For Wimberley quarterback Cody Stoever, absorbing and delivering hits part of his DNA

Cody Stoever has watched all the great NFL quarterbacks work magic on Sunday afternoons. Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts. Stoever admires them and can only wish he will run in their shoes someday.

But the Wimberley quarterback's style of football would not endure the punishment the NFL has to offer. While modern-day quarterbacks avoid contact that might land them on an injury list, Stoever would rather run through a brick wall than slide to the turf or run out of bounds. He once had his facemask pop off the helmet during a playoff game against Cuero.

Stoever is simply too tough for his own good.

As the senior-to-be prepares for his final season, Stoever and Wimberley coach Doug Warren say the quarterback's style is not going to change. It's in his DNA to attack defenses the way defenses attack him. Both understand that an injury to the quarterback would have a ripple effect that might cripple the Texans. Just look at the numbers. Stoever had 3,577 total yards — 1,585 on the ground — and was responsible for 73 touchdowns for a team that went 14-1 during his junior year.

"I hear that a lot," said Stoever, referring to people who suggest he needs to take fewer shots in a game. "Some have said I'm built like a linebacker, which is true. At my size (5-foot-11, 195), though, I can't afford to be soft. I play with a chip on my shoulder. I want to be the toughest player on the field, whether I'm playing quarterback or linebacker."

If there were a trophy for toughest player on the field, there's little doubt Stoever would win it. Blame it on his older brother, Cade, and the older boys on the block. When young Cody begged to play in their backyard football games, he would often be thrown to the bushes like a rag doll. He would wipe away the tears and return for more of the same.

Minus the tears, he's had two significant injuries in high school that did not prevent him from playing. During Stoever's sophomore year, he broke his right throwing thumb in the first half during a loss to Carthage in the Class 4A Division II state championship game. He didn't tell his teammates or coaches about the injury because he didn't want to come out of the game. The following week he was fitted with a cast that he would carry for three months.

But his most courageous performance was in a state semifinal loss to Bellville last December. He tore ligaments in his right hand but continued to play. Stoever was remarkable during the 35-33 loss, accounting for 470 of his team's 477 yards from scrimmage while scoring all five touchdowns.

Warren admits he gets anxious when he sees his quarterback get smashed into a linebacker sandwich. They have discussed the matter of playing it safe, but the coach said Stoever's lead-by-the-head mentality fires up the entire team.

"That's just the way he plays and no one is going to take that away from him," said Warren, who's entering his 12th season as the Texans' head coach. "The rest want to follow suit. That's just who he is. It's not in his makeup to run out of bounds."

Wimberley, which earned state titles in 2005 and 2011, has kept a win-or-bust mentality with Warren calling the shots. His last five teams have a combined record of 63-13, 21-5 in the playoffs.

Warren is fortunate to have Stoever back another year, but there are some holes to fill. The Texans had three wide receivers and three offensive linemen graduate last month. There were seven defensive starters wearing caps and gowns, too.

Warren said he has some new players "champing at the bit" to show what they can do for the Texans. Among the players who are expected to fill the gaps nicely are senior center Cedar Bruner, right guard Hudson Rivera and wide receiver Jace Morales, a transfer from New Braunfels Canyon.

Wimberley's brand of football is recognized throughout the state. The Texans rank No. 5 in the Class 4A DII preseason poll released last week by Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine.

Nearly 100 players recently went through a three-week voluntary strength and conditioning camp. Warren said his quarterback was usually the first player to show up in the morning.

No matter what happens this year, Stoever will continue to play football. A handful of small colleges have offered him an opportunity to play, including Mary Hardin-Baylor, Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne and the Colorado School of Mines.

It's unclear whether Stoever will continue to play quarterback at the next level. If a team wants him to play defense, he'll do it.

"I'd even be the kicker if that's what they ask me to do," he said.

Chaparrals are loaded ... again

While Wimberley is given a good shot to make another deep playoff run, Westlake has the pieces to win its fifth state championship. The Chaps are ranked No. 4 in the state by Texas Football, which sounds about right for a team that returns seven starters on offense, five on defense.

Tony Salazar, 28-2 in his two seasons as head coach, has a right to put a positive spin on the 2024 season. First off, District 26-6A newcomer of the year Rees Wise returns after contributing 2,349 total yards and 32 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Wise will follow a line that returns four starters. Salazar describes his new starting running back, Grady Bartlett, as a "Swiss Army knife" for his ability to play multiple positions, including special teams. Bartlett has big shoes to fill after the departure of do-it-all running back Jack Kayser, who combined for 3,299 total yards and 53 touchdowns the past two seasons before departing for the U.S. Military Academy this summer.

Salazar's biggest concern is replacing a defensive secondary that lost three players to graduation. Defensive back Judson Crockett started 46 games for the Chaps while Denim Collins started 43 and Ty Ingram-Eiser 30.

After spring football practice, Salazar had exit interviews with each returning player to talk about the 2024 season. There are a few players who should emerge who might not be on the fans' radar just yet. Salazar said Thompson Bennett is a "rising star" who will take over at free safety. George Jones is the team's best cornerback. Payton Luther, who contributed 106 tackles last season, lends experience and leadership.

The coach is also high on running back Justice Johnson, a "ball of muscle" who will get plenty of reps in the offensive backfield. One of the most impressive players during spring camp was Lawson Grimes, who has switched from slot receiver to wide receiver to utilize his exceptional downfield speed. He'll join senior wideout Brody Wilhelm, who had contributed 663 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last year.

Salazar said regular workouts during the season begin at 5:30 a.m. To be great, players have to make sacrifices. Coaches, too. Salazar then repeated an inspirational quote Clemson coach Dabo Swinney once said.

"They don't put championship rings on smooth hands."

Pflugerville quarterback must make tough decision

When it comes to gifted high school athletes in the Austin area, few have more opportunities to excel than Pflugerville quarterback Cole Taylor, who averaged 216 yards passing last year while throwing 16 touchdowns.

Now a junior, Taylor has a problem any athlete would like to have. He is so good at two sports — football and baseball — he needs to decide which one to play when he takes his game to the college level.

Taylor, the son of Pflugerville coach Charles Taylor, made a name for himself as a freshman by becoming the quarterback. A few months later, the American-Statesman named him newcomer of the year on the All-Central Texas baseball team.

"Cole has a D-I football offer and I believe he will also get that chance in baseball," Charles Taylor said. "He is a lot like Ed Small (who had a baseball offer from Texas but switched to play football at TCU) from Anderson. I am not sure if he knows which route he will take yet. He is also high academic. I just tell him to have fun as long as he can in both. Be a kid and have fun and enjoy it. It goes fast."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: A man for two seasons: Cole Taylor is a big hit in football, baseball