Top Talent Returning For State Champion Pleasant Grove

By Michael Wright
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Updated: August 31, 2020

Every College team needs top defensive linemen to be at their best. When they look for the top talent in the state, you cannot go wrong by looking at the Class 5A and 6A level. This year, all you need to do is got to Class 4A Texarkana Pleasant Grove in East Texas. This is where you will find one of the best defensive fronts in Texas if not the nation.

Texarkana Pleasant Grove is the defending Class 4A Division II State Champion with an enrollment of 724 students. Head Coach Josh Gibson has led the Hawks to their 3rd straight Championship game while going 43-4 over that time. They beat Wimberley 35-21 last year and beat West Orange-Stark 41-21 in 2017. Cuero came out on top in the 2018 game 40-28.

Looking the Hawks Defensive line, you have Landon Jackson, Marcus Burris, Torey Phillips and Cameron Weekly.

Landon Jackson was 1st Team All-State last year and was voted as the Texas Sports Writers Association Player Of The Year.

He is 6'6" and 240 pounds and is projected to be a weak side defensive end or linebacker. He finished last season with 111 tackles, 29 Tackles For Loss and 17 sacks. He begins his Senior year with totals of 264 tackles, 60 Tackles For Loss and 34.5 Sacks. He is committed to LSU.

Marcus Burris was 1st Team All-State last year with 92 tackles, 20 Tackles For Loss and 13 sacks.

He is 6'4" and 280 pounds and is projected to be a strong side defensive end. He begins his Senior year with totals of 167 tackles, 32 Tackles For Loss and 18 Sacks. He is committed to Texas A&M.

Torey Phillips had 79 tackles last year. He is 6'5" and 270 pounds and is projected to be a strong side defensive end. He has not committed to anyone but is getting offers from schools like North Texas and UNLV.

Cameron Weekly is 6'0 and 290 pounds and had 81 tackles and 15 Tackles For Loss.

While you are there, you can also talk to Linebacker Nick Martin who had 113 tackles and 23 Tackles For Loss last year. He is 5'11" and 190 pounds and is projected to be an outside linebacker. He is leaning towards Arkansas but still looking at schools like Houston, Kansas and Kansas State.

It is no wonder why the Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks are a favorite to make it back to the championship game again this year. I would not want to be an Offensive Coordinator going up against them.