Crandall has plenty of young talent on its 2026 roster, but the Pirates’ championship hopes may rest most heavily on a senior class with experience across both sides of the ball.
Quarterback Isaac Briones, receiver Jeremiah Douglas, running back Christian Ingram and several linemen and defenders enter their final season together just as Crandall makes the jump to Class 5A Division I.
For this group, 2026 is the last chance to turn back-to-back playoff appearances into something more.
Briones Takes Full Control
Isaac Briones spent last season sharing quarterback duties, but he enters this fall as the experienced senior expected to run the offense on his own. He’s already shown he can protect the football and complete passes efficiently in meaningful varsity snaps.
What’s different now is the leadership required — organizing the offense, managing difficult in-game situations and making the right read when a defense keys on Crandall’s top playmakers.
Briones won’t have to do it alone, though; a veteran supporting cast should make the transition considerably easier.
Douglas Enters His Final Act
Jeremiah Douglas has already established himself as Crandall’s top receiver and one of the program’s most heavily recruited players, entering his senior year as a Vanderbilt commit coming off a 1,000-yard season. Every opposing defense will prepare for him first.
His final season will be measured by more than raw production. Crandall will need Douglas to deliver in the moments that matter most — against Tyler, West Mesquite and the other teams expected to be in the district title picture, because his ability to create a big play in a close game could decide it.
Ingram Brings Stability to the Backfield
Junior Darrik Ward Jr. will draw most of the attention at running back, but senior Christian Ingram gives Crandall a proven second option who has already shown what he can do with real opportunities.
Ingram’s value may grow even more in the second half of the season, when accumulated carries and injuries typically start to wear down a backfield. Having an experienced complement to Ward gives Crandall the flexibility to avoid leaning on one back.
Seniors Anchor a Defense in Transition
Crandall lost several key defensive contributors from a season ago, which puts more responsibility on returning seniors Jayden McCleary, Cayson Hardman and Colton Craft.
McCleary brings experience at safety, Hardman is positioned to help organize the front seven at linebacker, and Craft has a real opportunity to take on a bigger role along the defensive line.
The defense doesn’t return the same level of proven production as the offense, which makes leadership from this group more important than the stat sheet alone would suggest.
Franklin Positioned to Benefit
Senior King Franklin enters the season with varsity experience at both receiver and cornerback, and he stands to benefit directly from the coverage attention defenses will give Douglas.
Crandall needs at least one more receiver to become a dependable target, and if Franklin fills that role, opponents lose the option of simply taking Douglas away. His ability to play both sides of the ball also gives the coaching staff added flexibility when building a game plan.
Starr Holds Down the Line
Senior guard Brent Starr rounds out this senior class in a role that rarely draws headlines but matters just as much as any of them.
Crandall’s offense depends on its line keeping Briones upright and opening room for the running game, and Starr’s experience should prove valuable against a schedule that opens with three difficult non-district opponents. The offensive line won’t have the luxury of easing into the season.
A Senior Class Facing a New Challenge
This group will finish its Crandall career in a different classification than the one it started in.
The move from Class 5A Division II to Division I places the Pirates in a district with West Mesquite, Tyler, Mesquite, North Mesquite, W.T. White, Sunset and Bryan Adams.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football projects Crandall second in that district; the Dallas Morning News has the Pirates third. Both projections put Crandall squarely in the playoff conversation before a single snap is played.
However, it will be this senior class that determines whether the Pirates climb higher than that.
The Bottom Line
Crandall has enough underclassmen talent, including Ward and Davyn Davis, to remain competitive well beyond this season. But 2026 belongs to the seniors.
Briones will direct the offense, Douglas will be its top threat, Ingram provides depth in the backfield, and McCleary, Hardman and Craft carry the responsibility of stabilizing the defense.
None of them get another season at Crandall after this one. Their goal is simple: extend the program’s playoff streak and give the Pirates a real chance to win the District 7-5A Division I championship.
