Life and Times with Renaissance Man, Magnus Herndon

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands High School football team is off to yet another remarkable season. It would be normal for fans to get lost in all of the team’s success and unconsciously ignore the reasons why they’re always at or near the top of the district every year.

Presently, The Woodlands is 2-0 in district and 4-1 overall. Statewide they are ranked in the top 20.

This week’s Woodlands Online Player of the Week is part of the reason the team is excelling. Edge Rusher, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Magnus Herndon already has six sacks in five games and I’ve lost count of how many tackles he has. Opposing quarterbacks have to adjust on the fly every time they break the huddle depending on where Herndon lines up. They have to be like old time NFL QB’s such as Roger Staubach, Bart Starr and Terry Bradshaw to name a few, and call their own plays. That’s not easy for a teenager to do.

In witnessing an athlete like Magnus operate, you notice right away how selfless he is. It makes you wonder if he’s selfless off the field as well.
This just in, Magnus is even more selfless in real life and especially at home. His brother (Will) has Juvenile Batten Disease and needs constant care. You’ll learn more about JBD and just how great of a caregiver Magnus has become, so I won’t ruin it for you now. The bond Magnus and Will share, and the relationship they enjoy is heartwarming.

Let’s delve into the world of Magnus Herndon in this week’s Woodlands Online Q&A…

1) How long have you been playing football? How did you become interested in football? What other sports did you play growing up and why did football win out?

I started playing tackle football at 5 years old at SCFL. I became interested in football because my dad played at Rice University and my middle brother Steele also played. As a kid, you always want to do what your older brothers are doing, so I believe I really got interested because of my brother Steele. I have so many great memories from the little league fields! I played many different sports growing up including soccer, rugby, football, track, and even basketball. But I feel football and rugby were the true sports I loved the most. I really enjoyed rugby and as I grew into my early high school years, I had the opportunity to play for many different teams around the country and even represented the U.S. internationally! But, football really stuck with me as that is where I felt I could continue to succeed and grow as I got older.

2) Describe the 2026 TWHS football team and why you enjoy playing for the Highlanders.

I always knew this team was going to be special and had the opportunity to be great, but I think it has been surprising to many to see our success. We always believed in each other. We have grown, bonded and have great chemistry despite most of us having not played together. Many of us are being coached by new coaches either coming from different positions or those who are completely new coaches to our program. Our new defensive coordinator Coach Taliaferro, who was formerly our outside linebacker Coach, transitioned into a new position with 10 new starters and I am really proud of how our Defense has come together! We have each other's back on and off the field and it shows.

I believe what makes our team very special is that we have many kids who have stepped up to the plate to build us into a great football team. We have 16+ new starters. Our quarterback, Kaden Copelin, has really developed and grown into his position with great field vision and a great bond with our offensive guys allowing us to get the rock down the field. Kaden is a natural-born leader and has the respect of our teammates. Our Running Back, Jason Haskins, adds another skill to our offensive plan; he turns nothing into something with patience and the ability to find the open hole. Our receivers, Bryson Bourn, Colton Weddel, Carter Cass, Kaiden Stewart, Harry Miller, Beckett Barefoot, and Kai Pondexter use their individual skill sets to get into open space and make impactful plays. Our offensive line includes great players like Jake Corley, Brody Hulett, and Armando Lazzari. They too have really developed into a line that will move anyone in their path, allowing us to get the rock downfield.

On the defensive side of the ball, we have built a connection that has really allowed us to be successful! Aiden Ventura, Cole Maxwell, and myself have been taking away run lanes and keeping the other teams’ quarterbacks on their toes with our rushes. Our middle linebackers, Nate Beagle, Mathias Molito, Jacob Montgomery, and Cash Mock, all make their presence in fitting the run and making stunts to put pressure on the quarterback. Our outside linebackers, Vincent Lewis, Max Mitchell and Conner Carlin, play a huge role in the pass game. They do a great job dropping into coverage as well as rushing the quarterback. Thomas Diagle, Bryce Scott, Matthew Johnson, Nico Chavez, Ashton Hunger, Jackson Hanyzewski, and Darius Carlock make a great secondary unit filling what needs to be filled in the run and playing lights out in the pass. Lastly our special team unit Franco Heinze and Sanders Pyle have been stellar. Franco has been great with field goals and kickoffs and Sanders Pyle has been great long snapping for us too! I believe Coach Rapp has done an excellent job building a great Coaching staff and I believe they have done a great job putting players in positions to make plays where they can help the team succeed!

3) Do you like TWHS?

I love The Woodlands High School. The people I have met and and memories I have created here are truly unforgettable. I really like how we all support each other. Attend a game: football, volleyball, soccer, baseball, all the sports and clubs and our student section is really spirited. We all cheer for each other. Our band, cheer and High steppers are all at the top of their game. What I love the most is how our school makes sure everyone is included. It’s one of the many things that make TWHS a special place.

4) What college will you be attending? Do you know what your field of study will be?

I feel very blessed to have several D1 athletic offers at some incredible schools. I still haven’t decided where I would like to continue my athletic and academic career but I plan to study entrepreneurship.

5) What do you hope to be doing after you graduate from college?

