The Woodlands Highlanders Hold Their Traditional 'Meet The Players'

THE WOODLANDS – Over the weekend, The Woodlands High School football team hosted its annual Meet the Players at Weldon Willig Field. It’s a chance for players to showcase what they have learned over the offseason and to introduce those stepping into new roles within the program. It’s a great opportunity for fans and players alike, showcasing all parts of the football program and giving everyone from freshmen to varsity seniors a moment to shine. All these groups run the same 10 plays, meaning you’re able to see the skill progression from freshman teams to varsity and how much players can change as they move through the program.

Meet the Players is a simple concept that lets players show what they’ve learned and introduces the community to who will lead the Highlanders this season. It's essentially an open practice with a little more showmanship, which makes it a big hit with parents and fans. Each level of the football program gets a spotlight, with the freshman teams taking the stage first. It’s pretty special for the 9th graders, as this is the first time parents can see their kids play at the high school level and a chance to show how much they’ve leveled up since McCullough. After the freshmen, the junior varsity runs their 10 plays, showing off their improvements and how much faster they can move through the same plays the freshmen just ran. Finally, the varsity players hit the field, showcasing the best the program has to offer and who will be under the lights on game days.

After the practice, coaches introduce the varsity players by position group, letting us meet the players who will be the faces of Highlander football this season. There are many big shoes to fill on this Highlander team, as many players graduated over the offseason, leaving several holes. The biggest to fill was at QB, as Jack Daulton moved on to the next level, allowing junior Kaden Kopelin to step into the role. Fortunately, he has some returning offensive weapons, as some of the WRs return from last year, and a strong RB is right behind him. On defense, the Highlanders introduced a nearly brand-new defense, as most of last year's starters graduated. After the introductions, Coach Jim Rapp introduced the two captains for the Highlanders, Magnus Herndon and Colton Weddel. Herndon is one of the few starting defensive players returning from last season, and his impact earned him a spot as the leader of this 2026 defense. Weddel is another returner from last season and looks to have his role significantly expanded this season. He is placed in charge of the offense, which hopes to give its new QB all the weapons he needs to be successful this season.

With the season right around the corner, Meet the Players is always a fun experience for players and fans alike, hyping up the players who have worked so hard in the offseason to get ready for the fall. The Highlanders look formidable this season, as usual, and we’ll have to see what this new batch of players can do as the season progresses. We’ll have a full preview of the Highlanders coming soon, so pay attention for that. The season opens for the Highlanders at home against Bridgeland on August 28th, which is shaping up to be an awesome game.