See what Dave Campbell's Texas Football predicts for Corpus Christi programs

June in Texas means two things: hot weather and the arrival of the latest installment of Dave Campbell's Texas Football.

The 2024 edition of the magazine began hitting mailboxes this week with Coastal Bend schools getting their share of recognition from the publication.

The offseason saw legendary coaching names in the region step away from the field: Refugio's Jason Herring, Beeville's Chris Soza, Flour Bluff's Chris Steinbruck and Calallen's Steve Campbell, but that did little to diminish the expectations of any of those tradition-rich programs.

Refugio earns the highest preseason ranking among Corpus Christi-area schools, slotted at No. 2 behind Ganado in Class 2A Division I.

More: Miller, Sinton and Beeville to represent Coastal Bend at Texas 7-on-7 state football tournament

The Bobcats, now led by longtime assistant Drew Cox, return five on both sides of the ball, headlined by quarterback Kelan Brown and RB/LB Jordan King.

For the first time in recent memory Calallen will begin the season unranked under new head coach Charlie Reeve, but the Wildcats have been installed as the District 16-4A Division I favorite.

Flour Bluff and Veterans Memorial forge a new path the next two seasons as the UIL aligned the two Corpus Christi powerhouses in a Rio Grande Valley-centered district in Class 5A Division I, but the two rivals each open the season ranked in the Top 25 and are pegged to finish 1-2 in the new-look District 15-5A Division I.

The Hornets open the year ranked 13th in Class 5A Division I by the magazine and Veterans Memorial checks in at No. 17.

Miller is slotted No. 18 in Class 5A Division II with Gregory-Portland opening the year at No. 23.

Sinton joins Refugio with a preseason Top 10 ranking, opening the campaign at No. 10 in Class 4A Division II. New district-mate Cuero sits two spots behind them in the state rankings at No. 12.

Orange Grove, which moves back into Class 3A after making the playoffs in Class 4A Division II, is ranked 25th in Class 3A Division I with new head coach Jared Johnston.

Individually, Flour Bluff's Cameran Dickson was listed as a Top 300 recruit. Dickson has verbally commited to Vanderbilt.

More: Here's what Coastal Bend coaches had to say about the UIL's plan to split division playoffs

Ingleside's JC Smith, now at North Texas, was named the Class 4A player of the year after tying a national record with 39 touchdown receptions.

Two Coastal Bend coaches were honored with inclusion in the '40 Under 40' section as up-and-coming coaches in the state: Kingsville's Ruben Garcia and Ingleside's Travis Chrisman.

Miller running back Broderick Taylor, fresh off a record-breaking season, was named preseason all-state in Class 5A.

London defensive end Andrew Rendon earned an all-state nod in Class 3A.

In its first alignment as a six-man football program, Benavides is projected to claim the district title.

More: After flurry of retirements, who is the Coastal Bend leader for football coaching wins?

Dave Campbell's Texas Football

South Texas district predictions

▶ District 15-5A Division I: 1. Flour Bluff; 2. Veterans Memorial; 3. PSJA North; 4. Harlingen South; 5. Weslaco East; 6. PSJA Memorial; 7. Donna; 8. Donna North; 9. Brownsville Rivera

▶ District 14-5A Division II: 1. Miller; 2. Gregory-Portland; 3. Carroll; 4. Moody; 5. Ray; 6. King

▶ District 15-5A Division II: 1. Alice; 2. Mission Veterans Memorial; 3. Sharyland Pioneer; 4. Roma; 5. Mission Sharyland

▶ District 15-4A Division I: 1. Bay City; 2. El Campo; 3. La Vernia; 4. Port Lavaca Calhoun; 5. Beeville; 6. Floresville

▶ District 16-4A Division I: 1. Calallen; 2. Tuloso-Midway; 3. Zapata; 4. Pharr Valley View; 5. Hidalgo

▶ District 15-4A Division II: 1. Sinton; 2. Cuero; 3. Rockport-Fulton; 4. Ingleside; 5. Robstown

▶ District 16-4A Division II: 1. Port Isabel; 2. La Feria; 3. Kingsville; 4. Rio Grande City La Grulla

▶ District 15-3A Division I: 1. Edna; 2. Goliad; 3. Orange Grove; 4. London; 5. Mathis; 6. Palacios; 7. West Oso; 8. Aransas Pass

▶ District 16-3A Division I: 1. San Diego; 2. Lyford; 3. Rio Hondo; 4. Raymondville; 5. Bishop; 6. Falfurrias; 7. Santa Gertrudis Academy; 8. Progreso

▶ District 16-3A Division II: 1. Odem; 2. Santa Rosa; 3. Taft; 4. Hebbronville; 5. George West; 6. Banquete; 7. Monte Alto

▶ District 16-2A Division I: 1. Refugio; 2. Three Rivers; 3. Freer; 4. Santa Maria; 5. Skidmore-Tynan; 6. Premont; 7. Riviera

▶ District 16-2A Division II: 1. La Villa; 2. Agua Dulce; 3. Ben Bolt; 4. Woodsboro; 5. Bruni

▶ District 16-1A Division I: 1. Benavides; 2. Prairie Lea; 3. Runge; 4. Knippa

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Check out Dave Campbell's Texas Football predictions for 2024