I hope to have my own company one day. I love coming up with new ideas for products and working through what the development and design of those products would be.

6) What do you enjoy doing away from school and football?

I enjoy hanging out with my friends. We have a tight-knit friend group with over 25 people. We’ve been together since middle school and junior high, and there is always something fun to do together. We support each other at all of our activities, at school, church and life.

7) Who is your role model for football?

I believe my role model in football is Nick Bosa. I love going through and watching his highlights and learning from what he does.

8) Describe how supportive your family is in everything you do in your life. Talk about your brother, Will and how you admire him and how he fights Juvenile Batten Syndrome/Disease.

I believe my family is very supportive in my life. My parents are great role models as they have been through so much and can always guide me in the right path. My brother Steele is very supportive in everything I do and I feel I can trust him for whatever I need. He is a great big brother and I look up to him as he has been through what I’ve been through and worked hard through adversity to get to where he is, through academics and athletics. He is a Senior and plays football for Trinity University in San Antonio. Lastly, my brother, Will is a huge part of my life as he has fought through so much. Will has a rare, brain condition called juvenile Batten disease that caused blindness and affects his mobility, speaking, and overall cognitive capacity, making him still think like his 6-year-old self. He requires a lot of care at home, but through his journey, with all his challenges, he always has a smile on his face. He’s always cheering me on. He really has made me into the person I am today by not judging people, choosing kindness, helping others, and overall helping me excel in life. He is my WHY; everything I do is for him. Will serves as a constant reminder to me that not everyone is given the same health and opportunity. I believe we should all make the most of who we are and the capabilities God has given each of us in our life.

9) If you were given a million dollars and had to give it to one charity, which one would you choose and why?

I would probably give it to the Beyond Batten Foundation since it would help fund the trial for kids to hop on medicine to stop the progression of Batten disease before it fully affects them like my brother. Or to Interfaith of the Woodlands as I’ve seen how much they have do for the families of our community.

10) Three things people don't know about you.

I’ve played rugby in Spain.

I got stuck in a 100-year snow storm in South Carolina!

I love coaching at Challenger Baseball; it’s the best way to spend a Saturday morning.

11) When is the last time you danced? Where? You any good?

The last time I danced was probably at Woodforest Bank Stadium after beating College Park and no I’m terrible at dancing.

12) What is your favorite song in your phone now? Do you have a favorite group?

My favorite song would have to be American Kids. I listen to it in the car as well as after every win in the locker room. My favorite group is Elevation Rhythm.

13) Your favorite movie of all time.

My favorite movie of all time would have to be the Other Guy. I used to watch it almost every week in middle school.

14) If you were sentenced to death but you were allowed to go on one last date, who would the lucky girl be?

My last date would definitely be with my girlfriend of over three years, Lily. We’d head out to a Cody Johnson concert at the Pavilion with our friend group!

TWHS Vice Principal, Emory Bartolazzi shared his thoughts regarding Magnus…

“Magnus is the definition of a 'high-motor' football player. In games, practice, the weight room, and the halls, Magnus is always giving his dead-level best. He's a great leader because he is genuine and sincere, always giving what he expects from his teammates. It has been a lot of fun watching Magnus grow as a player and a person during his high school years”

Family sources indicate that Magnus came into the world rough and tumble, with the absolute biggest servant's heart. He has always been the family’s little helper. Even at a very young age, he was always very empathetic. He would look for ways to help or lend a hand.

Early on, Magnus would see his brother, Will as being blind and having seizures as he was diagnosed with JBD when Magnus was one year old. Mrs. Herndon recalls when Magnus was about three, Will would seize, and Magnus without prompting would run and get a pillow for Will’s head and have his rescue medicine in the other hand, ready to lend support.

As Magnus got older, he was eager to help (and enjoyed always doing something) so mom would give him little projects at the house to keep his mind and hands busy.

He was like a little tornado…which is actually why Mom and dad (Wayne) put him in tackle football at five years old. Magnus was tackling his classmates and had so much energy…so they channeled it to practice and games!

Mrs. Herndon would tell his teachers that Magnus can be productive or destructive… so put his little idle hands to work!

Magnus truly loves to help. He would wipe tables down, sweep floors or tackle household projects to keep busy.

To this day, he’s the first to recognize an issue with the house and he’d go to Home Depot to get whatever was needed to fix it. He is the family’s chief technician, assembler and hype guy. Magnus is happiest when he is contributing.

Magnus cares for people and looks for ways to help people… it’s innate to him. He is intuitive, and quick to recognize if someone is struggling and will seek a way to help.

Despite all of his on-the-field accolades, the family is most proud of his heart and his love for people.

Magnus is truly wise beyond his years, and yet his best feature would be that he is very humble. He possesses multiple gifts but doesn’t walk around like he is God’s gift to the universe.

What he sees every day has made him stronger and even more appreciative of what life has brought him…and more important, what life has in store for him.

In gathering material for this story, I have come to the conclusion that Magnus skipped adolescence and jumped right into adulthood.

If you’d like to see Magnus terrify opposing quarterbacks, The Woodlands plays Willis tonight at 7pm at The Bank.

If you want to meet Magnus away from football, just go where people are being productive, he is bound to be there.

See you at The Bank!

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