Waxahachie RB Taylen Strange | 11-6A First Team All-District Junior Spotlight

State championship goals require players who set the tone, and for Waxahachie, that player lines up in the backfield. Junior running back Taylen Strange earned unanimous 11-6A First Team All-District honors as a sophomore — a distinction that reflects both his production and the respect he commands across the district.

At 5-foot-8 and 190 pounds, Strange is not the biggest back on the field, but his naturally low center of gravity makes him one of the hardest to bring down. He runs downhill, seeks contact rather than avoiding it, and consistently grinds out tough yards in traffic. That workhorse mentality helps Waxahachie control the clock, move the chains, and close out games — the hallmarks of a program built to make deep playoff runs.

Strange is more than a between-the-tackles runner. His 17 receptions and two touchdown catches out of the backfield demonstrate a versatility that keeps defenses honest and gives the Indians a balanced offensive attack. His contributions in the passing game add another dimension to an offense that leans on his physicality as its foundation.

The comparison to former Dallas Cowboys fullback Robert Newhouse captures something real about Strange's style — hard-nosed, relentless, and energizing to those around him. That intensity carries through the entire Waxahachie offense, and as the Indians set their sights on a state title run in 2026, Strange's rugged approach will be at the center of it.