Best athlete ever in 3A?

[Tidal Wave]

Who is the best athlete to ever play 3A ball in Texas???

[big daddy russ]

I don't know about the best ever, but I'll throw a few names out there. DaBryon Blanton of Forney in the late 90's and early 00's, Tommy Blake of Aransas Pass in the early 00's, Clint Finley of Cuero in the mid-90's and (even though I wasn't there to see him play HS ball) I'd say Eric Dickerson was probably a pretty good athlete. I think Billy Pittman could also be mentioned somewhere in that group, as well as Manuel Johnson of Gilmer, Jordan Shipley of Burnet, and all of the Schobels down in Columbus.

I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones the come to mind at 3:00 in the morning.

[big daddy russ]

Oh, and if I had to vote I'd give mine to Finley. Never saw Dickerson play, except when he went to the NFL.

[YBS]

I'm assuming this doesn't include players from schools who've either dropped to or risen to the 3A level since those players were in high school.

[HighSchool Fan]

This is an easy one, the best 3A player ever is..........Keith7.

[injuredinmelee]

What about some of the Southlake kids back when they won Football and basketball in the same year. Maybe i am mistaken but it seems like they did that didnt they?

[NHSRattler60]

jgoaijgaie;ohgpojgoire

[TigerShark]

Anthony Byerly
6'-0" -- 190lb
RB - Newton '78-'81
Over 4000 yrd as a Sr., 1000 in 3 playoff games.
Lost to Cameron Yoe in a Tie. (No over-time system)
Only played in 1st halfs of most games.

All-State, All-American

2nd most recruited player in the nation in '81-'82 school year.

Signed with Texas, Started as a fresh. Broke leg as a Soph.
Played all four years at Texas.

Is still a legend in East Texas.

[Old Cardinal]

Steve Wooster or (Stephen Worster) if you know him real well. He was by far the best in 3A, maybe the best in all classifications.

[TigerShark]

Originally posted by Old Cardinal
Steve Wooster or (Stephen Worster) if you know him real well. He was by far the best in 3A, maybe the best in all classifications.

Way before my time, but he is also a legend in South East Texas.

[Hupernikomen]

Byerly, Wooster, Dickerson are all very good ones..

I would as Billy Simms to that list.


Now we need to start considering some stud defensive players in 3A that deserve some recognition..

[YBS]

Well, I'd throw Mark Henry out there as a pure athlete. I, honestly, don't know how many records he holds between track & field and powerlifting but it's gotta be a lot. Silsbee was 4A when he competed though.

[TigerShark]

Henry, you have got to be kidding me.

He was a big fatty. Strong, but fat.

He has slimmed up a bunch sence his days at Silsbee.

I saw him once at a West Brook powerlifting meet, he was in the bleachers and taking up about 4 seats.

I know that powerlifters are athletes, but my God. When I think of the best athletes in Texas I would at least like them to be able to jog a lap around the track and not think of a Snickers Bar.

[Jody]

Originally posted by TigerShark
Anthony Byerly
6'-0" -- 190lb
RB - Newton '78-'81
Over 4000 yrd as a Sr., 1000 in 3 playoff games.
Lost to Cameron Yoe in a Tie. (No over-time system)
Only played in 1st halfs of most games.

All-State, All-American

2nd most recruited player in the nation in '81-'82 school year.

Signed with Texas, Started as a fresh. Broke leg as a Soph.
Played all four years at Texas.

Is still a legend in East Texas.

WOW!

[crabman]

I started watching Clint Finley in '93 when my kids were little. That was his sophomore year. I have never, ever seen anyone with the at any level of high school play that could run as fast, cut as sharp, hit as hard and and just play until he was physically spent, as Clint Finley. He was 6'-0" and 190lbs in high school. Small enough to be fast. Stout enough to dish it out. When he walked up to you he was just a normal looking guy. Put a uniform on him and he turned into superman. Ran 13.55 second 110 meter high hurdles. Won state his senior year. Cuero played the Schobel boys around that time. Never lost to them. They blossomed after high school. I have seen tape of Robert Strait but never saw him in person. Clint Finley was Strait with a good head on his shoulders.
To anybody who saw how Vincent Young looked in the bowl game. That is how Finley looked every play. Smooth. Only difference was that he could also run over you and then go play strong safety and clean your clock.
Blanton was fast but didn't have the whole package. Too slender of a build for football.