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As part of our end-of-season all-state awards, SBLive will recognize the top players and coaches in Texas high school football for their phenomenal performances during the 2021 season.

The following 12 standout student-athletes have been selected as finalists for SBLive’s 2021 Texas Football Newcomer of the Year.

The winners of SBLive’s Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Coach of the Year awards will be unveiled the week of Jan. 24, along with SBLive’s 2021 All-State Texas Football teams.

But before we unveil our winners, we want your opinion: Who do you think should be the 2021 Newcomer of the Year?

Cast your vote below.

Players listed in alphabetical order.

FINALISTS FOR SBLIVE’S 2021 TEXAS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:

Sawyer Anderson (Dallas Parish Episcopal) — 2,961 passing yards, 32 TD passes on 184-of-287 completion rate; 74 rushing yards, TD run on 11 carries in 13 GP

Lloyd Avant (Humble Summer Creek) — 1,794 rushing yards, 27 TD runs on 190 carries; 20 receiving yards, TD catch on two receptions in 14 GP

Kaleb Bailey (Galena Park North Shore) — 924 passing yards, 12 TD passes on 61-of-90 completion rate; 783 rushing yards, seven TD runs on 110 carries in 10 GP

Tyraun Bell (Marlin) — 201 total tackles (112 solo), 19.0 TFLs, five forced fumbles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, an interception and two defensive TDs in 14 GP

Demetrius Brisbon Jr. (Tyler Chapel Hill) — 1,001 passing yards, 11 TD passes on 69-of-129 completion rate; 1,357 rushing yards, 16 TD runs on 121 carries in 15 GP

Zion Brown (Humble Atascocita) — 1,844 passing yards, 18 TD passes on 116-of-223 completion rate; 371 rushing yards, six TD runs on 59 carries in nine GP

Bryce Burgess (Pearland Dawson) — 1,423 rushing yards, 16 TD runs on 190 carries; 79 receiving yards, two TD catches on nine receptions in 12 GP

Gracen Harris (Ennis) — 1,199 receiving yards, 11 TD catches on 72 receptions; 122 rushing yards on 17 carries in 12 GP

Mike Hawkins (Allen) — 2,816 passing yards, 21 TD passes on 162-of-250 completion rate; 685 rushing yards, eight TD runs on 98 carries in 14 GP

Braylon Henry (Lorena) — 254 rushing yards, four TD runs on 18 carries; 125 total tackles (87 solo), 15.0 TFLs, seven sacks, three pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions, two forced fumbles in 16 GP

Jack Kayser (Austin Westlake) — 1,113 rushing yards, 20 TD runs on 157 carries; 345 receiving yards, four TD catches on 18 receptions; 181 return yards, special teams TD on four KO returns in 16 GP

Kyle Koch (Dripping Springs) — 1,313 receiving yards, 20 TD catches on 71 receptions in 11 GP

(Mike Hawkins feature photo by Brian McLean)