ETSN.fm Preseason Class 6A/5A Poll: No. 8, Nacogdoches Dragons

Nacogdoches football is relevant, and the class the got the ball rolling is entering a senior season it hopes will leave a lasting legacy. The Dragons are No. 8 in ETSN.fm's preseason Class 6A/5A poll.

Last season, Nacogdoches reached the playoffs for the second consecutive year, something the Dragons' program had not accomplished since the mid-1960's. This year's group can make history by making the postseason an unprecedented third year in a row.

A talented senior class, headlined by Division I recruits Brandon Jones, Corey Lane, and Alex Gregory, have made it a mission.

Jones is the rock star of the trio, a consensus 5-star safety prospect with more than 40 FBS offers to his name. Lane is another safety and the younger brother of Dragons' 2015 standout cornerback Jaylon Lane, while Gregory's track prowess as a sprinter helped him earn a scholarship offer from SFA.

Getting back to the playoffs won't be easy, not in District 16-5A, one of the most competitive leagues in all of the state. It features defending state champion Ennis, reigning semifinalist John Tyler, and perennial power Lufkin just to name a few.

The Dragons will also be challenged by an experienced Whitehouse squad, a potentially resurgent Corsicana program, and Lindale and Jacksonville, which would qualify as serious playoff contenders in most other districts.

Nacogdoches will receive non-district tests from Hallsville and 4A heavyweights Kilgore and Carthage. Then, the real fun begins with the Dragons' 16-5A opener at rival Lufkin, which Nac has defeated in each of the last two seasons.

2015 Nacogdoches Dragons Football Schedule

ETSN.fm Preseason Class 6A/5A Poll

• No. 8: Nacogdoches Dragons
• No. 9: Sulphur Springs Wildcats
• No. 10: Hallsville Bobcats