By Joshua Koch | Public Communications
Six Humble ISD coaches and athletes have been named finalists for Touchdown Club of Houston Awards.
Each year the Touchdown Club of Houston names finalists for its Coach of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year Awards each December.
Atascocita coach Craig Stump and Summer Creek coach Kenny Harrison have been named finalists for the Coach of the Year Award; Atascocita offensive lineman Nate Kibble and Summer Creek running back Lloyd Avant are finalists for the Touchdown Club of Houston Offensive Player of the Year Award; and Atascocita cornerback Braylon Conley and Summer Creek middle linebacker Xavier Atkins are finalists for the Touchdown Club of Houston Defensive Player of the Year Award.
This year’s awards will be given at its UIL High School Awards Dinner on Wednesday, December 13 at the Bayou City Event Center.
Stump guided Atascocita to an 11-3 overall record and a Region III-6A Finals appearance. Harrison has Summer Creek in the Class 6A Division II State Championship game this weekend against DeSoto. The Bulldogs enter the game with a 14-1 overall record. This is their first-ever State Championship game appearance.
The Touchdown Club of Houston Coach of the Year Award has been given since 1988. Either Stump or Harrison are looking to become the third-ever coach from Humble ISD to win the coveted award. Humble’s Neal Quillin (1995) and Kingwood’s Mike Unger (1990) were the previous winners.
Kibble is a three-star senior offensive lineman who is verbally committed to the University of Texas. Avant, who surpassed the 5,000-yard career rushing mark in the Area Round of the 2023 playoffs, has rushed for 2,068 yards and 28 touchdowns this season for the Bulldogs. The senior back has eight 100-yard rushing performance games and is verbally committed to the University of Tulsa.
The Touchdown Club of Houston Offensive Player of the Year Award has been given since 1980. Either Kibble or Avant are looking to become the fourth-ever player from Humble ISD to win the accolade. Atascocita’s Kenyon Green (2018), Humble’s Jerrod Johnson (2005) and Humble’s Leo Mills (1997) were the previous winners.
Conley, a USC-commit, was a key piece to the Atascocita defense. He is considered a three-star cornerback by 247Sports and had 37 collegiate football offers. Atkins in 12 games for Summer Creek is the second leading tackler with 98 (71 solo), 18 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries, five pass deflections, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and two sacks. Atkins is verbally committed to LSU.
The Touchdown Club of Houston Defensive Player of the Year Award has been given since 1981. Either Conley or Atkins will look to become the first-ever athlete from Humble ISD to win the award for the top defensive player in the City of Houston.