Catching interest: Wills Point receiver Wilcoxson

Wills Point receiver Ranger Wilcoxson has made new friends among some of the state's top football players while attending a variety of spring and summer camps. Among the constants is Wilcoxson having to explain just where Wills Point is.

"I tell them we are close to Canton," Wilcoxson said. "But that doesn't mean much to them either."

Wills Point is just far enough east of Dallas to be considered East Texas, which means it's in one of the nation's top football melting pots that regularly produces major college players which dot Big 12 and SEC depth charts. Wilcoxson is part of the next wave of prospects for the Class of 2015. Already he's getting attention from the early adopting recruiting at North Texas and Rice, which work hard to identify top prospects before major colleges swoop in and discover.

Wilcoxson is an integral part of Wills Point becoming a playoff regular and the program is working hard to get past the typical hurdles in the Class 3A playoffs. Pittsburgh eliminated Wills Points, 54-49, in a first-round thriller. Wilcoxson has developed into a play-making receiver for Wills Point, he made the critical third-down catch in a 41-34 victory over Emory Rains to clinch a playoff berth. Wills Point senior quarterback Chase Pemberton connected with Wilcoxson on a 3rd-and-10 from Wills Point's own 28-yard line to key the game-winning drive.

Wills Point coach Kevin Garvin said Wilcoxson has emerged along with a strong core of seniors to help establish the program.

"Ranger is one of the kids who are working really hard for us to get over (the playoff) hump," Garvin said. "They've worked hard on their conditioning and to improve. They're good players trying to advance some of the state's best teams."

Working hard to get college opportunities for his seniors, Garvin said college coaches also notice Wilcoxson with a lot of potential for a 6-2, 210-pound receiver who makes a big target at slot receiver and possibly could grow into an athletic tight end. Wilcoxson has good straight line speed, excellent ball skills and is working hard to improve blocking technique. Through the spring and summer, he'll be working on acceleration out of his breaks and Wilcoxson shows many of the same traits as current NFLer Tyler Eifert did as an Indiana high schooler.