Growing up in a house with a father who starred as a wide receiver at Abilene Christian University and later earned induction into the ACU Sports Hall of Fame, there wasn’t much doubt about where Brelon Badon would eventually land when it came time for him to decide where to attend college.
Wednesday afternoon at Abilene High School’s Chuck Moser Fieldhouse, Badon – the son of former AHS and ACU standout, former AHS assistant coach, and current ACU running backs coach, Jerale Badon – joined five of his 2023 teammates in signing agreements to continue their playing football careers at the collegiate level.
Badon and running back Chad Lara will attend ACU, tight end Trey Simpson is headed to Angelo State University, quarterback Dylan Slack is going to McMurry University, running back Bam Rashaw will play on the 40 acres at Hardin-Simmons University, and cornerback DeMarco Upshaw is going to Tyler Junior College. In addition, AHS baseball pitcher Brady Bennett – the District 4-5A Pitcher of the Year in 2023 – signed an agreement with HSU.
Across town at Cooper High School, four Cougar football players inked their agreements as wide receiver Jaylen Parker will attend the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, wide receiver Noah Warren will go to McMurry, offensive lineman Xanaan Fletcher will attend Wayland Baptist University, and tight end Clayton Gift will play at Sul Ross State University.
Brelon Badon said Wednesday that he didn’t give much consideration to anywhere besides ACU, which is where his father graduated from in 2008. Jerale Badon enjoyed a four-year playing career that saw him finish with 235 catches (second in school history) for a school-record 3,311 yards, along with 19 touchdown receptions. And now he has an opportunity to be around his son daily as he looks to forge his path at ACU.
“ACU is definitely where I wanted to go since I was little,” said Brelon, who caught 27 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles in 2023. “It will be good to be in a place where I know people and have already built relationships through my dad.”
Jerale said he’s looking forward to seeing his son on campus each day, watching him continue to grow and mature.
“We’ve watched this little boy grow up, and he’s grown into a great young man and student, and we’re proud of him,” Jerale said of Brelon. “He’ll be walking in some of the same footsteps I walked, and that’s great. But now he gets to make his path.”
The Eagles finished the 2023 season at 11-3, won the District 2-5A Division I championship, and reached the state quarterfinals.
Slack led one of the best offenses in Class 5A, completing 206 of 289 passes for 2,465 passes and 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Rashaw had a terrific junior year with 978 yards and 13 touchdowns on 202 carries but missed significant time as a senior in 2023 with a broken foot. He ran for 172 yards and one touchdown on 38 carries in limited time but displayed the attributes coaches look for in running backs to earn a spot at HSU.
With Rashaw out, Lara picked up the slack in the backfield, finishing with 496 yards and a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns on 95 carries. Simpson caught eight passes for 54 yards and one score. Upshaw was one of the top cornerbacks in West Texas, finishing the season with 57 tackles (40 solo), three interceptions, and seven passes defended.
“What these guys have done here has helped them get to the next level, and that is something to be celebrated,” AHS head football coach Mike Fullen said. “We’re proud, and these guys represent our brand as Eagles. They’ll take that with them to the next level, and what they did for our team, they’ll do for the teams they’re about to join, and we can all take pride in that. These guys left a tremendous legacy, and they’ll carry that with them. I couldn’t be prouder of these guys for what they did at Abilene High and what they’re about to do.”
Cooper head football coach Aaron Roan expressed similar sentiments for the quartet of Cougars who will play at the next level. The group helped the Cougars – who battled injuries all season – reach the playoffs for the 17th straight season.
Parker caught 31 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown, while Warren had one catch for four yards. Gift had 10 catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns, including a 49-yard TD catch in a bi-district playoff win over El Paso Chapin.
Fletcher helped lead the way for all-district running back Daniel Bray – a junior who already has three Power 5 offers in his back pocket – to rush for 1,359 yards and 22 touchdowns last year, including a school-record 369 yards and seven touchdowns on 21 carries in a Sept. 8 win over San Angelo Central.
“It’s always exciting to celebrate our student-athletes who have worked so hard to continue to pursue their education and have the opportunity to play at the next level,” Roan said. “These players have worked extremely hard in the classroom and the field to get this opportunity. They represent not only their sport but this campus to the highest degree. It’s exciting to see them rewarded for the work they put in here at Cooper. We are extremely proud of them and know they will represent our campus and community in fine fashion.”
