Their top playmaker Micah Simpson has graduated and signed with West Texas A & M . Simpson earned second-team all-state honors as a utility player . He excelled for the Lions at rushing ( 177-1,421 , 21 TDs ), passing ( 39-of-71 , 555 yards , 5 Ds ), receiving ( 8-115 , 1 TD ) and also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown . He set a new school record with 444 yards rushing and six TDs in a 42-31 win over Frisco Liberty .
Also gone is running backwide receiver Kamron Neal , who is headed to Panhandle State in Oklahoma . Neal ran for 642 yards and four TDs on 82 carries and led the Lions with 18 catches for 289 yards and three scores .
Another departing senior , JaQualyn Davis , was the Lions ’ second-leading receiver last season with 17 catches for 286 yards and four TDs . He earned second-team all-district honors .
The Lions will also have a change in direction after the resignation of longtime head coach / assistant coach Darren Duke . Duke resigned on Aug . 1 . He ’ d been the Lions ’ head football coach and athletic director since 2016 , guiding them to two playoff spots and season records of 1-9 , 5-5 , 2-7 , 6-5 , 4-5 , 3-7 and 2-8 .
Former Greenville Lion assistant and longtime head coach Randy Jackson was named as Duke ’ s successor on Aug . 3 . Jackson has a head coaching record of 170-78-0 at Paducah , Mason , DeKalb , Lone Oak , Mesquite Poteet , Plano
2023 | END ZONE 11