview kicker Chris Kessler committed to Texas State on Thursday. (Courtesy)
    loading...
    K

    Chris Kessler

    Longview

    Class: Senior
    Height: 5-9
    Weight: 150
    2016 stats: 10 field goals (53 of 55 on PATs), 70 percent touchbacks
    Outlook: While coaches would prefer to use kickers only for PAT's and kickoffs, one that can make field goals with range are luxuries not often afforded to high school programs. Kessler routinely prevents kickoff returns with touchbacks, and his leg is strong enough to knock down field goals from 50 yards.

  • Henderson QB Trae Hall (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    Henderson QB Trae Hall (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    ATH

    Trae Hall

    Henderson

    Class: Senior (offers from Florida Atlantic, New Mexico State, Tulane, ULL, ULM)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 185
    2016 stats: 128 of 189, 2,016 yards, 24 TDs, 4 INTs; 80 carries, 749 yards, 6 TDs
    Outlook: Overshadowed last season by running back La'Kendrick VanZandt (TCU signee) and receiver Trestan Ebner (Baylor), Hall quietly posted nearly 3,000 total yards and 30 touchdowns at quarterback. His completion percentage was 67 percent, and his passing efficiency was outstanding, tossing touchdowns every eight attempts.

  • John Tyler DL/LB DeKalen Goodson. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    John Tyler DL/LB DeKalen Goodson. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    DL

    DeKalen Goodson

    John Tyler

    Class: Senior (committed to Houston)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 215
    2016 stats: 70 tackles (20 for loss), 11 sacks, 5 QB pressures, 1 forced fumble, 2 recoveries, 2 PBUs)
    Outlook: He'll likely play outside linebacker in college, but Goodson's elite pass-rushing skills make him a perfect fit at defensive end for John Tyler. In two seasons, the Lions' defender has racked up 17 sacks.

  • Whitehouse DL Trevor Lawrence (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    Whitehouse DL Trevor Lawrence (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    DL

    Trevor Lawrence

    Whitehouse

    Class: Senior (committed to Texas State)
    Height: 6-4
    Weight: 245
    2016 stats: 46 tackles (10 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 9 QB pressures
    Outlook: Whitehouse featured one of East Texas' stingiest defenses in 2016, and the play of Lawrence was one of the biggest catalysts. His size and strength make him difficult for opposing tackles to overpower. Expect another solid campaign from Lawerence and the rest of the Wildcats' defenders.

  • loading...
    DL

    Leonard Parks

    Texas High

    Class: Senior (committed to SMU)
    Height: 6-5
    Weight: 230
    2016 stats: N/A
    Outlook: For a long time, Parks was one of the best kept secrets in East Texas. But after a breakthrough performance at May's ETSN Combine, and strong showing on the summer camp circuit, the Texas High defender is now among the most talked-about prospects entering the 2017 season.

  • loading...
    DL

    Marje Smith

    Marshall

    Class: Senior (committed to Baylor)
    Height: 6-6
    Weight: 210
    2016 stats: 23 tackles (2 for loss), 1 sack
    Outlook: The numbers weren't all that impressive a season ago, but Smith is clearly one of the most gifted athletes along the defensive front. The wingspan alone makes him tough for offensive linemen to handle.

  • loading...
    LB

    Tre Allison

    John Tyler

    Class: Senior (committed to SMU)
    Height: 6-2
    Weight: 211
    2016 stats: 118 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 INTs, 4 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles
    Outlook: It's hard to find a more consistent linebacker in the past two seasons than Allison, who's been at the heart of John Tyler's defense since the beginning of 2016. He flies to the ball and makes hard contact once he arrives.

  • loading...
    LB

    Mykel Gates

    Carthage

    Class: Senior
    Height: 5-11
    Weight: 230
    2016 stats: 158 tackles (19 for loss), 3 QB pressures, 2 INTs, 2 PBUs, 3 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries
    Outlook: The leading tackler on Carthage's 2016 state championship team, Gates is perhaps the most underrated recruit in all of East Texas. He chases down plays sideline-to-sideline, and rarely misses a tackle in the open field.

  • loading...
    LB

    Xavier Benson

    Pleasant Grove

    Class: Senior (committed to Texas Tech)
    Height: 6-3
    Weight: 200
    2016 stats: 89 tackles, 4 takeaways
    Outlook: Following a 1-6 start to the 2016 season, Pleasant Grove caught fire by winning its next five to reach the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Benson ignited the late-season turnaround, and was the key cog on a defense that limited opponents to a respectable 17.5 points over the Hawks' final six games.

  • loading...
    LB

    Tyree Wilson

    West Rusk

    Class: Senior (committed to Texas A&M)
    Height: 6-5
    Weight: 225
    2016 stats: 68 tackles (13 for loss), 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles
    Outlook: Few players in the region have a higher ceiling in college than Wilson, whose versatility makes him a prized recruit. Wilson's 6-5 frame allows him to play both on the line and in space in high school, and he could likely go either way at the next level.

  • Arp WR/DB DeMarvion Overshown. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    Arp WR/DB DeMarvion Overshown. (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    DB

    DeMarvion Overshown

    Arp

    Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
    Class: Senior (committed to Texas)
    Height: 6-4
    Weight: 200
    2016 stats: 173 tackles (7 for loss), 5 INTs, 8 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries, 2 blocked punts
    Outlook: Looking for some quality entertainment? Look up Overshown's junior season highlights on Hudl.com. His physicality from the safety position has drawn comparisons to some of the sport's best defensive backs in the last decade. 

  • loading...
    DB

    Mekhi Colbert

    Carthage

    Class: Senior
    Height: 5-8
    Weight: 175
    2016 stats: 43 tackles (3 for loss), 8 INTs, 10 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, 1 defensive TD)
    Outlook: The first name out of most people's mouths when discussing Carthage these days in Keaontay Ingram, but Colbert's performance down the stretch last season was one of the biggest reasons why the Bulldogs celebrated their fifth state championship since 2008 last December.

  • Nacogdoches DB DaRyan Williams (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    Nacogdoches DB DaRyan Williams (© Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)
    loading...
    DB

    DaRyan Williams

    Nacogdoches

    Class: Senior (offer from Texas State)
    Height: 5-10
    Weight: 199
    2016 stats: N/A
    Outlook: It's rare for someone of Williams' size to run as fast as he does. At May's ETSN Combine, the Nacogdoches defender clocked an impressive laser-timed 4.47-second 40-yard dash, which was tied for the best time of the event. He plays linebacker in high school, but his future at the next level is in the defensive backfield.

  • loading...
    DB

    Tamauzia Brown

    Newton

    Class: Junior
    Height: 6-1
    Weight: 168
    2016 stats: 46 tackles, 5 INTs, 11 PBUs
    Outlook: One of the least-talked about prospects in East Texas' 2019 recruiting class, Brown can do it all for Newton. Last season, he totaled more than 1,200 yards on offense with 14 touchdowns. And on the defensive side of the ball, he helped the Eagles hold opponents to less than 10 points per game.

  • loading...
    P

    Efren Barcenas

    Spring Hill

    Class: Junior
    Height: 5-9
    Weight: 155
    2016 stats: 42.0 average, 6 punts inside 20
    Outlook: Specialists never receive the most attention, but a punter like Barcenas can make all the difference in the world in creating positive field position for your defense.

  • loading...
    UTL

    Trai Gardner

    Tenaha

    Class: Senior
    Height: 6-0
    Weight: 180
    2016 stats: 74 catches, 1,410 yards, 21 TDs; 9 carries, 260 yards, 5 TDs; 35 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack, 5 INTs, 8 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, 3 recoveries
    Outlook: Last season, Gardner scored 26 offensive touchdowns on just 83 touches. His play on defense also also led to 10 takeaways in helping Tenaha reach the 2A Division II quarterfinals. With most of the Tigers' firepower returning, don't be surprised to see even higher production from Gardner in 2017.

More From East Texas Sports Network